Witches tree

Edmond was a morning person. He woke early regardless of how late he spent the night. It was most definitely a gift. He made an extra effort to wake up early when his in town. The big city looks surreal in the early violet sky, but the serenity of the chilling morning here is something else.
His walk always tends to have a destination regardless, if the destination has any significant meaning. Which completely ruins the point of having a destination in the first place. Thinking about it he saw two men talking and laughing facing the cigarette shop. Most likely talking with the shop owner.
Soon the two men left and the shopowners face emerged from the box to wave them goodbye, all the while smiling with her puffy cheeks.
Edmond knew the girl, it was the consultant’s daughter. Edmond strolls towards the shop. Since the line of sight is so narrow from the box without looking out, Edmonds’s sudden appearance surprised the girl.

“Mr.Detective! I didn’t know your in town!”
“Just got here just a few days ago. Might leave by tomorrow morning though”
“Oh? Why so soon? Left someone waiting back in the big city did you?”
“Nothing but an empty chair.”
“Then why not stay for a while?”
“That would be very unprofessional.”
“That is the very reason I never thought of working for someone else. I could never bear to not take a break when I want to.”
“Oh? Here I thought you were just a prideful woman. But whats this anyway? I see you doing something different every time I come here. It was selling eggs last time?”
“Blame the economy detective! Market changes way too quickly here for such a backwater town! I can’t even begin to imagine the ever-changing trifles in the big city.”
“It’s the opposite really. Every time I’m here I feel like something’s different. The big city you always refer to feels stagnant most of the time. Besides, doesn’t changing business hurts your profit in the long run?”
“Maybe. But these quick profits are all I need! Maybe I just have commitment problems.” Saying that Fujimura looked around in the inside. Edmond felt she was trying to hide her face for some reason.
“Do you want a smoke?” Fujimura asked which surprised Edmond.
“I thought you didn’t like me smoking.”
“Well. Ahaha. The business has been stale lately.” Fujimura laughed trying to hide her embarrassment.
“Has it so? I saw two people here this early in the morning.”
“Oh, those two are just regulars. They go to the fields every morning in this way. Half the time they don’t buy anything.” She said with genuine frustration. Business really was stale Edmond thought.
“That dictates they have other intentions. You were quite chummy with them too.”
Fujimura took a moment to look at Edmond, then slowly curled up a smile with the corner of her lips, “You needn’t feel threatened detective. They are just old friends. I grew up with them you know”
Edmond couldn't come up with a reply and could only cough.
Fujimura for the first time didn’t press on and quickly used this opportunity to hand him the priciest box she had.
Business is most profitable when you catch your opponent by surprise.
Edmond pulled out a cigarette and started puffing it. There was a calm silence while the cigarette was burning. It was sharing moments like these without feeling unpleasant what made Edmond feel closer to people. He read somewhere that it was a special thing. Edmond did find Fujimura quite special.

“Do you have any plans today?” Fujimura asked as Edmond let go of the cigarette bud.
“I have. Want to join me?”
“Anything special?”
“The usual”
Fujimura could only let out a slight sigh.
“Better then nothing I suppose”

2.

The destination was a bit far from Fujimuras shop, it was just outside the town. So it was a long walk. Edmond didn’t spoil the specifics and Fujimura didn’t pry. For a suburb, the area didn’t boast anything of note. It’s easily overlooked. Maybe that is why the ever-increasing industrialism somehow missed it.

“Will we have time to see the fair?” Fujimura prosed the question to Edmond.
“There’s a fair? Oh yes, we did have a yearly fair here didn’t we. Say, what was it about anyway ?”
“My, seems like you easily forget things that don’t matter to you.”
“That’s not true. I tend to remember you from time to time.”
“Hmpf. You’ll regret the day you forget me, detective” Fujimuras frowns are almost audible.
“If an empty threat was enough to get to me I would’ve died long ago.” Edmond looks at her frowning face with a slight grin. Fujimura inturn flashed a smile back.
“Don’t underestimate a girl wearing a kimono and a smile, both can easily hide knives”
“Haikus won’t get you anywhere, it’s only the weather poetry can bear.”
“A maidens word carry meaning, even more so when she’s cunning”
“The fox only has one tail, it should make sure not to lose it and become pale” “It seems one is used to gullible canine, make no mistake this fox has nine”
Fujimura looked at Edmond for a reply but Edmond seemed to have a hard time suppressing a laugh. Both of their eyes met. At which point both of them burst out laughing in spite of themselves. The cold silence of the morning was masked by a laugh they genuinely shared.

