Chapter 4

Author: Thanks for reading and for supporting. Please comment and rate the book if you like it.

Den: I feel happy. I feel like......like I can move mountains.

Author: Not a mountain but mountains? You must be in a very, good mood.

Den: I feel great.

Author: I'm glad. Now bribe me.

Den:........This came out of nowhere. Am confuse. What do you mean?

Author: Bribe me, or else.........

Den: You know what? Do the worst you can! I have no money for you!

Author: My big mouth, is just a step away from opening. I just found, all your secrets.

Den: Name your price and your account number.

Author: That's a good boy.

*********️️********

"You must be the outsiders" the old man said calmly, smiling, clearing the seriousness in the air.

Chief Sable, (The old man) he was here to greet them himself.

What an honor.

Den had to admit, this old man was good. Or was it his security?

Hasn't even been more than an hour since they got here and he already knew about them.

"Am the chief of this village. Chief Sable"

Den knew, so did Mira. They knew this old man even though he didn't know them.

"Is a pleasure meeting you, chief" Den said, bowing slightly and Mira did the same.

A young lady,......and a man whose face was hidden.

Who were these people? Could he trust them?

Old man Sable thought as he stared at them suspiciously.

"You should have paid your respects to the chief first, don't you think?" The captain of the guards in the village, Ger, stated, a serious look on his handsome face.

One could tell he was suspicious of them and did not trust them. Who can blame him?

"Don't blame them chief. Is my fault. I brought them here and I didn't take them to see you" Eld interfered.

Den was surprised.

Seeing how nervous and shaken he was, he didn't think he'll speak up.

But he did.

"I heard you're investigators" the chief said, ignoring Eld.

"Not exactly, but Mr Eld wanted help, and we volunteered. We won't disappoint him and won't leave until we solve the case" Den answered and silence took over as they waited for the chief.

It didn't take long, just a few seconds.

A smile coming on, the old man replied, "Welcome to Live village. I'll tell you all I know"

Den returned the smile, thinking, what choice did he (Chief Sable) have if he was not involved?

**********️️********

The two were taken to the chief's home. It was much bigger than any house in the village and one could the chief didn't live alone.

True enough, he didn't. He lived with all the guards in the village including Ger. And his only son.

The reception hall was chosen as the meeting place. They were given seats before the chief while the captain of the guards, stood behind him (Chief Sable).

It was just them alone even though the captain objected, saying they were outsiders and couldn't be trusted easily.

But to Den, it seemed the old man has decided to take a risk and trust them. He only hope he tells them everything he knew.

He tells them the truth.

"Something like this has never happened before. Mysterious deaths. Robbery"

Robbery? So the chief had the same idea, or, was there more.

"We had no idea what happened to them. They died mysteriously. We don't know anything about the killer or the ability he used. Thinking it might be some kind of an illness and can be contiguous, I decided to bury them right away"

His (Den) suspicions has been confirmed. The old man (Chief Sable) chose to bury the first bodies because he thought it was some kind of illness.

But,.....what kind of illness turns one into a stone? Didn't he think about this?

"But when a new body was found just this morning, I figured I might be wrong. Those who touched the first bodies were not infected, did not lose their lifes. In fact, someone who was nowhere near the body did"

Oh,.....so,.......Eld's friend didn't touch the first bodies. Did he even see it?

He (Den) had to find out more.

"I notice the old couple's house was in a mess" Den voiced out.

"Yes. Looked the same that very morning their bodies were found. The killer must have been looking for something" the chief answered.

Another answer confirmed. But Den was confuse.

Looking for something? what? What can these old couple possibly have that they wanted?!

"What did they steal? Do you know and have you found out anything about the culprits?" He (Den) asked impatiently.

A sad look on his face, the old man answered, "Sadly enough, no, but,.......we do have an idea of what was stolen"

Oh, Den thought, looking at the old man with interest in his eyes.

"The old couple used to work in my house. They were cleaners. The night before their bodies were found,............."

"Chief!" Ger interrupted, against what the old man wanted to share.

The deep frown on his face said it too.

"Is okay Ger. We can trust them" the old man said to him with a smile before looking back at the two.

He continued, "They resigned from their jobs that night and left. After they left,.........we notice a valuable painting was missing"

A valuable painting......... missing, right after the old couple resigned from their jobs and left.

Was this coincidence? Or did they really take the painting.

Still,.........Den looked at the old man, thinking, he (Chief) suspected they stole it. And he was curious of what led him to have such thoughts.

