TALES OF CRIME AND FICTION.

It all began with three things; a cloudy night with wet streets and cold air swiftly blowing through the city of London, a horribly confused detective and a perplexed case. It had been raining across London since morning, it was somewhere in the middle of January and the weather was very chilly. The busy streets of London were half deserted and extremely wet and it was around 9 o'clock in the night. On these half asleep streets, I had roamed for what seemed like hours and hours, I had lost complete track of time because I was buried deep in confused thoughts. I was frustrated! nothing made sense anymore, I had been stuck on the particular dead end for two days and I still hadn't found a new lead, my head was all dizzy and I was mad at myself. I walked alone, unaccompanied, trying to think through. Now and again I looked at the bunch of papers that I held in my left hand, I read through it again and again but, NO! no single clue could I point out. It was time to face the fact: I was stuck on a unsolvable dead end.

I shook my head, my eye lids were dropping, my eyes were sore; I had spent many sleepless nights trying to figure out a way to get past the dead end but I couldn't! it was just impossible. At length I came across a coffee shop and decided to start things over with a nice hot cup of espresso. I entered the shop, it was half filled with people, chatting loudly. The shop showed more signs of life then the half-asleep roads. I went walking towards the counter and rang the bell. A waitress showed up,

"Yes" she said to me

"yes I would like a cup of Espresso" I replied

"okay"

and she disappeared behind the kitchen door. I turned around, the coffee shop wasn't very big, it was small but pleasantly decorated and lighted. It was painted orange and white and small round tables were placed all around the shop. People sat with their friends conversing with each other loudly.

"here you go" the waitress said to me, passing a disposable cup of hot Espresso as I turned around.

I paid her, and grabbing my Espresso I moved outside the shop. just as I left the shop, the silence surrounded me again. in front of me a car was parked, a clean and shiny Toyota corolla, its windows rolled up and showing a very familiar reflection back to me. There I saw a twenty-five year old female detective standing wearily looking back at me with her drooping eyes. Her hair tied back in a extremely messy bun with hair falling out of it, wearing a horrible combination of a royal blue tea-shirt with light blue Denim Jeans and upon it a black overcoat. In her right hand she was holding an Espresso and in her left a bunch of white papers. her face showed signs of frustration.

"Ruined half of my life in a detective agency, solving crimes that mess with my brain" I sighed, looking at my own reflection "how did i even get over here? as a kid I always wanted to become an accountant then how did I landed myself in this criminal politics, risking my life?"

I opened my eyes widely and looked at my reflection "This must be getting to my head! I should go through my investigations once more, maybe I missed something. I must, before I start questioning my life choices again.

"So, five bodies of handicap people were found in the Dalby forest that happens to be a tourism spot and is always filled with people and no one can commit a murder without being noticed. There were no signs of wounds on any of the victims but they all had drank a cup of Espresso before their death, forensic reports showed that they were poisoned but what kind of poison? the experts are still researching on that point. So, I visited the families' of each of these people and it appears that they were all leading perfectly normal lives with no enemies or problems. each of these victims worked form different companies, their families do no appear to know any other victims other then the one who is their family members thus, the victims have nothing in common accept that they died in the same way, were found in the same place and were all handicap and surprisingly, all five were blind. everything seems just perfect then why would anyone murder them? why would anyone murder five innocent people who had no enmity with the outside world?"

"I can help you with that point" suddenly I was startled by a deep voice. And that is when I met him, the one person who picked the way I saw everything and turned it upside down, my whole life was turned upside down after I met him. they say people cross paths for a reason, well I hadn't figured out this reason for a long time. Now I question my self: Why did I had to meet him? After all these years, still I just cannot forget that man. well I just had too, that was how my life would have continued. But I have to confess: I had never met or seen or heard about anyone like him. His ways, his habits, his secrecy and his lifestyles were all so different, so strange, so unique.

"Sorry, whose there" I asked. the voice came from behind a tree that was right next to me and from its shadow emerged a young man. I still remember every detail about him so well like it was only yesterday that I met him. He was tall, pleasant looking young man who dressed himself in black coat, dress pant and a white shirt. He wore shiny black shoes and in his left hand a Rolex watch. his hair were jet black, soft and they lay messily over his head. His keen eyes were beetle black and his face was thoughtful, educated and as if he knew a lot that most didn't. He was very secretive and very annoying.

"Who are you supposed to be?" I asked "And have you been standing behind that tree spying on me?"

He looked at me "No, I just came here" he pointed at the car in which I saw my reflection "That is mine"

"Oh"

"Yes, Miss Allison right?" he asked me

"Do I know you?"

"No you do not," he slowly walked towards me "But I know you and I also know that you are stuck on a case which I can help you with"

I stood firmly at my place, feeling strange "Are you a detective?"

He looked at me as if I had said something very unpleasant to him "A detective? "he scoffed "those strange people who lurk around on roads in the night with a magnifying glass in their hands searching for coins, sorry I meant 'Clues'"

"Well, that is offending" I replied as he gave a laugh "but are you one?"

"No, I am, gladly, not a detective"

"Then why do you want to help me?"

"Lets just say I want to help you because I want your help in return"

"Why do you want my help? are you in trouble?"

"Oh please" he scoffed again "Trouble is always around me, I cannot walk without trouble following me around"

"Who are you?"

"Are you willing to take my help?"

"No, you are not a detective and you would not tell me who you are. how can I take help form you. i do not even know you." I told him shortly

"Well, sorry to say this but Why should give you my personal information when you are not willing to help me" he replied

I gave him a 'that's fair' look which he accepted.

"Listen, I do not know who you are or why you suddenly want to help me but, I just cannot trust anyone with confidential information, so, Good night to you" I said and turned to leave

"Confidential information?" I heard him, I stopped to listen what he wanted to say "Oh, you mean about the murder of five handicaps?"

I turned around "That was the headline in the morning newspaper" I replied

"Well, I know a great deal about it and about you. More then the newspaper speaks"

"You seem very eager to help me out"

"Yes because I also need your help in return"

"Why don't you tell me something about yourself? like who are you? and on what purpose you require my help?" I asked.

He cleared his throat "Miss Allison, I cannot tell you about myself, because you are helpless and if I do, you will find yourself in more complications. only if you agree to take my help, will I tell you who I am"

I walked back towards him "You seem more eager on helping me rather than asking my help"

He smiled "Yes, helping you will accompany me in my problem"

"You seem as if you are not in your right mind" I replied and turned back on my heels

"If you want to put an end to your dead end, try visiting the forest once more, you might find something of your purpose" he shouted, because I didn't stop "Trust me, you will come back!"

I didn't turn around to look back at him but I did hear a car engine start before I took a turn in the next street to go back home.

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