Inspecting every possible detail that could connect to the whereabouts of the old woman was tedious and time-consuming for everyone except myself as I manage to find a clue that can lead me to the location of the suspect. There was a fading and well-hidden bloody hand print on the far corner of a painted vase that somehow escaped the attention of everyone here.
Eve was occupied with something else, likely chatting with the officers in this crime scene we are all trying to search for the suspect by finding any said clues and what not. As I briefly focused on the clue, touching it and closing my eyes to visualize the entire sequences of events and plots in my head of the possible situation where such things could happen like this; the gut feeling and instincts picked a peculiar plot with higher or likely possibilities.
I finally know where she might be or at least, where her hunting ground is likely at. The only problem here…how can I lure her out to the open for us to have a clear confrontation? I recalled that twisted old woman loves to hunt down infants to kill and devour them as she has reported to have done before.
“There you are,” a familiar voice spoke from behind me, “have you found anything yet, detective?” I immediately snapped my head around to see the previous sheriff I have just met earlier, along being with Eve. near his side.
I sighed from the rude interruption but not a surprise since the cops are all over this house, “yeah, I have. And truth to be told, I think I know where she might be,” my answer shifted their expressions to one of curiosity before continuing, “believe me, I would not tell you otherwise.”
The sheriff gave me a harsh glare before he nodded in understanding, “If you say so, give us the address and we will arrest this sick individual,” he confidently spoke with determination from hearing my claim, the other nearby officers following suit after hearing him. I could sense the tenseness of everyone’s gazes on me.
“No, no,” I shook my head while insisting it, raising many eyebrows on the process, “I don’t exactly know where her location is, but I do know where her usual hunting ground is at,” the sheriff and cops was intrigued to hear my statement, appeared to be warranting the answer to come out of my mouth, “and I suspect she is not out in the ope.; that is why we have to lure her favorite prey out from her hiding place for us to have a fair chance.”
“You don’t mean…” one of the officers on the scene gasped while pointing at me, “that you are going to use a baby as bait?!” I could feel my body stiffen up with the sudden shock of what was said. The other officers and sheriff all looked at each other in disbelief as they were appalled with the suggestion.
Then the same officer who asked me from before spoke against me, “no! We are definitely not going to go through with that!” He turned to me, “if you want us to help you, then you might as well just quit being a cop,” he said and his gaze was determined. I sighed as I felt like I was losing this battle.
One by one, they left in disbelief and anger from my suggestion before I even could open my mouth, instead of convincing them; I let them be on their own devices. Eve was standing motionlessly like usual, although her display of expression was more of a mix in understanding and disappointment towards me.
On the contrary, the sheriff was shocked and at disbelief any other officers being involved in this case, but was nonetheless angry at me for suggesting such a horrific idea. In reverse, he approach and spoke about it with me, “you…you are really that desperate? I don’t think you really know what you are doing…or even what you are doing! This is against the law! You can even go to jail for this kid,” he was almost lecturing at me like a grown teacher, “even if she is preying on infants for her cannibalistic tastes, we are not going so far to use a baby as infant for this lunatic just to kill and eat the newborn.”
These people with their morals…they do not know how to truly get the job done. They think that it is wrong to use sacrifice, even if it is the smallest and most helpless among us. I smiled bitterly at their softness, “I know that this is not what you want to hear, but this is the only way we are going to find her and prevent other babies from be devoured like some cooked chicken,” that is a lie, there are definitely other and better alternatives to prevent any one harm or death.
I however, prefer to pick the safer path for myself, because why? In society, there are those who deem evil or good based on their perception and morality. But in my world, there are not really any good guys or evil folks in every dark corner, there is only us; nitwitted humans doing our best to get by in this harsh reality.
“Are you married by any chance?” My question caught him off guard as he was already deciding to leave. I expected him to shout or possibly understand what I am asking before getting angry and insulting me to ask such a thing from him, but I never expected to get a different emotion out of him. “I had a wife,” he answered with a sighed of sadness, “she died from organ failure as I did not have enough money to pay the hospital costs and bills. The only person I have in my family was my two-month-son,” his words had somehow affected me, almost to the point of reconsidering this decision.
No, I cannot let my morals get the best of me. Deep down, I want to pick the other options, but they have a higher chance of causing me or anyone in particular to die and getting severely hurt. If it means to be the lowest of the low, then so be it. I am willing to sacrifice my ethics to achieve this goal.
