Murder in Mineral Town
By: Gomamon

Chapter 3 – Sasha

She couldn't sleep tonight.

Though she drank several cups of warm milk before going to bed, she realized that the drink didn't have any effect on her at all. She stared mindlessly into the ceiling for the entire night, trying her very best to ignore the faint rhythmic snores coming from the other bed. She wouldn't be able to find the right words to explain her insomnia for tonight, but deep down, she knew that guilt was paying her a nasty night visit.

Guilt was unpleasantly interrupting her slumber to make her think about what she did…

She remembered an anxious feeling dwindling in the pit of her stomach that day. The door was not closed fully, with a gap opening just big enough for her eye to peek through. She knew she was doing something wrong, and she definitely knew she shouldn't be watching this. But when she made sure that nobody was around to see or hear her, she felt safe to catch just one teensy harmless peep.

When she curiously took that brief glimpse through the door gap, she couldn't believe what she saw. It was the naked body of Anna…and…and…and…

- - -

A superstitious man, Jeff couldn't help but wonder if the pouring rain was a sign that the sky was also weeping for Anna's death as well. Dark and dreary clouds hovered ominously in the morning sky as the rain ferociously slashed against the window panes. Jeff had felt queasy ever since he learned about what happened to Anna, so he decided to spend the morning lying in the comfort of his cozy bed, staring lazily out the window.

"You're not making any sense at all!"

"Karen, you're the one who's being totally irrational here!"

The faint sounds of raindrops falling were washed away by the piercing and furious voices coming from another room. Jeff immediately recognized the voices that belonged to her feisty wife and sassy daughter. Both Sasha and Karen were very strong-willed and rather stubborn, so it wasn't rare for them to be butting heads at a disagreement. But Jeff found it hard to believe that they'd be arguing during this traumatic time, and they haven't had a confrontation so intense ever since they found out that Karen had been sneaking off to bar at nights when she was a teenager. A sleepy and curious Jeff slowly got out of bed, slowly stumbling inside the grocery store to investigate the cause.

It was not a pretty sight. Jeff saw his wife and daughter standing at opposite ends of the store counter, glaring at each other as if looks could kill. His wife Sasha had her hands poised to her hips, towering over Karen in an intimidating manner. His daughter Karen looked equally feisty, thrusting her chest forward and looking as if she wasn't ready to back out from whatever they were arguing about. Slowly approaching the two women, Jeff knew from experience that this argument wouldn't be resolved happily.

"What's going on?" Jeff whimpered, barely having the courage to look up at either of them.

"Dad, speak some sense into her!" Karen looked rather relieved at the sight of her father. "Mom wants to open the store for business today!"

"What's wrong with opening the store to earn some money?" Sasha asked, waving her index finger in front of Karen's face.

Jeff swallowed hardly and looked at his daughter Karen for reassurance. Like he usually did with uncomfortable confrontations, Jeff chose to wisely remain neutral and stand idly by.

"Your best friend Anna just died!" Karen was sounding very exasperated. "How could you be so heartless and still open up the store like nothing was wrong?"

"So what, are we supposed to just mope and grieve? We can't go back to our daily routines and everyday lives?" Sasha snapped.

"You changed." Karen shook her head and turned away, "You weren't like this until you've found Anna's body. You used to have a heart!"

Sasha gasped sharply, but before she could return an angry retort at her daughter, there was somebody pounding at the door. Happy to step away from the argument, Jeff quickly ran to open the door. A drenched Harris walked into the grocery store with his equally wet navy blue coat and umbrella.

"Hey Harris, what's up?" Karen asked casually. She immediately noticed the very visible and unflattering eye bags that Harris carried on his face, leading Karen to wonder how many hours of sleep he has gotten since this case started.

Harris couldn't even muster up the energy to fake smile back. He sighed as he stifled a tired yawn. "Hi, hope I'm not interrupting anything. I'm just here for a few more things."

"We'll be happy to help," said Jeff earnestly. His wife Sasha said nothing, but her irritated face expression indicated that she wasn't happy to see the puddle of water Harris had created on the floor of the grocery store.

Harris nodded his head dully, flipping through the pages of his tiny black notepad.

"Okay so…I just want to confirm your whereabouts during the time of Anna's death," said Harris.

"Like we said before…" Sasha said impatiently. "The three of us were at the grocery store. When it was five minutes to two o'clock, I left the store to walk to the Town Square, and then I…I found her body there."

