The indoor basketball court or gym room was now packed. After two hours of students and teachers filing in, people finally got settled in the stands. The stands were occupied by the students and just beside them, chairs had been placed for the teachers. In the middle of the court was the podium and five metres to its right sat the victims’ families. The chairs were arranged in pairs and in the lead were Justin Foyer’s younger sister and mother and behind them were Justin’s other relatives and Miss Bale’s relatives as well. They had not been formally introduced. All of them summed up were at least twelve.
Sineas and Clarissa were in the top stands, sitting patiently like the rest of the students, waiting for the service to get underway. A few teachers had attempted to quieten the students’ conversations down but were barely successful. They decided to give up. Even the hard-shelled Mr. Regwizini had tried his military no-nonsense tactics but had fa
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Psych 65. An Arrow in the Dark
He continued, ‘I loved Miss Bale too. She was a good teacher with so many years ahead of her. May the heavens keep her safe.’ He waved conclusively towards the stands, then the families and headed back to his seat amidst heavy applause.‘This has been one hell of a memorial,’ Clarissa said to Sineas as they sat in the stands waiting for the principal to announce the next speaker. Everyone had delved into hushed conversation whilst the principal scoped a piece of paper in front of him.‘What do you mean?’ Sineas asked her.‘No one seemed to know a lot about Miss Bale. It’s making this event look a little one-sided.’‘Are you saying that no one knows anything about Miss Bale? The whore that slept all the way to her job? Miss Bale, who dresses worse than a ghetto hooker? Miss Bale, who…’‘Okay, okay, I get it, Sin,’ she said stopping him with a hand. She looked remorseful. &lsq
Psych 66. The Foyer and Bale Memorial (Part II)
‘I, uh…I never knew Justin. All I’ve ever heard about him is that he was a man of honour and promise and a man with a very bright future. And all I can say to that is…’ he looked up into the stands.Clarissa was still wearing that smile. She gave him another thumbs up.He turned back to the other eyes. The hundreds of executioners’ eyes. ‘…Yes…Yes he was,’ he continued. ‘Justin was a true sportsman. He was multitalented and was, in my opinion, the best student role model this school will ever know. He had plenty of scholarships in his pocket, awards in his closet, more than enough open doors but unfortunately, a sick and twisted person…or people, for their own unknown reasons, decided to cut Justin’s destiny short. I never knew Miss Bale that well either. But for the short time I was in her presence, she was able to bless me with her well advanced intellect and deep wisdom. I felt a sense of
Psych 67. Sineas and Goliath
‘Nice speech, kid,’ Said Trevor, nonchalantly placing his giant hands into his jacket pockets. His eyes were purposely drooping, his face slightly elevated.‘Thanks,’ Sineas replied.‘Where’d you get it from? A talk show?’‘From my head,’ Sineas answered.Trevor looked behind him, at his crew, massaging his chin slowly. He looked back at Sineas. His face was more hardened than before. ‘I don’t know where you got the idea that you could just get up there and talk about my dead pal like that.’Clarissa stepped in front of Sineas. ‘Trevor, please…’‘Na-ah, traitor,’ he said waving a finger at her, ‘I’m still talking to the ass. I’ll get to the ex later.’She opened her mouth to say something but Sineas pulled her gently to the side. He gave her a reassuring nod. Like a code, she nodded back.‘What do you want from m
Psych 68. The Interrogation
Sineas could hardly believe his eyes. The Luciferian smirk on the inspector’s face made him feel like a real criminal.Aunt Janice said, ‘Can you fetch these two gentlemen some water to drink?’ She did not look up however.Sineas took his sweet time, first having his staring contest with the inspector. The deputy’s eyes were hidden from him. Sineas finally walked back into the kitchen and came back carrying two cups of cold water. He handed the two their water then sat down on Aunt Janice’s left side. Deputy James was facing Sineas and Inspector Charles was facing Aunt Janice. The fact that the two officers were in higher seats than him and his aunt made him feel vulnerable to a large extent.The inspector picked his hat from the floor beside him and placed it on top of his knee. He said, ‘Alright. Now that most of the family is here, I’m going to go ahead and tell you the rules of this talk before we begin. Rule number
Psych 69. Alibi
Aunt Janice looked up at the inspector. She said, ‘Sineas could never harm anyone in that way.’‘And your sister? Your statement at the station in Breechwood, Janice, eleven years ago. You said she had moods. Violent moods. Maybe this is an example.’‘My mother is not a killer,’ Sineas muttered.‘You said something, kid?’ asked Deputy James.Sineas looked at the two officers in turn. He felt a bit of anger towards James because he thought someone of his own colour would at least try to show him some compassion. ‘I said my mother is not a killer,’ he said again with a little more boldness to his tone.‘All the evidence disagrees, Sineas,’ said the inspector.He answered, ‘You laid the evidence against us, Charles. You had your turn to accuse us but you gave us the floor so let me speak.’The inspector raised his hands apologetically, grinning. ‘Be my guest.&rsq
Psych 70. "Don't be so naïve, child !'
Even after the policemen had left, Sineas and his aunt stayed in their sitting positions for a bit longer. Both were obviously thinking.‘You think they’ll be back?’ Sineas asked her.She tried to look at him but she only gave him a glimpse then turned back to the carpet. She answered, ‘These are the police, Sin. What do you think?’He stood up and looked down at her. ‘Aunt Janice, I’ve seen first-hand how quick these guys are to jump to conclusions. They’ll do anything to make sure their half-baked evidence sticks.’‘I’m not going to prison, Sineas,’ she said. ‘I’m not going to let any prison record mar my job opportunities.’‘Aunt Janice, do you think that matters right now? If Charles makes this evidence stick on either or both of us we’re looking at life imprisonment with no possibility of parole!’Her eyes immediately flared up. She jumped to
Psych 71. It's not over yet
James said, ‘Sir; you had the same feeling about Clarissa Sherman. We talked to her and her phone records prove that she called Sineas that night at eleven o’clock. She also claimed that the call concerned the recovery of Justin Foyer’s body. Are you also forgetting, sir, that we actually visited the Murphys’ neighbour and he confirmed everything Sineas told us?’ He sighed and leaned towards the inspector. He clasped his hands on top of the desk. ‘Maybe it’s time we accept defeat, sir. Maybe…’ he shrugged, ‘…Maybe it’s time to call in the big guns upstairs.’‘Do you know that I saw Freddy Krueger in church last Sunday, James?’‘I think I saw him too,’ said James. ‘Wasn’t he the one who was on the pulpit, preaching the sermon on mercy?’‘No, James, that was Jack the Ripper. Krueger was in the praise and worship choir.’They both lau
Psych 72. Partners
Clarissa looked inscrutable as she ate her carrot salad.‘Everything good?’ Sineas asked her. It was raining heavily outside and therefore lunchtime was held indoors. The two were sitting together at the back of the class.Clarissa smiled in response to Sineas’ question but she did not look at him. The smile seemed to have originated from a half conscious mind. She crunched on, slowly.‘It’s just that today you look a little…quiet, that’s all,’ he said.She shrugged. ‘One of those days.’‘You want to talk about it?’She shook her head.‘Claire, remember that rule we agreed on? No secrets?’She pushed her lunchbox aside. She looked at him. ‘Everything is going up in smoke, Sineas. Ever since that day the inspector tried to rough answers out of me at the station, I’ve been standing at the edge of a cliff. Yesterday, he paid me a visit at my house in