Part Nine
One last time Laura eyed her sturdy two-story residence , the weed choked courtyard , the majestic trees and their fallen leaves seemed screaming as if asking her to stay , to not abandon the breathless creatures , that once had a soulful presence in her life , once when her mother had been there.
"For autumn to leave a tree must shed it's leaves," David patted her shoulder. "No matter how beautiful they are. No matter how exotic they make the tree look , it must let go of them. But you know what Laura? Leaf fall is a sign that a new season will come soon" He opened the door of the car.
The car stopped by a large residential building. David led Laura to a small half timbered apartment. Two bedrooms and a study room opened to grey walled living room. On the other end of lounge was a small L-shaped kitchen carrying different accessories, a cooking range and many shelves each lined with utencils. Behind the kitchen a door led to a tiny kitchen garden.
A young boy , about Laura's age , greeted them. "This is Simons , my junior and teammate. He's like a brother to me. We can trust him." He said with voice inaudibly low at last sentence.
"Nice to meet you." Laura shook hands with him. " I'll be sharing room with Simons for the time being. You can stay in my room" David signalled towards one of the bed rooms.
It was a small , quiet room , free of luxuries but comfortable to stay in , just like the apartment itself. The wall had several frames hanging over it. A small innocent child , oblivious to the bitterness of world , stood with his parents. A boy celebrating his 10th birthday , his mom and dad standing beside him each on a side , cheerfully clapping. David dressed in long black rob and mortarboard on convocation day , capturing joy with his beautiful smile. A black and white photograph of a couple in wedding dress . A man in mid thirties in police uniform ,holding a certificate , a conscientious smile printed over his face.
"He's my father" David entered the room with luggage. "I guessed that, he looks like an older version of you."
"You two must be very close? " Laura said after a while of tranquil stillness. "Ah yes. We used to be." He paused, "He died when...when I was eleven."
Laura looked at him , "I'm so sorry." Laura for the first time , saw herself in him. His past formed an invisible link with her present , stirring an incomprehensible emotion inside her.
"Life will move on , Laura." David spoke after an uncomfortable silence.
"Life doesn't stop for one to mourn over his loss, it just....moves on. When dad died , I felt devastated. I thought the life had ended for me. But that didn't happen. Today I am here , life is great. I don't cry myself to sleep like the eleven years old David. Mom looks old but she smiles often. I cherish the memories I made with him. I treasure the people I have. Mom says i've matured too early of my age."
"My girl has grown up too fast!" A voice echoed in Laura's ears as her eyes watered. Alessa hadn't died. She was there, alive , with Laura, her presence growing more lucid each passing moment. Her smell, her voice, her face everything was secured in a sealed part of her mind.
"One day you'll heal too." His voice penetrated through that darkest corner of her soul. "I'm telling you Laura , you'll be content once again. You'll have a family to love and feel loved. Most of all you'll find a reason to live, a reason to move on. Don't lose hope , Laura. You're a strong girl."
"Don't you miss him." She managed a sentence through tears. "I do. More than anything and everything. But it doesn't make me weak anymore. My heart doesn't ache. I know dad is at a place far better than this world. Each day I feel an ambition rushing in my veins. I work hard to achieve what dad wanted to, but couldn't. I tell myself to be a person my dad will be proud of. I miss him but it gives me strength to strive harder."
"Will it be the same way for me?"
"It'll be better. You're braver than me. You have a goal Laura. You have a family to find , a killer to catch and justice to grant to your family and Miss Alessa. You'll recover soon Laura. Your mom will be proud of you. Your pain will make you blossom into a beautiful version of yourself. "
He gave Laura a gentle smile and left , giving her some time to herself.
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Autumn was long gone. Winter had opened doors to spring. Beautiful buds each with a different colour made the spectacle heavenly. Alessa's smile painted a ray of sunshine over her face.
"I'm so delighted to have you as my daughter Laura. You are my pride , remember that." She caressed her face.
Laura woke up with tears in her eyes. She will heal soon , for Alessa, she resolved determinately.
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"There are total of 19 paintings out of which these eight are murder sites of already found corpses" David encircled certain pictures pinned on the board.
"Then according to what Laura says the remaining eleven must have corpses too?" Simon said.
"Exactly."
"You mean we need to identify the locations of remaining paintings and search them?" Laura proposed.
"It'll be an exhausting task but we have no other option" David marked each of the eleven pictures of paintings with a certain number.
"And how are we supposed to do that?"
"You can leave that to me and Simons. We'll sort that out. What you need to help us with is Your mother's case. We need some clues. Find as much as you can about your real family and Miss Alessa. Even a small clue will do"
"Mom left some polaroids. I suppose my biological mom is one of the women in polaroids. Her name was Mallory...Mallory Robert."
"That makes it very easy for us. Did you bring the polaroids with you?" Laura nodded and went out of the room. A moment later she came back with a box in her hands.
"I found it in mom's cupboard. It had a diary and few polaroids."
"Here." She handed him the polaroids"
"I'll find her mother. Simons , you try to locate the places in the paintings. Start with number one." He faced Laura. "Laura , I want you to serach the diary for any clues."
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