"Rick was at the grocery store too. He was hanging out with me at that time," added Karen.

Jack noticed that Harris was putting three check marks inside his notepad. Does that mean they were clear and proven innocent?

"And if you don't mind, could the three of you please write the words 'I love you' here?" Harris asked, turning to a new empty page in his notepad. He handed his pen and notepad to Sasha.

"Why are we doing this?" Sasha asked suspiciously, slowly picking up the pen and writing the three meaningless words inside the notepad.

But Harris didn't reply back. When all three household members signed in his notepad, Harris made a hasty departure to interview the next house. As soon as he left the grocery store, the argument between Sasha and Karen continued exactly where they left off, much to Jeff's chagrin.

- - -

Since it was raining today, there was no need for Jack to water his countless fields of crops, massively reducing half of his work for the day. The only duty left for him to complete was feeding his animals, and that was something that should take no time. After eating a nutritious breakfast cooked by his darling wife Ann, Jack began to head off to the chicken coop for his daily routine.

But surprisingly enough, Jack didn't get far in his process. Manna was waiting for him outside of his house, holding a bright pink umbrella under the rain.

"Hello Jack, I was just going to buy half a dozen of eggs from your farm, do you mind?" Manna asked rapidly. Before Jack could reply, she was speaking again. "Of course you don't mind. I wouldn't have bothered you normally, but the Poultry Farm was closed today."

Jack stared blankly at Manna for several seconds before a weak strained smile appeared on his face. "Okay, I'll go to the chicken coop and pick out a few eggs for you. Go wait inside the house. I bet Ann will be thrilled to see you."

As Jack dashed off to the chicken coop to collect some eggs, Manna hurried inside Jack's house to shelter from the rain. Inside, she was greeted pleasantly by a chipper Ann, whose pregnant stomach was looking rounder and healthier than ever.

"Ann, you'll never believe what I found out this morning!" Manna gasped delightfully. "I heard a scandalous rumour that Anna might've been having an affair with another man!"

Ann dropped her mouth in surprise. "Oh! Where did you hear that from?"

"I heard it from Lillia, who heard it from Rick, who heard it from Karen…anyway, it doesn't matter." Manna waved her hand dismissively. "But an affair…doesn't that spice up things a little? I could totally imagine a jealous lover shooting Anna to death!"

"Who do you think she might be having an affair with?" Ann asked, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. She then said the first name that popped up spontaneously in her head. "Jeff?"

Manna sneered arrogantly and shook her head.

"There's no way Jeff could be the secret lover. He is too afraid of Sasha to ever do such a thing!" Manna laughed, gesturing a whipping motion with her hand. "But speaking of Sasha…did you know that she thought Basil and Duke were better husbands than Jeff? It's true! I remembered her saying that Basil was the dreamiest guy in the village once!"

Suddenly, her eyes widened in surprise as Manna came into a hasty realization. She clapped both of her hands over her enormous mouth.

"Oh my goodness! What if Sasha murdered Anna out of jealousy? What if Sasha desired Basil for a long time and figured that killing Anna would be the only way to get her man?"

"Don't think like that, Manna. I'm sure Sasha didn't kill her best friend…" Ann looked at Manna uncomfortably.

"Oh, I don't know about that!" Manna rolled her eyes. She turned her head around to check if anybody was there, and then she whispered loudly, "Did you know that Sasha opened the grocery store for business today? She's trying to act as if everything is normal. Don't you think that's just a little strange, considering she only found her best friend's body two days ago?"

Before Ann could reply back, Jack returned with the carton of eggs that Manna wanted and sent the gossipy woman on her way. After she was gone, the house fell into a relaxing silence, but Manna's words still left a huge impact and haunted Ann's train of thoughts for the rest of the day.

What if Sasha was truly the murderer? What if she really had a gun right now, hidden somewhere in the grocery store?

Just when Jack was heading towards the door, Ann mumbled, rubbing her stomach nervously. "Honey…I don't think I'll be going to the grocery store today."

- - -

The rainy and wet morning certainly did nothing to raise Mary's already low spirits. It was Monday today, the usual time of the week when her family would go on a nature hike up to Mother's Hill. All the happy memories flooded Mary's head again at once, smiling at the thoughts of her father Basil teaching her about plants and her mother Anna preparing the most delicious and varied picnic ever.

