The Shermans were having a quiet dinner at 7:30 P.M.
‘I heard you were questioned by the police this morning,’ Mrs. Sherman said to Clarissa. She was still wearing her kitchen apron over her long, black dress. The family was having turkey and rice and potato salad. Mr. Sherman was present, still dressed in his black tuxedo. He had attended a business meeting that afternoon and had arrived home to find his wife had already finished preparing dinner. There had been no time to change into something more dinner appropriate. His clean shave, short haircut and slim body made him look like a mafioso beneath the kitchen’s fluorescent light. Clarissa was sitting across her mother at the longer sides of the rectangular table and Mr. Sherman was sitting at one of the longer ends at Clarissa’s right (Mrs. Sherman's left).Clarissa stared at her mother. It looked like she was trying to read her mind as she took a mouthful of salad, digesting her question. She shrugged slowly, ‘Yeah, so?’ s
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Psych 41. Malrich Park
School had finally dismissed and after four or five failed excuses, Sineas finally agreed to go with Clarissa to Malrich Park. As soon as the siren had rang, they both got into a taxicab and headed west of the school. The park was only one-and-a-half kilometres from Malrich High and as soon as a bright green colour came into view, Clarissa’s face lit up. She squeezed Sineas’ shoulder. ‘That’s Malrich Park!’ she said pointing through the windshield at what, to Sineas, looked like an oasis. There were no fences to restrict any potential tourists from exploring it and no security to further complicate things. To Sineas, it looked more like heaven on earth. There was nothing but green for miles, strong and steady looking benches along the countless, meandering concrete paths. On the benches sat different forms of people: lovers, avid readers, exhausted behind-the-desk employees…and bosses, tired speed walkers and joggers and the usual construct
Psych 42. Bale to the Surface
She looked at him from the corner of her eye.He continued, ‘I think the best part I like about you is that you’re not like everyone else. From day one, you had my back. You always seemed to see the best in me when everyone else failed to.’She smiled. ‘Thanks.’They finally decided to sit on an empty bench. They watched two joggers run past them. The park was not as full of people as Sineas had expected. A few children were throwing a Frisbee two paths away. Another family was having a picnic a few metres away. Or was it the same family? He didn’t concern himself with the thought. Clarissa was right. The park did have a way of speaking to you. Showing you what you wanted to see. What you needed to see.She sighed. ‘I just wish time would stand still, Sin. I wish it would stand still forever. I don’t want this moment to ever pass away. I think the world owes us that much especially after what it’s put us throu
Psych 43. Good Riddance
Janice turned the volume down. A hand was cupped over her mouth. She was speechless.Sineas looked equally shocked. He cleared his throat after a moment of silence. ‘Wow. This is really hard to take in.’Aunt Janice shook her head slowly for a good six seconds. ‘I’m so sorry, Sineas.’‘Sorry for what, Aunt Janice?’‘About that school. That satanic school I put you in. That place has a murderer on the loose and…’‘What are you talking about? This could all be just a coincidence.’She shook her head again. ‘No-o, Sin. Two people in the same school killed in the exact same way in such a short space of time? You call that coincidence?’Sineas got to his feet and stood in front of her. ‘Aunt Janice, come on! You don’t seriously believe that, do you?’She stood up, her arms folded. She looked sombre. ‘Go upstairs and pack your bags. We’
Psych 44. Closed in
The following morning, Sineas found himself in Doctor Jacob’s office. He seemed rattled, his arms crossed and his gaze on the wall to his left.‘How is school?’ asked Doctor Jacob, sitting at the edge of his desk and opening his notebook. He polished his spectacles.‘Can we not talk about that?’ Sineas mumbled at the wall.‘Why? Did something happen?’‘I said, no school!’‘Okay. No school. Let’s talk about something else then.’Sineas smirked. ‘Have you ever met someone. Someone who acts legit and like they’re the real package? They pretend they have your back but when you least expect it, they plant a garden of knives in it.’Doctor Jacob pushed his spectacles further up the bridge of his nose. ‘I assume you’re referring to Clarissa?’ he asked him.‘I just don’t understand how some people can be so…so self-righteous, so…two-faced, egocentric…’‘Tell me why you think “these people” are self-righteous, egocentric and…’ he rotated his hand.‘I never did a
Psych 45. Eyes
‘Back again, lad?’ Jeff grinned at him from the booth.‘Afternoon, Jeff,’ he greeted the old guard.Jeff got to his feet. ‘Here to see your mama, hey?’He nodded.He looked at his log file. He looked back at Sineas. ‘Go on in, lad. Say hie to her for me.’He waved a hand, tried to smile then walked through the gate. He made straight for the entrance. He did not mind the eyes anymore. The droopy eyes from the patients that scanned him up and down like he was some cheap piece of clothing in a second-hand shop. He had enough on his mind already. He walked up the steps and through the giant doors. His previous visit had made him feel uncomfortable, nervous and on edge. Surprisingly, this time he felt safe. He felt at home as the eyes of most of the patients and nurses looked at him. He didn’t mind anymore. It felt like he could relate to them. They were a lot different from the ones that gazed upon him at school: The ones that did not have to browse him. The ones
Psych 46. To Catch a Killer (Part I)
‘You sure?’‘Sure about what?’‘That that’s how she feels about you?’‘I…well…yeah, I mean, she…’‘Sin, my boy. What if this girl is what you’ve been waiting for?’He pulled his back from the couch. ‘Mama, you have no idea what she did to me.’‘And what did she do to you? Help me understand, my son.’He became quiet.‘Sin, if you continue thinking the whole world is against you then you will never find peace…love…the break you’ve needed for so long. Have you considered that maybe…just maybe Clarissa genuinely cares about you?’He moved his hand to his face again. ‘At this point, I don’t know what’s what, mama. I’m so confused and lost.’She rubbed his cheek with her thumb. ‘Forget the world, Sin. It doesn’t care about me, you or anyone els
Psych 47. Con-family-flicted
‘And so this is where the “ex theory” comes into play?’ James asked.The inspector licked his lips as he nodded slowly from the window. ‘All we have to do now is round up all the exes of the victims. We need to move, James. We need to start moving without further delay. There’s never been a murder in Malrich and when we solve this case…’ he clapped his hands loudly, ‘we’d be proving to the outside world that the Malrich Police Department can handle murder too. And since the mayor gave us Foyer’s case to solve as well, we’d put the WindleDrive Police Department to shame.’James replied, ‘But, sir, if we are to pursue this case we shouldn’t forget what the coroner said; that these murders were professional. Whoever this person is, they managed to accurately sever the joints of the victims at unbelievably accurate and identically specific points…twice!’‘Professional my foot!’ the inspector growled, waving a dismissive hand. ‘Didn’t you smell the coroner’s breath? He was as dr
Psych 48. The Promise
Sineas had had difficulty sleeping after what he had gone through the previous day. It had truly been a day to remember…or a day to forget. He looked out the window. Grey clouds were forming in the sky. Probably going to rain, he thought. He languidly pulled his body from the bed. Even though his eyelids were still very heavy, he was able to find his way to the bathroom, take a long and refreshing shower, put on a black t-shirt, a pair of jeans and his white Nikes and he headed downstairs.Aunt Janice was fully dressed in her waitress uniform. She was sitting in front of the TV. Sineas gave her a drive-by good morning making his way to the kitchen.‘Sin, my boy,’ she called him before he left the room.Sineas turned around. Her elbows were placed on her knees and her hands were clasped tightly in front of her mouth. She was maintaining the stance an employer makes when pondering over whether to hire the applicant or dismiss him entirel