It is a heavy day. Today, Maya suddenly remembers how she first joined the agency. It is a matter of a year ago. Just like anyone else who is new to the job, Maya wanted to give her best to her first client and ensure her comfort, but despite all of her efforts, she failed miserably on the attempt.

Even though she won the case, she did not get the feeling of satisfaction that she had been dreaming of since childhood! That moment was filled with a mix of happiness and sadness, relief and disbelief. But still, it was her first case, the first step into her dream career! No matter what happens next, this has always been a milestone case for her because she suffered as much as she learned from this case! It was a difficult-win and bitter-sweet moment in her life that led her to a much better tomorrow!

Now, Maya aims to drop heavy news of her resignation or at least a timely one to Rebecca, but somehow Rebecca’s news lands way heavier on Maya’s shoulder.

As Maya enters Rebecca’s cabin, she practically experiences the grief that is omnipresent in the air. Rebecca is a very strict lady, but ever since Maya’s health started deteriorating, she has been extra careful around her. And as soon as Maya enters the cabin, Rebecca looks at her and then turns her eyes away, as if she is searching for someone else who could bring the news up. 

Maya can feel that Rebecca is struggling to say something, so she starts the conversation, “So, I wanted to discuss something important. Do you have time?”

Martha Murder Case Investigation: Day 21

New Murder Case Investigation: Day 1

Rebecca sighs and stops Maya in her tracks and proceeds, “Well, I am sure you have very important things to discuss. And I think I have an idea of what it is. But before you say it, there’s something that you should know.”

Maya nods and then asks, “Something is wrong?”

Rebecca shakes her head as if she is still in disbelief at what she is about to say and starts explaining. “There’s been another murder. And it seems like you are the indirect connection of it.”

Maya is stunned by what she hears. She raises her eyebrows, but somehow she still can't believe in what she heard. She enquires, “What does that mean? Murder happened? Connection is… me?” 

Rebecca exhales, a hint of sadness in her voice, and she responds, “Well, you seem to be connected with the murders that happened. And it is way too similar to the Martha Case that you are dealing with. Also, the one letter that you received and your health right now. Seems like someone is targeting you to achieve something. We’re not sure what the motive is, but something more is going on here.”

Maya sits on the chair and asks, “What is the connection?”

Rebecca remains silent for a few seconds and then starts revealing, “The murder happened last night and it is like Martha’s case but the victim… This time, the victim is someone you know.” 

Maya feels her heart drop. Who had been killed? Is it someone from the society? Who is it? 

Rebecca hands her a file, and Maya opens it. Reading it, her eyes find it hard to believe what she is looking at. 

The victim is the client from the first murder case that she was in charge of when she was appointed as a homicide detective. She remembers vividly. That client was just standing blankly at the crime scene in a very unconventional way. She was arrested under suspicion of murder but was found innocent in the end. She was claiming to be the murderer of the case but turned out that she was just mentally ill and was advised with the necessary medical help. And to the client, Maya was a lawless detective who led others to believe that she was mentally ill, while all she was seeking was justice for the dead. Later, that client was admitted to a mental facility, and she stayed there ever since. 

There was no news from that facility and it was speculated that she might be released soon in the future, since there were significant signs of recovery in her mental health. But today, it is the news that gave Maya a big shock. 

She rubs her forehead unknowingly in concern and her ever-present headache is there too. This can’t be a coincidence. It seems like this case might actually have some traces in her past case and maybe even her life. Maybe she would need to investigate herself as well to find some threads that lead to the clues of this case. For that reason, she decides to stay a bit back from this second case for a moment. So, Daniel and Runo will be mainly handling the investigations of this second murder.

And of course, she couldn’t bring herself to say what she was about to say and decided to express something else instead, “You know, my headaches and blackouts are better these days, but I’m avoiding driving at all costs. So, I’ll drive with Runo or Daniel instead.”

Rebecca knows that this is the alternative to what Maya was going to say, but it is not the time that can give any of them the luxury of rest. So, she nods in agreement and then they both go on with their days.

