A Shy Breeze: 04

Outside, the wind hit me with a blow, bringing the smell of salty water mixed with sewer up to my nose.

Housing close to the sea was cheap because of the scent and the train noises. The tracks circled the edge of the city, following the coast. Terrible place to get an apartment.

Pulling my hair back, trying to get it under control, I took a deep breath of the disgusting air.

"Saint, you don't understand…" Her voice was carried by the wind to my ears.

"This…" I opened my arms, unsure of how or what to explain. "That has nothing to do with me!" At this point, I was angry and I didn't know why.

Something about how she asked me for help didn't make sense.

"I'm not asking you to join the Force, I'm asking you to help me find who killed innocent people…" She started firm and decisive but ended in loud, desperate words said between teeth. "Good people... my neighbors."

I was standing outside, just a step away from the door.

Even though her tone went down significantly, I could still hear her. The car was covering half of her body, forcing me to face her gaze.

"They had just recently moved in from the countryside, an elderly couple. The farm work got too heavy for them to manage alone. They rented their land to some company and came to the city to be closer to the hospitals." From where I was, I couldn't see much of her face. She kept her head low while speaking, which allowed me to examine her carefully.

"I helped them get their stuff upstairs, so they invited me to dinner. I had the best homemade ramen of my life—the soup was the best part…" The second she noticed she was off-topic, something stopped her.

"Their son lived in another city, but they didn't want to leave the farm behind. Every weekend, they traveled to the countryside to check on the animals, especially their horse, Polkadot. I even gave them a ride to the port a few times." She paused—it seemed like she was smiling, but the shadows on her face didn't let me be sure. "One day, they simply didn't come back. I went to the farm to see if maybe they missed the bus…"

Suddenly, she punched the roof, turning her head to the sea. Her eyes were completely out of my reach.

Slowly, I approached the car roof on the passenger's side.

"I found them inside the house. Sitting on the couch with two bottles of pills on the coffee table." After a deep breath, she continued with her usual firm tone. "They made it look like a suicide." She pinched another punch, but weaker—like her strength fainted halfway through.

"They were happy, genuinely happy and in love. They were planning a trip to visit their son since the rent from the farm was good." She looked up at me to check my reaction, and I just stood there, not knowing what to feel. "I know how it sounds, but they weren't suicidal. They were sad for leaving the farm, but they wouldn't do that! Not without saying goodbye to their son… or finding a home for Polkadot first."

Her green eyes went dark from the pain she carried so well hidden until then.

"Somebody killed them. I know it."

"I don't know what you want from me." With a shrug, I let my arms fall at my sides heavily.

I wasn't talking just about the investigation.

"I know you hacked into my armour. I know what you can do."

Honestly, I wasn't afraid of her. At that point, Officer Abrom had left her pride somewhere else and was practically begging me to help her.

She wasn't the cop that searched me that night. Before me stood a different person—someone in deep pain and confusion.

Most of her body was hidden, but all I needed to see were her eyes. She wasn't threatening me. Her words were encouraging, as if she admired what I did.

"And you just let me?"

"I wasn't carrying anything compromising." She knew I wasn't gonna buy that. An officer would never give out information regarding the Force, not even the smallest thing. "I was in a very delicate position—couldn't afford being thrown out into the open fire, so I let you."

"Wrong call."

"I know you care!" Her voice struck me like thunder. "If not, you would've thrown me out of that building when you had the chance." Slowly, she moved towards the front of the car, making her torso more exposed to me. My conscience didn't let me look at her directly. "If you don't give a shit, then why did you spare me?"

There, under those train tracks, surrounded by the sound of the sea, words choked me from the inside out. I had no answer.

Ever since it happened, I avoided the subject—even to myself—always pushing the memory deeper. She was a cop just like the rest of them. Her loyalty and clear faith in the Force made me wanna throw up. Still, I didn't do it. I gave her shelter, clothes, and coffee, then sent her back to them when there could've been one less.

When she came across my silence, her tone changed. It softened—an appeal to my good side as her last resort.

"I'll pay you as much as you want, and your name will never get near the Force…"

The waves were agitated, crashing on the concrete with all their strength. Both rock and water were scared and loud, battling each other in an endless effort to conquer more ground. I wished I could stand there, right at the edge of the barrier, and get hit by the water, just to know how it feels.

"I'll do it." I mumbled to myself while staring at the dark sea.

Mid-step, she stopped by the passenger door. Her entire figure was now visible to me—so were her eyes. They attracted mine like magnets attract metal.

One big wave crashed, splashing drops up high. I waited to see if they would get to me. I wanted to feel it on my face just once.

"But it has to be on my terms." I continued.

Right there, I felt it—a shy, cold breeze took my breath away.