The sky was clear and the sun rays cleared the mystic of the morning and everything was made bear. The number of people on the street started growing, it was only a matter of time they would see someone they knew.
More accurately it was someone Fujimura knew. A girl called Mina. They greeted each other. Edmond picked up from their conversation that she was on her way for a trade. She had her cart full with wolf pelts and bunch of apples on top of them. Both were from the forest in the up north which was a days distance. She had already delivered the apples to the area where the fair was taking place. Now she was on her way to sell the pelts, and Fujimura for some reason wanted to see the transaction. So the three of them made their way to a shipment company salesperson who was going to buy them.

“How does this works exactly? Is Mina in some kind of pelt business?” Edmond prosed a question though he felt he didn’t word it right.
“Oh no. Nothing so serious. This is more of a side thing of her.”
“How does a side thing concerns a salesperson from Ronvil company? I thought these things were more ‘organized’.”
“It is. Think of it as the tea business chain. Poor uneducated tea farmers produce tea leaves working inhumanly while the suppliers buy them for dirt cheap, manufacture them for dirt cheap while selling it for huge prices. It’s inhumane.” Fujimura said without restraining without any frustration.
“That…. was more of a rant than an explanation… are you okay?”
“Hah. I’m fine. Well Rovnil company is like that.But don’t worry Mina isn’t being scammed like that. Its that Rovnil company just doesn’t sell tea. And I’m sure they aren’t here for that anyway. Mina somehow knew a Rovnil sales person was in this part of town. So shes going to try to sell these pelts in the side because Rovnil also works in clothing among other things”
“So isn’t this kind of illegal?”
“No.No. Some pelts from the side won't do anything. Of course, her not having a license will affect the price considerably but that's on her.

Edmond pondered the whole thing. There were holes in Fujimuras explanation or she had hoped Edmond had a general sense in how these worked. Edmond suddenly became concerned about how little he understood about these things.

When they met up with Rovnils representative here Edmond found he looked quite modest. But of course, it was a lie because the company was quite big.
The deal went rather smoothly, and just like Fujimura said the representative used Mina's lack of license against her. But of course in the end Mina was getting profit out of it. Edmond didn’t know how Mina got the pelts but to sell it in the usual way wouldn't net half as much profit or at least that's how Fujimura had put it.

The deal was all but done and both of the parties had come to an agreement when Fujimura suddenly interfered shouting,
“Mina! What the hell?”
Not only Edmond both the salesperson and Mina seemed to have caught off guard. Mina looked back at Fujimura hiding her surprise.
“Are you seriously letting feelings affect trade? My, even I can see that Mr.Renal is an attractive man but seriously. You're a married woman Mina!”
It was a gamble. Fujimura looked straight at Mina. There was no space for a wink. Fujimura needed to trust that Mina would somehow understand. unbeknownst to Mr.Renal. Mr. Renal was caught off guard but Edmond was truly dumbfounded.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn't have.” Mina meekly started to step aside trying to give Fujimura space. Fujimura instantly took stage.
“See this is why women shouldn't get into business, they get swayed easily! Mr.Renal you shouldn't have taken such advantage of her.”
“Oh, mam I apologize. But I don’t seem to follow.” Mr.Renal spoke as kindly as possible followed by a nervous laugh. Even Edmond could tell his words were true.
“Please, sir. Do not pretend to not notice. We shouldn't have underestimated you.” Fujimura turned towards the cart and took a pelt in her hands.
“But I suppose that's how it works.” saying that Fujimura shoved it at Mr.Renal's hands. “Take a good smell of it, sir.”