“Could I use your two-month-old son as bait?”
Hearing that resulted him stare at me with pure anger and rage. I stared back, not flinching or fearing of what he might do to me, “you…YOU! YOU ARE SUGGESTING TO MY SON, MY TWO MONTH YEAR OLD, AS FUCKING BAIT TO LURE THAT MONSTER?!”
He grabbed me by the shirt, pulling me up while angrily looking in my eyes.
Eve was about to intervene but I took a quick glance at her and gesture her not to, this is a conversation between myself and him, “I am a man with no choice here, I have to do what it takes to survive and get the job done. That old hag has kidnapped and devoured many babies; if I use him, she will be drawn to the crying kid like a magnet and I can use that to my advantage in confronting her face to face.” This only angered him further, gripping my shirt tighter than before, “YOU HAVE NO RIGHT! YOU HAVE NO FUCKING IDEA OF WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE THE ONLY PARENT! DO YOU REALIZE HOW WORRIED I WAS WHEN MY SON WAS BORN?! DO YOU EVEN, FUCKING REALIZE HOW I AM WILLINGLY TO SACRIFICE MYSELF TO ENSURE HE WILL BE SAFE AND SOUND?!!”
Shit, I can see myself sweating now. It is normal behavior for parents to be very protective of their children, because this is part of our genes that protects the offspring to grow as another human being. Simultaneously, it is also normal for parents to have a strong sense of attachment and love towards their child, especially in the case of the birth of their first child. I felt like I was witnessing a rare and precious moment of fathers who are willing to go through extreme in protecting their kids.
I understand and sympathize with him, but I am afraid that I do not play such rules. Guess I have to do this the other way huh? I am the world’s best psychologist after all.
Cruelly smiling, “you really don’t get it do you? Why does it matter when your child dies?” My cold works froze him to the core, shocked and more angry than before, but also confused at my sentiment.
“What?!”
I continued, smiling down at him evilly, “there is nothing special about being born as a human being. There are likely around millions or billions of humans living and each moment and day, they die and another one is born in this forsaken life. It is like a game where everyone is trying to be the one to score the first goal.” I continue to stare at him while he remains silent. “We have brought destruction and deaths of many animals and the environment in the past, including to ourselves. So tell, does it matter? Does it matter about losing your child? Humanity is overpopulated and overrated anyway, even if you or that child dies; another human father and son will soon take your places in the end…”
He let go off me in shock from the revelation of my words, trembling before falling straight down on the floor with his ass. I continued, “hilarious, right? We are just tiny, insignificant ants living in some corner of a planet. We are nothing more than a speck of dust that can be easily swept away by the wind…just like your son.” As I said that, I saw his eyes watered and he began to cry in sadness.
God, I need a cigarette right about now. I could feel the stress and self-loathing boiling inside me. I took out a cigar from my pockets, lighting it before placing the said cigar between my lips as I exhaled the smoke. The smoke of my cigar filled the room with its hazardous aroma and soothing effect on my nerves.
“Your…your right,” the sheriff stood up, wiping his face and shaking his head, “I shouldn’t be acting like I know it all; everything you just said now makes sense, but I have to do what is best for the other grieving parents who lost their kids. Even if that means using my infant son as bait,” his words carried remorse and guilt from his heart.
I nodded, returning a comforting smile before placing my hand on one of his shoulders, “I am glad that you understand the gravity of this situation, what we are doing is going to prevent anymore children being killed or eaten by that lunatic. Thank you, when we finally apprehend her, many of the grieving parents will have their justice,” my eyes then shined with a sinister light as I stared at the poor man while he was speechless.
“Okay…okay, I just need a moment to catch my breath. Let me just get some rest, I will meet you guys outside in a couple of minutes,” the sheriff replied before walking away from us and going into another room of this house.
I exhaled a long puff of smoke before throwing it on the ground, stomping it. I turned to Eve, “you heard what the man said,” my eyes then stared at her, she nodded her head in agreement. We left the room and then the house outside. I looked up at the sky and noticed that it is dark.
Perfect opportunity for that old hag to come out of her shit hole.
Before I opened my mouth, Eve asked a perplexing question targeting me, “why don’t we use a fake baby instead?” She offered to act better option in baiting that psycho, however I declined the offer, “no, I am sorry but I prefer my plan better. Trust me, there is no life-sized toy or even something like that existing in this city. If there was one, I would have already known in the first place.”
