DAYMARE 12: Dig Her Death

"Hestral Gern?" I asked myself while staring with a confused face at the Metro City Police man.

“Are your parents here?” The police officer asked.

Wait… who is Hestral again? Her name rings a bell.

“Um, no. Wait, who are you with?” I asked while taking a peek at someone who was behind him.

Before I answer their further questions, I need to know the name of the other police. Looks like he forgot to introduce himself.

The other guy stepped forward.

He’s wearing a gray polo shirt and black pants paired with gray rubber shoes. He is smaller in body build and must be 15 years younger than Mr. Sergio. He has a pencil moustache. His fashion is looking chill and casual for a detective.

“I’m Johace, a private detective hired by the victim’s parents.” He showed his ID and put it back in his pocket. “I am currently working with Mr. Ohina on this case.”

Oh, so he’s a detective, not a policeman. No wonder he’s not wearing a police uniform, unlike Mr. Sergio.

They showed me an introductory paper about their investigation. It states their right to investigate the house we’re currently renting with the consent of the owners for the alleged murder case of Hestral Gern. With a year on it, this was last year’s case.

*telephone rings*

The telephone rang suddenly.

Oops.

“Please wait here. I got a call.” I said to them and rushed beside the sofa where our telephone is.

“Hello?”

“Hello. Is this the son of Mrs. Truvel?”

I heard the voice of the caretaker of this house.

“Yes, Ma’am. Why?”

“Pardon for the late announcement. This is a message from the owners of the house. The police authorities will visit the house for a specific case. They will be arriving at 2:00 PM. They will check the entire house and might interview you. Where’s your mother?”

“She’s out with my Janey for an errand.”

“Alright. They visited me here a while ago, too. They just asked some questions related to the case. Will you be alright accommodating their needs?

“I’m with Vea.”

“Okay, help your sister there. And might as well let your mother know about the police.”

“Got it.”

“Kindly attend to the visitors. Call me if they need anything.”

“Thanks, Ma’am,” I put down the telephone.

After talking to the house caretaker who lives 2 kilometers from here, this confirms that these two are legit. The caretaker was hired by Mr. and Mrs. Gern to accommodate our rent and house concerns because the two of them are too busy in the Metro.

I checked the clock in our living area. It’s 12:44 PM, and they arrived here earlier than expected. The notice from the caretaker was sudden.

“Take a seat.” I let them in and offered them a seat. “Everyone’s out except me and my older sister. Don’t hesitate to ask if you need something from us.”

They took a seat on our sofa in the living area.

“Would you like a juice or coffee?”

“Water’s fine,” Detective Johace answered.

“I’ll have coffee instead, iced if you have.” Police officer Sergio responded.

“Okay,”

I went to the kitchen while taking a glance at what they were doing. I can’t hear their conversation, but they seem serious.

After minutes of preparing their drinks, I almost dropped the tray with their drinks when I recalled the girl they were talking about.

Man, I didn’t even realize my memory sucked! I just remembered her now.

Hestral Gern!

She’s my schoolmate from my previous school. She’s the crazy war freak from last year!

Wait… hold up… she’s dead?!

“Hestral is dead? Is she the one who’s from Metro City? A high schooler who goes to Clairene Academy?” I pondered talking to myself.

I’ve been hearing a bunch of rumors that Hestral. She’s the girl who used to bully everyone but now gets bullied, suddenly moved to some province for senior high. If that really is the Hestral they’re talking about… then what a rollercoaster ride of events has happened to her!

“Yes. Haven't your parents already told you that the owners of your home are the Gerns and that their one and only daughter is gone?” Mr. Sergio replied.

I didn’t notice I had already walked from the kitchen to the living area while piecing things together about Hestral.

I paused from walking, still holding the tray with their drinks in my hands.

"Hestral used to live here?!" I shrieked.

"Yes"

I rubbed my forehead. I can't believe she's the Hestral Gern I know. I gulped.

“Oh, Winwin. Why is that door open?” My sister approached me, who had just taken a bath with a towel on her head. “Ay! Who are they?" she yelped.

The police officer and the detective introduced themselves to my sister. Vea went upstairs in a hurry to fix her hair, then went down again to face the two.

"I never knew that the daughter of the owners is dead," my sister said sadly.

“Did no one tell you? Your parents should know that, at least” said Sir Johace.

"Excuse our ignorance, Sir. It looks like our mother hid it from us."

"How did Hestral die?" I asked sincerely.

Mr. Sergio moved his head slightly, then spoke. "Unfortunately, I can't discuss that with anyone. Although it occurred last year, the girl's parents asked me not to share some facts about it.

"Hestral was my schoolmate last year. I think I have the right to know something about what happened to her. I know a thing or two about her. This might also help you with the investigation." I insisted.

Sir Johace shook his head. “That’s not possible. The situation’s too sensitive. We can’t tell anyone what happened without the parents of the deceased giving their permission.”

"Sir, what do you need from this house?" my sister asked.

"The victim's parents are just looking for something important." Sir Johace replied.

"Didn't they take their belongings when they left here?" - Vea

“They left right away and handled their daughter’s funeral in Metro City. It all happened so suddenly, they didn’t have much time to prepare before leaving the house here.” Mr. Sergio answered.

"What is the thing they’re looking for?" I asked.

"We are also not authorized to tell you."

What? They’re asking us for help, but they can’t even give us significant details to help them. Besides, I'm getting curious here.

“All right, Sir. You can search this house,” said my sister. “We’ll accompany you in case you need anything else.”

Mr. Sergio and Sir Johace got up and started searching for something who-knows-what-it-is-except-the-two-of-them at the ground floor of the house.

I didn't do anything to help them further because I don’t know how to. Maybe I’ll just leave them to it until they finish their business. Even if I force Mr. Sergio to spit some information out, I bet he would not even give us more clues.

I still have no deep information about Hestral’s death.

I was stunned when I found out about her death.

She is a year older than me. She had three friends who were always with her at school. They said she was often rude and arrogant, but suddenly she went on a hiatus from bullying other students. I heard before that he moved to another school last year. And that's all I know. I see her rarely at school because we’re not even classmates.

We never shared conversations, so I didn't know much about her at that time, but now I want to know her. Little did I know that she used to live in the house we’re renting now.

Just spit it out, Mr. Sergio and Sir Johace!

When he kept Hestral’s death a secret from us, it just made me even more curious instead of staying quiet in my corner. And yeah, I become nosy whenever I find something interesting, I can’t help but dig deeper. No matter which choice I make, it ends the same. I’m still curious until I know the truth. And that’s seriously annoying.

Lorean and Vance are already keeping secrets from me, but Mr. Sergio as well? Give me a break! Do I look that unworthy of keeping secrets?