Fabricated Personalities

He scoffed and raised one eyebrow. "It no doubt can be true, but...such things look good only in stories, Mr Flynn. There ain't no space for theories having no solid proof."

Robert stood just in front of Hebrew, their chests puffed against each other, his eyes challenging him, making Hebrew go insane with anger. Hebrew clenched his jaws and Robert breathed out a deep breath.

Both were of the same height and had the same attitude. Everyone standing even at a distance could feel the surrounding getting colder because of the cold war which had begun just now.

"It ain't no fantasy I created...assumptions can lead to results, Mr Stone."

"Not every assumption does. We both know what assumptions did the people in your favour made, five years ago..." Robert taunted, making Hebrew clench his fist.

Jessica, who stood just beside Hebrew, cleared her throat to gain their attention, but all in vain. None of them wanted to quit in between, feeling defeated in front of another.

"If my style of working bothers you...then solve it on your own. But I wonder... can you?"

Now it was Hebrew's turn to smirk as he left Robert clenching his jaws.

"Let's go Ms Lennon. We need solid PROOF for our assumptions." Hebrew said sarcastically and left the police station, with Jessica following him behind.

On their way out, they bumped into Winchester. He was wearing a slate-coloured overcoat and a black hat accompanied by black gloves and black pants. Indeed, it was winter and outside it was freezing. Hebrew could see his regular biscuit coloured shirt through his unbuttoned black overcoat.

"Good morning Flynn-" He paused as he realised Hebrew had ignored his greeting and walked past him.

Jessica nodded in Winchester's direction, "Good morning Mr Winchester."

"What happened to Hebrew?" His question compelled Jessica to stop and answer him.

"Sorry, he is just... in a hurry."

Her reply doesn't satisfy Winchester, because he knew Hebrew had ignored him on purpose. But still ignoring the truth he nodded, "Keep going then...he might need you."

Jessica nodded and went further to match pace with Hebrew.

"How will we find proof of such an assumption, Mr Hebrew? It seems easier to be told than to be done." Jessica ran after Hebrew and proclaimed as they reached the taxi.

Hebrew opened the taxi door, looked at Jessica and said, "There's only one thing which can prove my assumption true."

"What?" And they both settled inside the taxi.

"We...just have to find the murderer now." He claimed, looking in front while Jessica's eyes widened at Hebrew's reply and the taxi descended the road.

'It's not possible...at least not for now' Jessica thought as she looked outside the window. Hebrew's thoughts and assumptions do look good when he presented it in front of Jessica but as soon as she went home and started thinking about it, something felt weird. Some of his words...felt unbelievable or unreasonable too.

Though she knew Hebrew could solve this case, she still had that conscience of her telling that she wasn't reading between the lines. She…was missing out on some details or overlooking something so important. Something which was misleading both of them in this case.

"Mr Hebrew..." She turned to him.

"Can we...go to the street where that missing report man belonged?" She requested.

Hebrew slightly frowned but eventually nodded.

"Mr...take the next right turn and head straight towards Flower and Dean Street." The driver nodded.

The taxi took a right in a few moments and they reached their destination within another fifteen minutes.

"Now what?"

They both were standing in the street where the cab had left them. Hebrew looked at Jessica, keeping his hands on his waist.

"It just...doesn't seem right." Jessica looked here and there.

"Exactly what?" Hebrew asked, still looking at her.

"How can that guy just disappear after filling a missing report?" She folded her arms.

"I mean...if he was worried about someone who went missing, then how come he never looked back at the police station?" She sunk into deep thoughts.

"Ahem!" He cleared his throat.

"We can think about it at my house, too. Why are we standing here under this cold icy wind?"

"Josh…" she mumbled.

Hebrew bent a little. "Pardon?"

"He named himself as Josh while reporting." Breath vapour escaping her mouth.

"Josh?..."

"Josh Harlow." She answered.

He went back to his original position, nodded and folded his arm.

"Should I ask anyone about him?"

Jessica asked and even before Hebrew could reply she ran towards the house lined up in the street.

*knock* *knock*

"Yes?" A lady came out wearing sophisticated, casual clothes.

"Do you perhaps know a man named Josh Harlow, he lives here?" She asked.

The lady thought for a minute, "I...don't know any man named Josh Harlow in this street, maybe ask someone else." She replied.

"Think about it once please... we need to know." Jessica pleaded while Hebrew stood a distance watching her.

"Oh please! Go away... it's cold outside and I don't wish to stand any longer here opening this door wide." The lady suddenly went furious and slammed the door in her face.

Jessica flinched at her sudden change in behaviour while the incident slightly shocked Hebrew.

He sighed...

Jessica went near many houses asking for this name, but no one responded positively.

"Stop wasting my time!" Another lady yelled at Jessica.

"I'm not so free to roam around and talk to some strangers about some random man! Just go away!" She yelled further and closed the door further mumbling something.

Hebrew sighed as Jessica stepped down the small stairs which led to the house of the lady.

"I think we should-" Hebrew paused as a lady selling flowers on her wooden cart laughed out loud looking at her flowers.

"We should just leave... let's come here another day." Hebrew tapped Jessica's back while her eyes stuck on the laughing women, looking at her suspiciously.

Jessica nodded, but before they could go,

"You think..." the lady spoke, making them turn towards her.

"It's easy to find someone here?" She stood up from her small stool and walked towards them, specifically Hebrew.

She was wearing a lemon-coloured dress with a white coloured designed net covering its upper half. She had tied her hair up in a loosened bun and her lips had a dark shade of red.

She looked up at him, and he narrowed his eyes.

"This entire street is fabricated, Mr Flynn Hebrew."

The name of Hebrew from her mouth left both Jessica and him frowning.

"This whole street turns into something else at night, people come out here with distinct personalities. And you...wish to find the real ones between the fake?" She scoffed again.

"What-what do you mean?" Jessica interrupted.

The lady looked at her while Hebrew just stood there silently staring at the lady.

"You...seem new here. You...don't look like these men." She looked at Hebrew, her gaze followed by Jessica.

"How one after another they change personalities at night." She looked up at Hebrew again and smiled, her lips forming a straight line with slight curves at the end.

Jessica frowned at her comment and Hebrew just stood there speechless, numbed by all her allegations. Anyone could see uneasiness in his eyes.

Jessica found the women quite suspicious and so she held Hebrew's hand and said, "I guess...you were right, Mr Hebrew. We should talk about it at your home."

Hebrew looked at her hand holding his, and his gaze went up to her face. He slightly nodded and walked away.

"Josh isn't the name which will help you, try something else." They both stopped and Hebrew turned while Jessica just sighed in frustration.

"Are you sure there wasn't anything else in her pockets of the suit she was wearing?" The lady said, making Jessica's eyes go wide in realisation...