"The painting,......was it found in their house?" Mira asked and the old man shook his head.

"No" he (Chief Sable) answered. Quietly, Den thought about their findings.

Assuming the old couple really stole the painting. If it wasn't found in their house, could it be the culprit, or the third person got it?

Or........ maybe,......they hid it somewhere.

Considering what they just learnt,...... could it be the reason for the old couple's death was related to the painting.

If so, why was Eld's friend killed? For the same reason?

"I'll send someone to show you the new body" the old man said, drawing them out of their thoughts.

Oh, that could help.

"Thank you chief" Den said.

"There's no need" the old man replied with a smile.

The chief,.......he was really,......... cooperative.

*********️️*******

In the woods close to the main house was a run-down shed.

That's where the body was kept. The body of Eld's friend. They were taken there by captain Ger and then left alone.

Wasn't the chief way too trusting?! Or was it that, he was that desperate for help.

In any case, Mira was chosen as the examiner for the test.

There was no way Den was going in there. Not when he knew what would happen if he did.

He saved himself from the trouble before it could happen.

Den, wasn't fan of seeing dead bodies. Especially, those he believed were innocent.

Enjoying the warm sun and nature calls in the woods, he waited patiently for Mira.

Hands behind his back, a big smile on his face as he looked around.

After some time, Mira exited the shed wearing a not-so-happy look on her face. Den turned around, looking at her with that same big smile.

This guy.......it was times like this she forgot he was her master and wanted nothing else but to smack that handsome face of his!

*Sigh, this was exhausting.

Why did she have a master like him? It was exhausting! Way too exhausting!!

"Oh, my lovely student, what did you find?"

The nerve of him to call her that! Can't he see the message on her beautiful face?!

"Don't call me that"

Nervous, he said, "You sound scary Mira, what's wrong?"

"Why don't you ask your disgusting attitude?"

Disgus............

Speechless, he replied, "........Hmm....Hmmm... Okay"

"Seeing you this speechless means you get what I mean"

"Yes, please continue"

Saying anything else will just anger her even more. It was better to accept defeat and shut up.

*Sigh, Mira sighed in exhaustion, "Couldn't open the mouth or lift up an arm. Totally impossible"

Wow! This student of his was so bad at giving results!

What the heck?! Didn't he teach her well?!

"Simple, that body.........was a rock"

"That really is simple"

"I won't say is a stone. The whole body was hard like a rock. Heavy like a rock. Impossible to rise it up. One touch you know you're touching a rock"

"I get it Mira" he said, smiling.

"If the bodies of the first victims was just like this, like the chief and Mr Eld said, then I wonder how they were able to bury them. How were they able to carry this body here?. So damn heavy" Mira said but Den wasn't listening. He was lost in his own thoughts.

Guess he was right. This proved his suspicions even more.

"Oh, he also had a smile on his face, just like brother Eld said. And nothing showed they struggled for their lifes. No signs of wounds or injuries. I don't know if am right though. With the body like that, how can you possibly notice?"

"That.........."

"Oh, guests" someone called out to them, interrupting Den's thoughts and drawing his attention. He wasn't the only one.

Turning to the left, they saw a young man.

Precisely,........a kid.

A boy.

He had an enchanting smile which he showed. And they had to admit, he was one cute boy.

Excitedly, he ran towards them, only made a stop when he was close enough. Blinding them with that enchanting.... innocent smile of his.

In response, they tried avoiding eye contact with him but it was impossible.

It was still a nice sight after all!

"Father wants you back" he said, smiling, surprising Den.

Father? He just said father, right?

No.......no.....it couldn't be,.....he must be talking about captain Ger, right?

Just,..... just to be sure.......

In disbelief, in denial, he asked, "Kid, you're not talking about the chief, right?"

"I am!" He confirmed with his brightest smile, shocking the living life out of him.

Wounded and still in recovery, he asked, "Kid, how old are you?"

AhUh, she (Mira) could tell what he was thinking.

Wrapping her hand around the kid's neck, she said, "Let's go kid", leading him out of there.

The confused kid would glance at Den as he was led away.

"No! Wait! How old are you?!!!" A desperate Den yelled out.

This was shocking! Unbelievable! It couldn't be!!!

There was no way it was!!!!!

"That old man is around 90!!!!!!!" A fluttered Den yelled out.

Running after them to get his 'No'

Unbeknownst to them, someone was watching them from not far.

On a branch of a tree not far from the shed stood the intruder, smiling as he watched them.

"Interesting" he said, eyes, now only on Den.