Case File VI: The Hanged Man (5)

That night, under Southampton's gray sky, Rose and I raced against time. The sketch of the old bridge on Rose's phone became the main focus. After searching maps and comparing with old photos, we finally found the most suitable location: Majestic Bridge, a historical icon in Southampton, famous for its dark history and weathered architecture.

"Majestic Bridge," I murmured. "A place steeped in history. 'The weathered bridge of time.'" There was a reason the mastermind chose this location. A complex narrative unfolded in my mind, connecting art, history, and personal tragedy.

We arrived at Majestic Bridge. It was quiet, with only a few homeless people huddled in corners. Dim streetlights cast long shadows over the murky Kestrel River. The metallic smell of old rust mingled with the pungent odor of the water. The air was cold, biting to the bone, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

"Two souls meet, one returns to ash," Rose repeated the latest lyric we received. "This is his final act. Whoever this mastermind is, he'll end his 'symphony' here."

We walked cautiously along the bridge, my eyes scanning every corner. I had to predict where the mastermind would appear, or where he would make his final move. I also had to be wary of Lupin, who might reappear as a distraction.

Suddenly, from the darkness beneath the bridge, a remarkably beautiful yet heart-wrenching melody sounded. It was familiar. It was part of Aruna's lullaby, but played on a string instrument, interspersed with deep minor notes. A "broken song" and "silenced melody" now echoed beneath the bridge.

"There he is," Rose whispered, drawing her pistol.

We both ran towards the source of the sound. Beneath Majestic Bridge, among the sturdy pillars entwined with creeping vines, stood a man. He wore a black robe, his face hidden by a hood. He was playing an old violin, the same melody we heard.

"Adam Christopher?" Rose murmured, recognizing the artist's silhouette from the photo.

The man lifted his head, revealing a gaunt face, hollow eyes, and long, graying hair. It was true; he was Adam Christopher. He was alive. An aura of despair and vengeance emanated strongly from him.

"Welcome, Detectives," Adam said, his voice hoarse and weary. "You've finally found the hidden melody."

"Why, Adam?" Rose asked, her voice firm. "Why did you kill Weston Emmanuel?"

Adam let out a bitter laugh. "Kill? He was the one who killed my soul! He stole my masterpiece, accused me of forgery, destroyed my life! He fabricated evidence, he made me rot in prison!"

"The price of a lie, paid in unconsciousness," I quoted the lyric on "The Hanged Man" card. "That was the lie Weston inflicted upon you." I felt empathy for Adam, but I had to remain professional. I had to understand the motive behind every action of this mastermind, and how his feelings drove him.

Adam nodded. "He took the 'Silent Harmony' statue I've been searching for all this time. That statue was a symbol of artistic honesty. He wanted to use it to deceive other collectors. He even tried to replicate the 'singing' technique within it. He didn't deserve to live."

"But why did you steal another Silent Harmony statue from the museum?" Rose asked.

"To draw attention. To make this symphony of justice sound louder," Adam replied. "And to silence the Lupins who thought they could toy with my work."

Just then, we heard hurried footsteps approaching. I knew it was them. Lupin. They had finally found us. Three familiar silhouettes emerged from the darkness: Leve, Alefen, and Zenith. They must have thought we had found their "goods."

"Hand over the statue!" Leve yelled, ready to attack.

"It's not yours to claim," Adam whispered, clutching his violin tightly. "You're just a pack of rats defiling art."

A fight broke out. Rose immediately faced Alefen and Zenith, who attacked aggressively. Rose's chain flashed, parrying their punches and kicks. The sound of Rose's pistol firing echoed, a shot aimed at the wall behind Alefen to distract him, making Alefen defend himself. Zenith, moving with deadly speed, sought an opening in Rose's defense.

I faced Leve. He still remembered the incident at the gallery. He immediately attacked with full force. I knew I couldn't match him physically. I had to use his weakness, which was his aggressive and easily provoked nature. I jumped back, letting him continue to attack empty space. I analyzed every movement, looking for small patterns in his fighting style.

"You're too cautious, Detective!" Leve scoffed. He swung his fist at me. I dodged, then unexpectedly, I ran towards Adam Christopher.

"Sorry, Mr. Adam," I whispered, wrapping my arm around Adam's neck as if taking him hostage. "Please don't move!" I deliberately did this, acting as if I was panicking and trying to use Adam as a shield. This was part of my strategy. I used Adam as an object of manipulation, not as a genuine victim.

Leve was startled. He stopped his attack. He thought I was taking Adam hostage. "Let him go, Detective! He's none of your business!"

"Then back off!" I said, feigning a tremble. I exploited the fact that Lupin, despite being criminals, had a certain code of ethics, especially when it came to an artist they respected. I knew they wouldn't harm Adam. This was my tactic to stop them.

Alefen and Zenith also hesitated. They saw me holding Adam hostage. They knew Adam wasn't their primary target, and they didn't want to harm an artist, especially the renowned Adam Christopher.

"Don't listen to him, Leve!" Zenith yelled. "It's just a trick!"

However, Leve was already affected. He slowed his movements. That's when I released Adam and quickly grabbed the old violin from his hand. I threw the violin at Leve. Leve caught the violin reflexively, leaving his guard open.

Rose immediately seized the opportunity. She fired at the floor between the Lupins, creating an opening. "Go now!" she yelled. "Don't let anyone get caught!"

Leve, Alefen, and Zenith glared at us angrily, but they knew this wasn't a fight they could win. They disappeared into the darkness, as quickly as they came. They always had a backup plan.

Adam Christopher looked at me. "What did you do?"

"I just made them think you were a hostage," I replied. "Now, tell me about that ancient painting."

Adam Christopher sighed. He knew he was cornered. "That painting... is 'Symphony of Silence'. The last work of an ancient maestro. Weston Emmanuel tried to forge it, and he accused me of forging it. He hid it at the Dazzle Art Studio, a private studio in the city center. I also found that he had replaced the original painting with a fake one."

"Dazzle Art Studio," Rose noted. "That's the missing key. 'Two souls meet, one returns to ash.' You and Weston, one returned to ash."

Adam Christopher looked at the dark river. "I just wanted justice."

I understood his feelings. Revenge could be a terrible symphony. I knew I had to report this to Richard, but I had to do it in the most effective way. I had to control the narrative so that justice was truly served, without involving Adam further in heavier consequences. This required subtle manipulation.

Rose contacted Commissioner Richard. "Commissioner, we have a location. Dazzle Art Studio. The culprit is there. And we found the painting you were looking for." Rose provided enough information, but also held back some details to explain directly later.

Not long after, the police arrived. Adam Christopher surrendered without resistance. The violin in his hand was the only possession he had, the only solace from the "broken song" in his life.

At Dazzle Art Studio, the police found the original "Symphony of Silence" painting, hidden behind a false wall. There was also evidence of the forgeries Weston Emmanuel had committed, which he had covered up with his reputation all this time.

The case was finally solved. Weston Emmanuel was killed by Adam Christopher as revenge for the ruin of his life. Lupin was merely a diversion, and the "unknown enemy" who left the military boot tracks was Adam Christopher himself, who had prepared to unleash his "symphony" of revenge.

I looked at Majestic Bridge. The water beneath flowed calmly, washing away the remnants of darkness. I felt tired, yet satisfied. I had used all my abilities, from understanding movement patterns in a fight, reading body language, piecing together riddles, to manipulating situations with words. This was the most complex and most challenging case I had ever faced, but I succeeded. And Rose, she was the perfect partner.