The Man on The Phone

“So, who are you fighting this time?”

“I’m not quite sure, but he is a crafty one I tell you. I’ve been on this case for months but, that criminal is still on the loose.”

Detective Holmes sat at his office chair. The room is faintly lit by a small lampshade sitting at the desk before him. On it are a mountain of paper containing information on the mysterious villain. He looked around as he gently spun his chair and found his eyes fixed on the large cork board placed on the left wall. Most of the details are shrouded by the night’s darkness but some pinned notes stuck out, reaching the light offered by such a tiny bulb.

“I tell you, in all my years as being a detective, I have never encountered anyone who has placed me at my wit’s end.” He jested, thinking that he is still of superior intellect to this criminal.

“Oh, I’m sure you’ll catch him soon. You always do. There’s nobody who can escape Malcolm Holmes, the greatest detective alive!” This placed the detective on a better mood. He stood up and took the bottle of whiskey placed at the far corner of the room. Both glasses next to it are unwashed so he decided get another one in the kitchen.

“Well, for what it’s worth. I’ve got another lead on him. The closest I’ve had in months.”

“That sounds interesting. What’ve you got?”

“I can’t tell you, it might place your life in jeopardy. All you need to know is that, I’m that close to finding him.” The detective said, sticking his thumb and pointing finger almost together.

“Yeah, I’m guessing you are holding two fingers close right now.”

“Exactly. You know me so well.” The detective replied, now with a completely better mood.

Taking the last glass on the kitchen, Holmes came back and poured some whiskey for himself. He then went on the corkboard, looking at the details offered by the faint light.

Note Number 3:

The culprit seems to be fond of drinking since a whiskey bottle cap was left at the scene of the crime. Family members of the murder victim confirmed that the victim is a non-alcoholic. The whiskey is a foreign brand, I need to look it up at my office to see where it can be purchased.

Note Number 13:

This has gone far too much. The criminal has killed another set of people; all at random areas around the city. He has no preferred choice in victims as every corpse tells a different story.

1. A homosexual strangled using stockings.

2. A cab driver whose gut was torn open.

3. A librarian burnt alive.

The list goes on, every night is another body in his collection of corpses. I need to find this murderer soon before he/she, completely places the people in complete fright and distrust.

Note Number 23:

I almost had him this day! Through my deductive reasoning, I’ve realized that he would visit the circus next. After all, this is the only place left in the city where he has yet to murder a person. However, the murderer caught wind of me and ran away. I tried following him in the house of mirrors but I lost sight of him.

“I’ll have you this time. You had me in circles for too long.” He said; taking a pin and placing it on a sheet that did not hang straight.

“Uhm hello? Earth to Detective Holmes? I’m still on the line?”

“Oh right. Sorry about that my friend. Anyway, I’ve got to hang up. The night is still young and I have a lot of pieces left that need to be placed on this murder jigsaw.”

“Yeah you do that Detective. Catch up to you later okay?”

“I will.” Holmes replied as he hung up.

Going back to his desk, the detective browsed through the paperwork again. He has browsed through them before; ten times to be exact. Yet he can’t shake the feeling that he is missing something vital. Something that will end all this; finally cornering the murderer as he has always done in the past.

The room fell into a deep silence, just the way he liked it whenever he needs to think about something. But this did not last long. His phone rang again, and he hastily picked it up. Thinking that it may just be his friend, forgetting to tell him something.

“Holmes speaking.” There was silence.

“This is probably another prank call.” Holmes told himself, intending to scare the brat that tried to prank the world’s greatest detective.

“Look kid. I don’t know how much lunch money you and your friends placed a bet on, but I assure you it’s not enough once I track you down.” These words have always worked on children. Holmes found it amusing that, instead of being the one pranked, he is the one pranking the children.

“That sounds superficial seeing how I’m still a free man detective.” Holmes’ eyes widened in surprise. He instinctively knew who the person is. Without hearing this person’s voice ever in his life. Without even using his deductive reasoning. He is sure, with all the hair that stood on his skin, that this is the murderer.

“Where did you get my number?” He said.

“That’s a funny thing to ask when even kids can get it don’t you think? You aren’t the tech savvy type are you?”

