Ch.4 Keep In Touch

My head snapped to the boy with the headphones, which are now placed around his neck. He was incredibly small and cute. He looked to be 15. But with his voice, even in a high place, had a sense of certainty. He was clearly supposed to be there. He also had somewhat red eyes and looked like he could use a good nights rest. The room smelled of coffee but it was cold. I could smell the caffeinated coffee beans filtering through the room. Honestly…I love coffee. I took a big whiff the second I came in. “I’m detective Cayden Cori. I’m here to speak with Benji Kole. I have some questions from a previous case.” He nodded. It’s refreshing to not have him all up on me like everyone else. “Can you wait a few? He’s talking to his newest client.” “Sure thing. But, uh, out of curiosity, what’s goin on?” He looked back to the two sad looking pupils. “Well, that kid right there, he claims his uncle killed his aunt. His parents died when he was 10. He’s 16 now. His uncle says that he did it. He backs up this claim with the fact that the boy is mentally unstable from his parent's death. The kid just needs to get his words out and I think we’ll find out the truth.” I listened intently. “What’re we leaning towards?” “The uncle as guilty. He doesn’t seem to ever tell the exact truth. He’s shady. This kid…he just looks scared.” “Have you tried putting the two of them in the same room?” He nodded. “The boy was nervous and became fidgety. His eyes barely left his uncle until he left.” “Yeah, sounds about right. But don’t rule anything out, you know this.” He nodded once again. I looked through the glass too and was shocked to see the boy staring straight at me. I stared back, waiting for him to look somewhere else or even blink. But there was nothing. “What the…” The boy next to me leaned forward, suddenly alert. This wouldn’t be so strange, not at all. People tend to stare at me for my groggy looks I’m guessing. But this time it’s different. For the glass separating us, is one sided. He’s staring at a mirror. Yet he’s making direct eye contact with me. Then a voice, sharp as ice, clear as wind, broke through my thoughts. An innocent sounding voice rings through my head. Echoing around with few words. My breath hitches, blood freezes, body stiffens. Everything is real and alive until it’s just walls and paint. Nothing exists. ‘You’re here.’ I backed away, keeping my eyes on his face. “What did you just say?” This can’t be happening. I thought I trained my brain not to go loose. Being held at gunpoint, blood and guts splattering, ridiculed innocents, glorified pieces of trash. I swore I could handle it. So what the hell was that? Nothing else happens and before I know it the boy has already looked away. I looked to the guy next to me. He had a shocked look on his face that mirrored mine. I didn’t have to ask because clearly, we both saw that. But did he hear it? I shook my head and blinked hard as if that would reset my mind. He smacked his lips and wiped sweat forming on his forehead. “I think…we should keep in touch.” I took out my phone and went to contacts, pressing the plus, and passing it to him. He did the same. When we finished I looked at his name. Raine Clemons. “All right…uh…” Suddenly who I assumed to be Benji came through the door.