But now, the hikes and picnics were no more. There would be no more of that, ever.

Despite the horrible weather, her father Basil insisted on hiking up the mountain anyway. Mary preferred to stay in her bed the entire day, wanting to drown in her own denial rather than face the harsh reality. The only person who could remotely cheer her up now was her boyfriend Gray, who coincidentally lived next door at the inn. And just like a knight in shining armour, he entered the room holding a delicious tray of breakfast. Pancakes and maple syrup, topped by a fresh glass of orange juice – it was Mary's favourite.

"Hey." Grey smiled sweetly, placing the tray on a nearby table. "I got you breakfast."

He walked towards the window and pulled open the curtains, frowning disappointedly at the rain outside.

"I know it's a hard time for you, Mary. With your mother and all…" Gray mumbled, looking slightly baffled. He nervously adjusted his blue cap to hide his eyes, an annoying habit that he couldn't grow out of. "I…I just want you to know that I'm here for you, Mary. No matter what happens, I'm here for you."

Mary nodded her head appreciatively. "Thanks, Gray."

"No problem." Gray returned with a small smile.

"Harris came over last night. He told me that Mother was corresponding love letters with another man," Mary said coldly. "Mother was having an affair."

Gray looked stunned. He opened his mouth a few times to speak, but ended up stuttering empty words instead. Mary didn't seem to mind the lack of response, preferring the soothing silence over a barrage of questions. That was one of the many reasons why she loved the company of Gray – he doesn't bombard her with questions when she speaks. Gray listens attentively, and what Mary desperate needs right now is somebody to listen to her story.

"I know Mother wasn't happy in her marriage, and I know that they were heading for divorce eventually," Mary continued. "But I can't believe she opted for an affair with another man…I just can't believe it."

Mary sighed sadly, with a few tears forming at the corner of her eyes. Gray looked hopelessly over her, unsure exactly how to comfort her.

"Marriage is overrated. I learned that two people can't stay in love forever, my parents were the perfect example of that." Mary muttered bitterly. "I don't believe in matrimony. I don't believe in love anymore."

Slowly climbing out of bed, Mary put on her glasses to hide her weepy eyes. "Are you okay, Gray? You look kind of strange…"

Gray shook his head, quickly recovering from the initial shock of what Mary had said. He carefully searched for her hands and tightly grasped onto them. "You don't need to worry about me."

It was a few minutes later when Carter and Mayor Thomas made an unexpected arrival at the room. Both men were wearing black from head to toe, as well as carrying solemn expressions on their faces. Mayor Thomas looked much like his son Harris, exhausted and completely weathered down. It wasn't surprising that he looked like he was falling apart, considering that he has been swarmed trying to attend to the media and the ministries over Anna's death.

"Hello Mary," said Carter in a polite and soft voice. "We need to see your father about your mother's funeral."

Mary painfully closed her eyes. She had not thought about the funeral at all. The mere mention of the word drained all energy from her body, and she suddenly felt the urge to go back to bed and sleep all her troubles away. Gray was mumbling some response to Carter, but the piercing noise of disappointment was the only thing that Mary could hear right now.

"Stay strong, Mary." Carter said. His voice was slowly cracking up. "Have faith. Your mother would want you to have faith."

Gray noticed that Carter was getting a little teary-eyed, snivelling softly under his breath. Beside him, Mayor Thomas was already bawling his eyes out, pulling a black handkerchief out and blowing his nose with it.

"We can come back another time," whimpered Thomas, sobbing between each word. "If you need anything, Mary…just ask and we'll be glad to help."

"Thank you," said Mary very quietly. Gray also nodded his head, putting a comforting hand around her shoulder.

The two men left the room without speaking another word. Thomas walked down the staircase first, silently wiping his stuffy nose with a black handkerchief. His podgy body trembled as he carelessly stumbled down the stairs. Carter followed behind him, but suddenly stopped dead in the middle of the staircase by a soft sound he heard with his delicate ears.

He could hear the faint, miserable sobs coming from Mary's room.

To Be Continued

Author's Note: The longest chapter yet. We're reaching to the halfway point of the mystery and there should be some subtle signs as to who the murderer is by now. I'm happy with the reviews that I've got so far, but it'd be really nice if I could obtain even more of them from more readers! It encourages me to write more when I see that readers are showing an interest to my story by reviewing. :)