2．The seaside mansion
A luxury residential area facing the south coast of Luna City.
The luxurious mansion towering over the hill was Mr. Evans's private residence, and even though it was midnight, several police cars had gathered and the lights were shining brightly.
The rain had stopped.
The cries of the seagulls crying at night are washed away by the sound of the waves.
The reflection of the light in the window of the mansion on the dark sea swayed in ripples, and the scenery was beautiful, shining like a fishing fire.
Adam frowned at the splendor of the Evans residence, which could be mistaken for a guest house.
It was hard to imagine that the place in front of him was facing the same sea as the dump-like slums ,he had been just before.
He thought It's like heaven and hell.
* *
The boss who called Adam said,
"The direct cause of death for the victim, Mr. Evans, was that he was beaten to death with an iron vase in his bedroom, but his second wife, who was the suspect in the murder, moreover strangled him with the belt of her nightgown . After that, she was on the run by car, fell off a cliff, and was confirmed dead a while ago .”
“The body has already been removed, and the police lab team has also left.…so, there's nothing I can do here, right?"
His boss, the detective, snorted at the blunt-spoken Adam
I really don't like the look in his eyes that scoffed at me. This year's rookie comes from a slum does'nt know oneself. It's so disgusting that such a young man whose birthplace are unknown has joined the elite Luna City Police Department.
The boss continue his words.
“We will leave for now, and the detailed investigation will begin tomorrow morning. Adam, until then, your job is to guard Mr. Evans’ son – Ikaru Evans –. I heard second wife made last phone call to her stepson before fell off the quay, but he's a cunning and grumpy kid who doesn't cooperate with our interviews at all."
"……And then what? "
Adam asked so, then the boss said with a lot of sarcasm
"You're from an orphanage. Dealing with problem children is something you're good at. When Ikaru wakes up, listen carefully to the content of the phone call."
The boss's words pierced Adam's chest.
Fucking bastard...
The boss involuntarily steps back. For he could see nothing but darkness behind Adam's razor-like gaze towards him.
"Wha, what is it, you? Is that the attitude you should take towards the boss?"
At that moment, Adam was hit by that word, and dropped his voice.
"... Understood. I'll do my best."
＊ ＊
Sitting down on the sofa in the hall of the Evans mansion, Adam began to read through the materials his boss had handed him.
The name of the subject of protection is Ikaru Evans (9 years old)．
He is the only son between Mr. Evans, the victim of this incident, and his "ex-wife.
Evans' ex-wife committed suicide by jumping off the balcony of her home two years ago. The suspect this time is Mr. Evans' "second wife" who married him a year ago, and Ikaru is her stepson.
“ Evans'ex-wife commited suicide by jumping off the balcony of her home…”
Maybe from that balcony?
Adam turned his eyes to the balcony. He got up from the sofa, opened the balcony door from the hall.The sea breeze caressed his face.
The sound of waves echoed in Adam's ears. If it was a bright day, this place would be the best location to see the blue sea sparkling in the sunshine...
However, the sea at midnight was as dark as a blackout curtain.
” Ikaru's mother committed suicide by jumping. His father was killed and his stepmother a murderer.”
The sound of crashing waves reminds Adam of his mother's dying lung wheezing, and an emptiness passes his ears.
Even in the slums where he lived for many years, there were many children who lost their parents.
But imagining stingy men swarmed a child who inherited a large sum of money frightened him.
” My boss asked me to get out the contents of phone call from the stepmother to the stepson, but...
It feels like a grudge.”
Calling sutepson after she killed her husband is no good.
Such a phone call is a lifetime trauma for a child.
Adam exhales briefly and pulls out the IQOS. At that moment, the mobile phone on his chest suddenly started ringing.
"It's Adam."
A cheeky voice said from the mobile phone.
"Who are you?"
"Huh? Are you half asleep just because it's late at night? You're right. I'm Adam M. Fields of the Criminal Division! Who are you? I've never heard your voice at the Police station."
"Oh, my……you a detective?"
The voice of the pre-dysphonic boy soprano suddenly reminded Adam of the name of the "protected" child.
"You, could it be, 'Ikaru Evans'? What are you doing at this late night?"
"I'm hungry. Adam, bring me something."
"Huh?"
"Are you half asleep? Don't make me say the same thing over and over."
Adam mumbles at the commanding 9-year-old. …… This guy, his brain is rotten. I'm an escort, not a servant.
The young detective cried.
“Ikaru Evans, if you’re hungry, come to get it yourself. I mean, sleep quickly! This shit !"
* *
Adam cursed and hung up, but there was no response from Ikaru after that.
He clucked his tongue wondering to say a little too much.
For the time being, Ikaru is a child to be protected.
Having nothing to do, Adam stepped out onto the balcony from the hall, took out a IQOS like a tranquilizer for him, and suddenly stopped his hand. Because of feeling like hearing Juliet's nagging.
'Adam, quit smoking! Even heated cigarettes are bad for your health.'
As he let out a bitter smile, a dull sound echoed from above his head.
Many yellow feathers scatter in the night sky and are blown away by the wind.
"A bird's feather?"
As he was stunned and stared at it, this time the wingless bird's body fell into the dark sea．
"There's someone on the balcony upstairs!"
After saying that, Adam leaned out of the balcony and screamed when he saw a child above his head.
"Ikaru! What are you doing in the middle of the night like this!"
Is this kid going to kill birds?
Without a moment's pause, even the birdcage fell by grazing the tip of his nose.
“It’s dangerous, Ikaru, wait a minute! from now on, I will go there. So,do not do anything foolish!"
The boy's said,
"Well, It’s a pain. Then I'll go there. So wait a little."
Right after that, a corner of the ceiling of Adam's balcony suddenly opened, and a young boy's face popped out of it.
* *
The boy who came downstairs said.
"Are you surprised? Upstairs is the balcony of my room, and the emergency exit is designed to open."
Adam glanced sideways at the boy who smiled carefree.
The boy's good looks irritated Adam even more.
Deep blue eyes that seemed to draw him in, and fair skin that made you think of ceramics. Especially eye-catching is Ikaru's glossy silver hair that looks like layers of silk.
On top of that, for a nine-year-old, his young-looking face is terribly seductive.
If he leave it in front of a male brothel in a slum that violates child protection ordinances, he will be likely to get good customers in no time.
Ikaru sat down on the sofa in the large hall,
"I can't sleep"
With that said and turned his round eyes towards Adam.
...It's understandable. Even though he's being cheeky, he lost his parents suddenly in that incident. That bird and the birdcage may have been done because of his unstable mind.
However, Ikaru told Adam, who had a sympathy for the child for a moment.
"I'm hungry."
"Huh? Is that why you can't sleep?"
adam was confused.
'Ikaru Evans. difficult child.'
"It's ridiculous." Whether it's protected or not, I've already stopped worrying about such a child.
Adam took out the "emergency food" that Juliet had screwed into his jacket pocket and threw it at Ikaru.
"Eat it! It's a snacks sold by the homeless at Daybreak Station."
