It was cold at the office. After 7 p.m. the heater was off to save money. From that time on at most one or two policemen were on duty. On duty meant they could be called while they stayed at home or during their sleep. The emergency number was a central one and most likely a housewife answered the phone. Someone's mother, a mother with a huge lack of sleep trying to make an income without leaving the house. Many did these days it was saver. Too many viruses conquered the world and those 80 vaccinations needed by now didn't turn out to have the wanted effect or perhaps they did since immune diseases were the most common health issues the human race had to deal with and the pharmaceutical industry was the only one blooming. After that it was aggression and killing -sexual aggression included-, and 'acts' caused by depression was the number three of the new normal.
"A great nation we live in," Fidelo sighed behind his desk. "Sick people, rapists and killers is all we have. People get used to it, way too used."
The word 'shocked' meant nothing these days. It was just a word, an expression not different from 'congratulations' or 'I feel so sorry for you'. Did they? These were the reasons for his early retirement. The little world his new friend had invited him to, the place the missing girl, Magda's daughter ended up, would be his new home as well. Far away from all the misery he had to deal with today. He tried long enough to make a difference.
Back at the office he showed the doll to Ben's 'friend'. The friend who knew Ben from foster care. He turned out to be one of Mr. Gordon his protégés as well. It was too late to ask Mrs. Gordon about it. She was found dead. Shot twice. Once in the head and once in the heart. He was sure her husband did it. It wasn't only his first thought but the video recorded it. The ex sneaked in to kill her.
The doll was recognized.
"It was Jimmy's he told us his dad said it was valuable and he had to protect it with his life which he did. As Jimmy disappeared, not returned, we tried to get rid of it. It was as if the doll blamed us for not protecting the kid. He wasn't even 4 years old. Did you saw the face? I swear it didn't look that scary as Jimmy arrived with it. It's as if the doll has a soul." The last words were whispered. "I need to take the doll back, back to Jimmy..."
"I'm afraid I can't let you have it. It's evidence someone left it behind for Ben."
"It isn't his nor yours! You better take it back to the owner, I'll take it back. I was the one who made Ben follow me and left the bag behind. He should take care of it till..."
Abruptly he stopped talking. Did he already say too much?
"She's dead, Mrs. Gordon I mean and I am sure you like to know why. Why we all will die."
Fidelo waited for more to come. The man seemed to be in thoughts.
"You found her diaries? I knew she kept a diary.... Who knows for how long. There are more of these dolls, not many but more."
To those who didn't knew more about the case the young man sounded like a confused idiot losing his mind. He rambled on and the only thing the chief inspector needed to do was to wait, listen and put the pieces of the puzzle at the right place.
He thought of the anonymous email he received. The message was a strange one that had kept his mind busy. A cartoon of one page about a dolls house. A horror house where puppets were sold and turned against their owners. The reason was unclear but the names, at least three of them, made sense now. Ben, Jimmy and the young man he picked up were mentioned. Four more names were written down and only one was a girl's name. It was written on the wall in large letters. He suddenly wondered about the name of Magda's daughter. Nowhere it was written down. There was no birth certificate, the town hall never registered anything about 'Jim's daughter' and neither did the police or the hospital. They had called her Jane, Jane D.
She didn't stay long in that house but someone wanted to remember her for a reason. Someone still remembers her and draw that cartoon. Who of those foster children is still alive, didn't end up dead, bricked into the wall? Were those seven in danger?
"Six are dead, six unknown are found, Jim included makes seven. Seven names are mentioned in the cartoon. One of them is a girl, Jim's little girl. The question remains did Mrs. Gordon's son die and who is he. Let's assume he wasn't killed. Does this mean he showed up after all these years and wants justice?"
He lifted the doll and studied it.
"You are not good looking, I can imagine you scare little children but I doubt you have a soul. Let's see if your owner shows up. The auction is over and you are the only one for sale."
You are so talented