It was an article. I stand here, in this really big and fancy at the Strife residence (try mansion), and Mrs. Strife, who should hate me, is giving me a newspaper article. And it's old.
Mrs. Strife: Did you know your father and I used to be high school sweethearts?
Uhhmmmm...
Would you imagine that? Mrs. Strife (or formerly Mrs. Trol) and my father were high school sweethearts.
Ewwww. To think I dated Cloud when his mom and my dad were once boyfriend/girlfriend. Ewww.
Mrs. Strife: Now, I didn't exactly know your mother at that point, but we had seen each other around school. I started talking to her, getting to know her, hung out with her a few times, and pretty soon, we were best friends. Now, I always knew she had an eye for your father. More than that. I knew what I had with him would blow over in less than a months time, so I figured I might as well hook him and your mother up. Who knew they'd grow up to get married.
She kind of dazed off at the last part, and here she was, staring into space. Dear God, I hope she didn't actually miss him.
Me: Hello?
She came back down to Earth (she still looked like she wasn't quite concentrating).
Mrs. Strife: Tifa, do you know how your mother died?
Me: No, I just know when.
Mrs. Strife: Read the article.
Article:
"Woman found dead in dumpster on 4th ave."
"Early this morning, police discovered a body in a public dumpster on 4th ave. across from Seder St. The body was identified as Mrs. Loraa Niels. The victim appeared to be sexually molested, with multiple cuts all over her body. Her clothes were tattered, and her hands were tied behind her back. Detective Holmes says that the cause of death was strangulation. Police have not identified any suspects at this time"
Pretty short article.
Me: Poor girl.
Mrs. Strife: Look at the date
Me: May 13, 1996. But that's when my mother...
Mrs. Strife nodded with her eyes closed. She looked like she was about to cry.
Me: Did they ever find out who did it?
Mrs. Strife: That's the thing. They never did. I have reason to believe it might have been-
Me: Might have been?
She took few deep breaths as if she were about to pass out. I backed to the corner of the room where the phone was, just in case.
She gained her composure, and stood back up.
Mrs. Strife: Sorry about that.
Me: You were saying...
Mrs. Strife: Yes, well I think that, the person who might've, you know, its not a guarantee! But I think the person might have possibly could end up being (she was looking up and playing with her bracelet at this point) this someone that...
This is frustrating.
Me: Just, who is it?
Mrs. Strife: Now I'm not positive, but it may have been-
This is getting really annoying. I rolled my eyes.
Me: Mrs. Strife, could you kindly tell me who you think killed my mother?
Mrs. Strife: Fa-er
Huh?
Me: Excuse me?
Mrs. Strife: Your father::Turns away with a half-gasp, half-shriek covering her mouth::
Me: My dad?
Well I could've told you that.
Me:
Me: And why didn't you tell the cops about this?
Mrs. Strife: 'Cause I didn't exactly have any evidence whatsoever to prove my theory.
Me: Well, she was raped, right? I mean, couldn't the cops have just run some tests to figure out that it was my father.
Mrs. Strife: But he had an alibi. He was supposedly on a business trip, but I don't think he even went. When he "came home" and got the news, he ran to the funeral home and played it off so well. He was in all tears and getting anxious and everything, a perfect performance.
She was in tears now. I was just a little frustrated.
Me: So, there's no way to prove he did it?
Mrs. Strife: That's the thing! I think he did it. I'm not sure.
And then, it clicked.
