The apartment building we entered reeked of alcohol and smoke. The walls which originally seemed to be wallpapered with a white paper now yellowed from cigarette smoke exposure and torn on some parts. Even the wall hidden behind the wallpapers held tiny cracks that traced to the ceiling. Through the tiny gaps, I could distinctly see roaches shimmy through the tracks. I flinched, this place is that bad!
Feeling my skin crawl, I hurried to catch up to Jayus who already stopped in front of the many identical doors of the hall.
"Is this the place?" I asked once I reached his side. For a moment, he paused his raised hand in the air mid knock, and red cherry eyes turned to me with a look. A full on squinted, harsh look emanating a full "What the fuck are you talking about." kind of thing.
"No, I need to take a shit so I need you to stand out here on guard until I relieve myself— What do you think?" He spat out, sarcastically. This man always has something to say, huh? I scoffed in disbelief. Without even realising it, in fits of slight annoyance and childish banter, I smack him right at the back of his head.
SMACK! The sound echoed through the halls in which I hadn't expected it to be so loud. I didn't even try to hit him that hard but the surprise look on Jayus's face as his eyes widened and lips pursed told me otherwise. Jayus had not expected me to hit him at all, and the contact caused him to lose his balance as he face planted to the door. The collide echoed harder than my smack in the silent halls and for a moment, we both froze on our spot.
Crap! I didn't mean to hit him that hard!
"Jayus," I said, nervously watching him as he slowly pushed himself back up. "Before you react, remember all the good times we had together," Even if those memories are ones I don't have, please remember them for my sake!
Face aching and red either from anger or the impact, I'd rather not know, Jayus turned to me. His brows furrowed menacingly with furious eyes as he scowled at me.
"You know, I think you're right about me being in this field. I'm not suited for this so I should go back and wait for you in the motorwagen, yeah? You can do this by yourself, I know you can!" I manage to laugh out the nervous build up in my stomach, but before Jayus could react, the door he had been leaning on for support suddenly disappeared from his grasp and he fell forward to the floor.
Behind the now open door, a woman, plump and soft as she looks, stood where the door originally would me. Her round eyes looked at us with innocent confusion as her short, wavy vrown hair hugged the frame of her face. Her hands, which were hidden within oven mits, held themselves together over her stomach.
I had to double look my surroundings after seeing her.
Was it just me or did she look out of place in this sketchy place?
I mean, I've transmigrated once. She also must have transmigrated from her little cooking show to our suspect's home!
Blank as my mind can be, I could only blindly reach for Jayus on the floor who, for unknown reasons, refused to look up, as I kept eye contact on the lady. If I blink she might disappear from sight.
"Jayus...Jayus!" I harshly whispered to him, pulling this man up to his feet as he trembled under my touch.
"I think I saw something I should not have," He shivered, a cold chill rushing through his spine. Ignoring him, I pulled him aside, "Are you sure this is the right place?" I asked in a hushed tone. "Moreover, is she in the right place!?"
I don't think this lady knows she lives around a roach infested building that reeks with alcohol and piss on every corner of the hall. And aside from that, she smells like baked cookies and chocolate milk! A major contradictory to the impression that was laid before me by this run down neighborhood!
Jayus lightly shoved me off but I kept a strong grab on his arm and shirt. With our eyes locked together, the lady only smiled, "What may I help you with, kind detectives? Are there still things you need to ask of my son?" She politely asked.
"Are you still on about that amnesia thing? You've met Fin Keinsley's mother before. Didn't you worship the ground she walked on after she fed you cookies when we interrogated her son?" Jayus whispered back. Well how was I suppose to know that!?
If this was like one of those transmigration novels where I also gained the memories of the main character or received some system, I'd actually have an advantage! But what can a person do if the only thing they got the first time they came here was work!?
To put the cherry on top, I wasn't even transmigrated as the daughter of some wealthy duke, much less a noble. I just live with my coworker in a messy apartment!!!
I took in a deep breath, "Oh haha, you're right!" I smiled, turning towards the patient lady at the door, "Yes, we'd like to speak with your son regarding the current case he's involved with, if it's not too much trouble."
Through the open door, behind the lady I could see her sweet home. It looked like a whole other world compared to the rest of the building. Cute flowery wallpapers and turquoise vases to make the colors in the pop, a nice clean couch, and an old functioning radio by the window. The wooden floorboards did not creak nor sink underneath our weight as we troded to the table where a plate of freshly baked goods sat.
As we both let the lady get our first suspect, Fin Keinsley out of his room, we wandered towards the kitchen and took our seats at their table. With perceptive eyes, Jayus was the first to take note of the steaming oven and cluster within the kitchen and quickly made his consideration known, "It seems we caught you in the middle of a busy day, Miss Keinsley. I apologise for our abrupt intrusion."
Miss Keinsley came back soon after that, expression adorned with a smile from thick red lips, "No need for apologies, Mr. Detective. In fact, I believe I owe you an apology instead. My son seemed to have gone out. However, he did leave behind his lighter, I believe he'll be back pretty soon. Would you like to wait for him and help yourselves to some freshly baked cookies?"
So Fin Keinsley was out. We both came here unexpectedly on purpose in hopes to catch him off guard but with that plan foiled, we cane here for absolutely nothing. Jayus sighed, It's not as if anyone knew we'd be coming here anyways, so Jayus doubted Fin Keinsley could have ran away expecting our arrival. As red eyes watched with disdain as I shoved my mouth with cookie after cookie, Jayus hesitantly turned back to Miss Keinsley.
"If it's not too much trouble, we'd like to stay here until he comes back."