Chapter 3: Velika Navras
Harvey and I got to visit the Navras family the next day, sitting in the living room with them while having a conversation. The former parents didn't seem to mind us asking them questions. It almost seemed relieving and comforting to them that they are talking about their daughter. When they talked about Nygma though, they spoke very highly of him. Mr. Navras said, "Edward was eccentric, but we understood him."
Well, I can't see why not since they're both psychology doctors. I bet they understand a lot of eccentric people. "Especially our daughter," said Mrs. Navras, "She stood by with him to the very end."
"Why did Brendan kill her?" asked Harvey.
Mr. Navras said, "Actually he tried to kill Edward. He was a bully to him during middle school. One day Edward and Velika went into the woods because that's where they built their secret tree house. They play together every day after school. It's just that one day Brendan followed them and wanted to start a fight with Edward. Velika ended up protecting Edward when Brendan tried to stab him."
"And that's how she died?" I said, "Because she protected Edward?"
"Yes,"
"Do you still keep her room here?" asked Harvey.
"Yes," said Mrs. Navras, "So we can always remember her."
"Mind if we take a look at it?"
"We don't mind, follow us."
We all stand up and Harvey and I followed them to Velika's room. It was very punk-rockish but it was really nice for a 13-year old's room. I looked at the wall the bed was against and saw the many pictures of her and a 13-year-old boy who looked very much like Edward. "So that's what the kid looked like when he was 13," said Harvey. Yeah, he looks so happy in these pictures. Way happier than the ones I've found in his album back at his apartment.
"On the weekends they would have a sleep over here," said Mrs. Navras, "When they study together late at night we didn't mind Edward staying here. To Velika, he was like a brother she never had. To us, he was like a son."
If only his own parents felt the same way. Although I believe there's hope for Mrs. Nashton. "Has Edward mentioned to you or Velika about his parents?" I asked them.
"No he keeps to himself about that subject." said Mr. Navras, "He's not very open with his personal life, but he liked to talk a lot about riddles."
"Yeah that sounds like Ed." said Harvey.
I look at the one picture of Ed and Velika where they're sitting in their secret tree house. I asked the parents, "Is the tree house still there?"
"Yes," said Mr. Navras, "I make sure to keep up with it."
"Mind if I keep this picture for now?" I pointed at the photo I was looking at.
"Sure go ahead. If you meet Ed you can give it to him if you like."
"Thanks."
I took the picture carefully off the wall and put it inside my coat. When I look more around the room I noticed there was a black bass guitar at the corner of the room. I asked the parents, "She played bass?"
"Yes," said Mrs. Navras, "She was very talented on the bass. If I remember correctly Edward also played the piano. The two of them would play music together sometimes."
So Ed also had a music partner as well. "What did the two had in common?" I asked them.
"They both liked riddles," said Mr. Navras, "They enjoy playing music together but not the same genre all the time. They would play either jazz or rock and roll. They were very crafty in building things too. They were the ones who built the tree house together."
"At first, Edward wasn't skilled in cooking," said Mrs. Navras, "But Velika taught him one day and next thing we knew he was a professional in the culinary arts. They love to cook together."
So many things that Edward and Velika have in common. I can't even think of one thing I might have in common with Edward. I'm not much of a cook, I don't play music, riddles can be fun but I don't obsess over them. Wait a minute, I know how to build things. Especially fixing up houses because I'm pretty handy when something needs to be repaired. I guess that's one thing I have in common but it's a basic thing that every man should know. So nothing really all that interesting.
I wonder if there's anything I can share something in common with Ed? This is something I should think about definitely. That way at least we can have something to talk about.
...
We left the Navras house so Harvey and I can go into the woods to go find the snow covered tree house that was built beside a creek. Mr. Navras has really kept it up because the wood is still strong. Harvey and I entered the tree house and see that inside was like a little home for the 13-year-olds. There are two beds built inside the walls that are across from other. One glass window on the other wall. shelves built above their bed inside the walls.
The shelves were filled with books and they're mostly fictions of fantasy, mystery, and sci-fi. Most of these books I've haven't even heard before. I think there's only one or two that I have read. "These kids were best friends alright," said Harvey, "There's nothing but geeky and nerdy items in here."
"You're telling me," I said.
On the floor, I've noticed a small hatch compartment built in. I kneeled on the floor so I can open it to see what's inside. What I've found were papers of drawings, pencils, an instant polaroid camera, a small box of pictures, and a diary. I checked out the diary and realized that it was Ed's. Why would he leave such an important diary here?
I pocketed the book and checked out the pictures in the box. There were a bunch of him and Velika. I took it as well and close the hatch compartment. I stand up and said, "I think we're done here."
"What was that book you just pocketed?" asked Harvey.
"Ed's diary. Thought I should take a look at it tonight."
"If you do read it, make sure you don't tell it to Ed when you visit him."
"Right."
"Alright then, let's go."
...
I went to Ed's apartment to read the diary. As I sit down at the table I open it and started to read his life. It talked about their adventures together around the tree house mostly. How they played games pretending that they're in another world. He enjoyed her company, and it seemed like she enjoyed his. It then got to the part when Velika accidently hurt herself.
The injury was minor since she only accidently cut her arm by a sharp broken branch, but it was when he found out she was a Hemophiliac. She didn't want him to know because of the fear that's he'll look at her differently. Giving her the special treatment by putting on the kid gloves. Even though he got worried a little but it didn't change anything. They were careful, but they knew when not to pity or get worried over each other.
Velika sounds like the perfect match for him. It makes me wonder what made him attracted to Kristen? I didn't even really knew her all that much. Only that she was the Records Keeper of GCPD, and that's it. Am I so concentrated on my job that much that I don't even know the people who work at the GCPD?
It makes me think how on earth did Leslie ever put up with me? I close the book and place it on the table as I got up to get Ed's picture album. I brought out the small box of the polaroid pictures from my coat's pocket and started putting them on the album's pages. Now the album is starting to look more cheerful. Having pictures of only yourself makes it really depressing and lonely.
Once it was finished I put the album back in its place and went back home after picking myself something to eat. While at home I started to think, maybe it's time for me to visit him tomorrow?