On the other hand, Maya knows that at this point, she has to keep investigating and she can’t take her hands off of it, even if it puts her own life in danger. She discusses the situation with Daniel and Runo while pushing herself into the case even more than before, even turning herself into a lead of investigation and making sure to leave no stone unturned. And of course, every step of the way, the feeling that she is being watched never spares her consciousness.

Later that evening, she investigates the new murder scene with Daniel. Again, she sees the silhouette of a man peeking from the corner of a building at the crime scene. He is standing in the shadows, like always, watching her with those piercing dark eyes. Maya felt a surge of annoyance, fear, and anger. Who is he, and why is he following her? Is he even real or just a hint of her imagination?

At this point, she isn’t even sure if her eyes are not playing tricks on her. But thankfully, Daniel is there this time, and he nudges her and asks, “Someone you know?”

Maya is taken aback and shakes her head in disagreement. Daniel looks back at the man, still standing there. This time, he did not vanish. Daniel walks towards and the man starts running away. Daniel raises his hand to his team and they catch him on the way.

The man is taken back to the bureau and Daniel decides to confront him with Maya, to find out his motives.

He is sent to the interrogation room, handcuffed. As soon as they enter the room, he looks at Maya with an unreadable expression. Maya is trying to figure out what to make of this kind of expression. But it didn’t mean anything. No expectation, no fear, no remorse, no question, no nothing.

“Who are you?” Maya demanded, trying to keep her voice steady. The man smiles in a cold and sinister manner. It is as if he is a completely different person. He doesn’t seem to be the person who was running away from the police a few hours ago. 

“I am the devil’s servant,” he announces, with a ton of pride and dominance in his voice. “And you, my dear, are playing a dangerous game.”

Daniel and Maya both stare at each other and cannot comprehend the change in this persona. Then the annoying phenomenon happened again. She got a migraine for half a minute and blacked out.

But the strangest thing is yet to happen. When she finds herself back to her senses, she rubs her forehead in the cabin and Daniel is in the interrogation room. No one else is there with her. She is alone in her cabin. She questions herself, “How did I get here? Wasn’t I in the interrogation room just now?”

Then Rebecca steps into the cabin and inquires, “So, how are you feeling? If you are doing alright, then you might need to step into the interrogation. He’s not talking at all. Maybe he would want to answer your questions.”

Maya is more than surprised at this point. She is a bit frightened and puzzled by the situation. She verifies, “Wasn’t I in the interrogation room just now?”

Rebecca replies with a hint of concern in her voice, “You did come with Daniel, but you said you weren’t feeling well. You stayed in the cabin and said you would join later. Is something wrong?”

Maya braces herself and proceeds, “No, I was a bit unsure. Nothing serious.”

Rebecca asks again with more concern in her voice, “Are you sure you don’t need leave or doctor’s attention? Don’t push yourself too hard. You know we have all kinds of secrecy and confidentiality norms for doctors. They won’t interfere in the legalities.”

Maya nods and replies with a slight smile, “Yes, I do know that. Thanks, I will talk to the doctor when I need it.”

Rebecca patted twice on Maya’s shoulder and left the cabin. 

This happened again! She didn’t know when she went into the cabin! She remembered going to the interrogation room instead, which in reality never happened! Maya checks the CCTV footage to verify what Rebecca said, and it is the truth! She finds that she never moved from her spot. Like she froze in time. Not sure how, or why. But this was the second such time gap conflict that happened to her. It is hard to tell anyone about it because they would advise her to see the doctor. Rightfully so, but she doesn’t want to do that. It seems like a waste of opportunity at that moment. 

The interrogation doesn’t help at all since the man refuses to talk. In the present moment, the man she is looking at… is afraid, bothered, and annoyed and all emotions are evident on his face. So what did she see? She is sure that it wasn’t her imagination! It was way too clear to be a fragment of her imagination.

She certainly needs to discuss her vivid imagination and confusion with someone. And she could only rely on her friends at this time. So, she decides to take a human approach to coping with these things. She will fight it off! She believes it! She knows it! She will!