Renal did as such and his eyes brightened. He seems surprised and intrigued.
“What did you smell?” Fujimura pressed on.
“Smells like fruit to me.”
“It is. The forest this year was filled with apples and such. They had their fill so much that their skin remembered the smell! These martins were so healthy it took a couple of men to take it down. Just stretch the pelt, see for yourself.”

The man did as such and exclaimed positively so.
“Such a natural sweet smell is hard to come by. If you use resin to keep it, it would smell better than any of its contemporaries with their chemical smell. And with such strength, it would make quite the fine coats.” Fujimura's last bone was given with a tone of delicacy and intellect.
Mr.Renal kept his appearances of course but even then it was easy to tell his excitement from this trade, as the price went up considerably.

The deal later went without a hinge and the three left the salesperson's presence. Mina kept sharing words of gratitude.

“Oh don’t worry. I was just hoping you would catch on without saying anything stupid. Glad you did as such” Fujimura waved her hands telling so.
“I’m just surprised you know. I hadn’t noticed the smell” Mina told as so.

Fujimura only smiled. Mina then left and Edmond and Fujimura went back to their walk. They weren't pressed for time but they still exclaimed that the whole ordeal took more time than expected. After they had put considerable distance from there Edmond spoke his mind.

“I don’t get it. How come you noticed when Mina didn’t? She didn’t seem actually novice.”
“Oh? You didn’t get it?” Fujimura put on a cheeky smile.
“Hmm. Give me some time”
“Don’t bother. She didn’t notice because she couldn't and I took a gamble.”
“What?”
“It was the apples. She had apples on top of the pelt. It was the apples smell that was rubbed off. I assumed the apples were there long enough to rub the smell off since both were brought from the forest in the north.”
“Wait, you lied to him?”
“I advertised him the facts. Besides this should be a good lesson for him. If he is a good merchant then he will take it as such.” Fujimura said with a bit of pressure in her voice.

Edmond didn’t say anything. It was commonplace in business to influence one's opponent. But it was hard to discern what could be categorized as tactics and borderline scams.
But one thing Edmond was sure about. She truly had nine tails.

3.

They took a bit break where the fair is taking place. It was along the way they were going. To their, right there was a few boys playing on slippery mud.
They were using a piece of plastic to play football. Basically one kid was keeping the plastic under his feet and the other kids were trying to get it from him. If Edmond were to ask to imagine someone playing like this. He would've only imagined fighting. But here the footwork was something to behold. The kids were using the slippery mud to their advantage.
“It’s weird how someone can use a thing far different from its purpose,” Fujimura stated.
“Its brilliant isn't it.” Edmond held the same sentiment.
Fujimura nodded her head. Maybe one-day every kid in the town can afford a football. But for now, Fujimura wishes they have the most fun out of their own little game.

Edmond suddenly started pondering why the forest out of town wasn’t yet under any government protocol. If anyone could enter and more dangerously if anything got out it wouldn't be nice. Hunting the place was a sport. Like it was in the old days. Edmond thought to ask Fujimura about it but she seemed to be in thought. Her petite lips were moving. Was she talking to herself? Or was she counting?
He decided not to interrupt her and puff a smoke. There was a long stretch of road that went downhill. After that, the storehouse shouldn't be far.
A child can find fun just by walking. After a while the flat plane becomes boring so a bit of a difference feels exciting. And just like a child, Fujimura ran down the downhill road. She took long steps. Edmond thought of stopping her but the last thing he wanted to sound like was a parent.

When they reached the storehouse Edmond claimed that they were there.
Fujimura was a bit taken aback.
“What do you mean we are here?” She sounded confused rather than angry.
“This is the place where I wanted to bring you,” Edmond explained the obvious.
“Where IS here?”
“This storehouse. I need your help with something.”
“You walked me for hours, to bring me to this storehouse?”
“No, you didn’t! I expected… ahh well I guess it is expected. But still, can't you be a little more… considerate?”

Edmond gave an innocent smile. Fujimura’s frustration didn’t last seeing it. She walked towards Edmond. The area was empty. There was no one there. Since all workers were working for the festival it was expected. It was just them in the vicinity. Maybe that's why Fujimura got uncomfortably close to Edmond.

