Finally, the weekend had arrived. I decided to hang around in the city, and if today goes right, I might actually get close to achieving my goal.
I put on a hat and glasses. It was hardly a good disguise, but with a few more accessories, it will do.
I got out and made my way to a street. My target was hopefully finding Elena. I would go to places where she mostly hangs out.
I'm hoping she will be alone by herself so I can talk to her more freely.
While I was walking, I noticed a boy who was about my age walking alone. I guess many people in high school get out of their homes to get some fresh air.
But taking a closer look, I noticed something. Brown, long hair and a weird choice of clothing.
Wow, did the gods actually give me a chance to save myself?
While no one in the streets was paying attention, I pushed him into a one-way alley.
He lost his balance and fell.
"Well, Lukas, I think we need to have a conversation."
"Who the fuck are yo... oh damn, Daniel?"
Oh, I guess the disguise wasn't that good.
Lukas just kept talking.
"Mate, if you wanted to talk, all you had to do was ask. You didn't need to follow me and push me into an alley."
"I didn't follow you."
"What do you call this then?"
I realized arguing with him was kinda pointless, so I just told him again that we needed to talk.
He answered back with:
"Alright, but I think we need to sit in a public place. Talking here will look suspicious now, won't it?"
Eh, he is right. I just agreed with him, and we sat in a cafe nearby.
"So what do you want to ask me?"
Huh?!
Is he serious? Why the hell is he so fucking eager for my questions? Was he waiting for this?
You know what, I need to calm down. I know how weird this guy is by now.
"Well, first of all, the help with the body. I don't think I got a full answer from you in the past."
"Isn't it obvious? I want a friend."
"A friend?"
"Maybe I worded it a little bit wrong there. I want someone who actually understands me."
I mean, I could have kinda seen that coming. Now that I think about it, not many reasons come to mind. Eh, at least I know for certain now.
"Why did you put that dumbass note?"
"You are still on that? Geez, I thought you would actually thank me for that."
"Thank you? Are you serious? Before you put up the note, the police had many possibilities for the case. Maybe she had run away, maybe she had gotten kidnapped, but with that note, they are only one push away from knowing she actually got killed."
"Nah mate, you are not thinking about it right. They definitely knew it wasn't a case of a teenage runaway. Every item she owned was still at her house, and there was no sign of her anywhere in Prague."
Damn, maybe that's why the police were quick to be notified and make a move. Eh, I guess I can't argue with that logic.
"And I don't think they thought it was a kidnapping case, cause there was no attempt to get a ransom. And like Sofia herself, the parents actually didn't really have anyone that hated them."
Wow, the more he speaks, the more I think of him as one of those dipshits that watch two true crime documentaries and think they are now a professional.
Buuuuut I can agree with some of his points.
"So your best choice was just telling them, 'Yo guys, she is dead?'"
"Duh. And also, that note wasn't just telling them, 'Yo, she is dead.' It's also making them question themselves. Like, how many people is it? Was it someone close to her? And what's the motive?"
"You are just talking like a delusional person."
"Alright, look. Let's say I'm delusional. Let's say I'm wrong on the points I made. What is wrong with just having some fun?"
It's like talking to a brick wall. No matter what I ask or say to him, he will always think he is in the right.
Before I could get my words in again, he spoke over me and asked:
"Oh, that reminds me. Is there any evidence that you couldn't tie up yet?"
Oh yeah, fuck. I just remembered.
"Probably. The day before yesterday, I went back to check the storage room. I saw there was her phone and tiny drops of dried-up blood. I took the phone and tried to clean up the blood, but before I could fully clean it, a janitor came, so I had to leave before he could notice me."
"So there is some evidence left."
"Maybe, but I'm thinking the janitor just cleaned it up himself."
"Let me see the phone."
I grabbed the phone from my pocket. I took out the case before, so if someone ever saw it with me in public, they wouldn't think anything about it.
"You can check all you want. It's locked."
I thought about trying out every combination, but the passcode is six digits long, so there was no chance of me opening it by that.
Lukas checked the phone a little bit, looked at some parts, checked the SIM card port, then gave the phone back to me.
"So I'm guessing you are keeping the phone as kind of a trophy?"
"What? Of course not. Do you think I'm some kind of a psycho? I'm just trying to open it to get some reliable info."
He looked at me like he wasn't buying it, but also didn't want to question it further.
"Alright then, are you at least close to getting the passcode?"
"Well, that was my plan for the day until I noticed you walking alone without your little bodyguards. I couldn't pass up that opportunity."
I was gonna go to places where Elena would most likely be, but I spent some time on this. I think I still have time.
Lukas said back to me:
"Well, I'm free today. Let me in on your plan."
I guess two is better than one. I just told him we need to visit some places until we can find Elena, then I can make a real plan.
He seemed okay with it and had no objections.
After a while of just going places, I noticed her in a cafe. I thought it would take longer, but you can't complain about good fortune.
I explained to Lukas that I wanted him to sit at a table nearby, and then I would strike up a conversation with her. When I learned what I needed, I would throw up a sign so he could get me out of the conversation.
He took a seat at a nearby table, but not close enough that she would notice him.
I went up to her and said:
"Elena, you come to this place too?"
"Yeah, me and Sofia would sometimes go to this place to have some coffee."
Yeah, I know. I used to follow y'all. Well, I used to follow Sofia. You were just a bystander. Ah, the good old days.
Anyways, I asked her:
"Can I take a seat?"
She just nodded her head. I'm guessing she wanted to talk to someone.
I started talking. Well, it seemed like talking, but if you looked back, it seemed more like an interrogation.
But I'm not really getting answers that are useful to me.
Let me ask some important questions.
"Did Sofia have something like a journal or a diary? If so, is it possible for me to take a look at them?"
"Yeah, she actually did, but it was taken by that investigator woman that came yesterday."
Well shit. Only if I had thought about the idea of a journal or a diary before. Not only did I lose an important piece of information, there might be some things written about me.
Damn, can't cry over spilt milk tho.
"Did she say anything weird in her texts to you anytime in the last month?"
"No, not really. Nothing comes to mind."
"If possible, may I see them?"
"Of course, here it is."
It was that easy??
I just asked once and she just gave me her phone to check. Damn, how much does she trust me?
I checked the phone to see if anything useful to the passcode would come up.
But nothing.
The messages were just normal, but the only thing I noticed was the name "Anna."
"What does Anna mean?"
"Oh, it's just a little inside joke between us. It doesn't really mean anything."
I didn't push further. I guess this was the best info I was gonna get.
I threw up a sign. Lukas came to our table and asked to hang out. I made a lame excuse and went away.
"So, did you get any info?"
"A little. Now I know the investigator has Sofia's journal, but nothing really useful. They have an inside joke with each other tho, but I don't know what it means. It's just the word Anna."
"Bummer. I'm gonna order some takeaway. You want some?"
"Nah, I'm good. I'm gonna take my leave."
While leaving, I suddenly thought of something.
Letters couldn't get put as a PIN code, but what if it was just turned into numbers?
I first tried it with their number counterpart from the alphabet.
1-14-14-1
Damn, it didn't work.
Is there any other way?
Wait, fuck. Let me try this.
I looked at the counterpart of the letters on the old phones without touchscreens.
2-66-66-2
Holy shit, would you look at that It actually worked.
Well, I need to tread carefully, so maybe I start some things tomorrow.