Holmes tried to keep the criminal distracted as he reached for the keypad phone he hides under his desk. It holds the contact information of the police and, once he sends them a text, they will come rushing. That is how important he is to them.

“Now now. No need to distract me. I’m planning to turn myself this evening anyway.”

“What…what did you just say!?” Holmes couldn’t believe it. All the hard work and effort he placed in finding this criminal will count for nothing. He knows this is for the better, but he just can’t accept that it would end like this.

“Oh didn’t you hear me detective? I will turn myself in for my crimes. Admit that I am the infamous murderer who has toyed with Malcolm Holmes for months.”

“You – ” Holmes started. He didn’t send the message to the police anymore. He knows it’s wrong but his pride won’t let the man get arrested on his own.

“You? Hahaha. You know I’d love to see that crappy look on your face right now but I don’t have the luxury of time. You see, I’ve also been doing my research on you and turns out, you and I are alike. More than you know of.”

“How dare you compare me to a criminal scum as yourself?”

“Oh you’d know soon enough.”

“What do you mean by that? Where are you?” Holmes replied.

“Closer than you think.”

The sound of Police sirens took Holmes’ attention away from the phone.

“Why are they here?” He asked himself, knowing full well that he didn’t call the cops. He looked at the window and sure enough, two police vehicles are parked just outside the building.

“They wouldn’t be here unless…unless!” Holmes, had everything figured out. There is only one reason why the police would come in this situation. The criminal is here.

“Ding. Ding. You guessed it. I’m at the same building as you are. I called them minutes before I called you.”

“Where are you?” Holmes demanded. This is the only chance he has of taking the villain before the cops do. This is the only moment where he can at least, save some of his pride.

“Uhm. At the building?” The murderer replied sarcastically.

“You better straighten up before – ”

“Before what? Before you turn me in? I’m pretty sure I’ve got that part covered Detective so no thanks.”

There was only silence. Holmes didn’t know what to say next. He just can’t accept it. He won’t. All of this leaves a bad taste on his mouth and he will not let everything end the way this criminal wants it to.

“This is our grand finale detective. Let’s make it a good one.” The murderer hung up.

Holmes immediately turned the office light on, looking at the cork board for a possible clue. All the pinned notes, all the papers on the desk. Something is there, he just needs to find it.

“Come on Holmes.” He said, looking through everything. Then, a sudden realization came to him. All the pieces finally linked together. One victim per area. One method of murder per victim. Having the longest run as a criminal in Holmes’ record.

“This person – he is obsessed with the number one!” As soon as the realization struck Holmes, he ran out of the room; handcuffs on one hand and a nightstick on the other. He needs to be faster than the cops who just came and, judging by how they aren’t making any quick moves, it seems that the criminal didn’t inform them about which floor or room he is exactly.

Holmes smiled, knowing that he has the upper hand in this situation. But he needed to be swift, otherwise the cops will beat him to it. From the third floor, Holmes ran all the way down to the first and, as soon as he reached room number one, he kicked it open without any hesitation.

“Checkmate!” He shouted.

 He expected to see the face of the criminal. He expected to apprehend this person tonight and yet…

There was nobody on the room.

“This can’t be right!” He told himself as he looked around.

“I had everything figured out perfectly!” He continued.

As he closed the door however, another lead presented itself. A note was left with these words written on it:

Dear Detective,

I’m sure you’d put all the pieces together. Frankly, I’m confident in your skill. That’s why I know you’d read this before the cops come. But I wasn’t lying about turning myself in you know. I’m here in this room right now. But before you can find me….

Remember what I said about having a grand finale? Check your phone’s call log then set the phone’s volume to maximum.

Holmes immediately did as the letter instructed. There was nothing on it. To his surprise both his friend and the murderer’s number did not appear on the recent call history. What does this all mean?

He stared at it…not knowing what to make of the situation.

Then, his phone buzzed again but before he could even place it to his ear, a voice came on. It’s a recording, specifically set as an alarm tone on this very moment.

“Now do you understand.” The murderers voice said.

“I think you know what this means, my dear old friend.” Were the lines that came next, with the voice of his friend.

Holmes knelt down. Dropping his phone to the ground and placing both hands on his face. Yes, the great detective has found the murderer. Starting tonight, the great detective, the sinister criminal, and his mysterious friend will not be heard of again.