Being so close she had to look up. Edmond was a tall man. Even among his peers and Fujimura was rather short. She looked up straight at him. Edmond looked down quizzically. Fujimura tilted her head just a bit, which only added to Edmonds confusion. Fujimuras brows formed a frown and she swept her body around and walked towards the gate of the warehouse.

“Your too tall for your own good, you know that?”
“What?” Edmond asked with confusion.
“You should take the happiness that is presented to you.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Why are we here for?”
Edmond wanted to press on a bit but ultimately didn’t.
“There was a murder here a couple of days ago. That's why I came. The consultant wanted me to catch the purp since the locals couldn't.”
“You're the detective here. I sell cigarettes, Edmond. Besides, how come I heard nothing about it.”
“Don’t worry I caught the killer. It was kept hush with the festival coming and all.”
“Well, then why are we here?”
“Well, you see something is bugging me.

Edmond opened the big gate of the storehouse. It was a storehouse to keep hay. But right now it was empty with only one broken chair. The area was pretty big. The only light source if the door was closed was the big open broken window way up at the end of the storehouse.

“Let me explain the situation. A couple of nights ago there was a meeting here between the workers. After everyone left two of the workers were still talking late. One of the workers from the outside locked the door. Both of them didn’t notice it. So they had to wait until the morning. But they got into a heated argument which in turn turned into a brawl and one of the men killed the other.”
“T-Thats no way to go…argh men. Well, what's the problem here?”
“Well, the thing is how did the guy escape? The door was locked even in the morning. There was no way he got out from there. The only other way out is the window up there but there is no way he could get up there. Maybe a professional wall climber could do it but not him.”
“Well you caught the guy, didn’t you? Just ask him.”
“He won't budge for some reason. He regrets it, he broke down. Didn’t had the talk within him.”
“Hmm. Well, there is the chair. He could've used it as a higher ground.”
“He is tall but the window would still be out of reach even if he jumped from the chair.”
“Then he did a run-up. He ran towards the chair jumped on it and propelled himself up.”
“It would still be out of reach. I tried.”
“Hmmm. This is a tough one.”

Fujimura looked around the storehouse. It wasn’t a place she usually comes to so she must have felt uncomfortable.

“Are you sure there was nothing else in the room?”
“Yes. Nothing else. There were a few chairs but was taken after the meeting was over. But they were taken out except that one.” Edmond pointed towards the chair.
“Are you certain he left using the window?”
“There is no other way. Besides took look up there, due to dust the hand mark is apparent. He somehow was able to get a hand up there. Then pulled himself up.”

Fujimura couldn't see it down from here. She looked at the chair. It was still on all four. Only the part to lay ones back one was broken.

“I’m lost. When did the murder happen?”
“Inspecting the body I guessed it was around 8-9 pm. The meeting ended and the door was closed at exactly 8 pm. So there was the one hour of bickering and fighting. Since no one stays in this area after 8, it’s not surprising no one noticed.”
“Yes everyone sleeps around 8 here. It's different in the city ay?”
“It is.”
“Hmmm.” Fujimuras thoughts had their own sound. It almost echoed in the empty place.
“When did he escape?
“Hm? Just after the murder, I suppose?
“Of course of course.. but”

Fujimura was scraping straws. There must be something. He must have used something. Something they was not seeing. Something they are seeing but not considering. Something… Something that was used. Used far differently from their original purpose..

“Edmond, what was the first thing you saw when you came here?”
“There was nothing. Just the chair.”
“The body?”
“It was already taken before I came here. I took a look after, his neck was broken”
“But the next morning, whoever came here saw the chair and the body.”
“Yes”
“Where was the body?”
“I didn’t ask since I already had a lead. What are you getting at?”

Fujimura looked at Edmond with a slowly growing horror in her eyes. Edmond was still aloof but he understood she got something.

“Fujimura, what happened?”
“You were wrong Edmond there were two things here. The chair and the body.”
“Yes but…” Edmond suddenly caught up. He put his hand on his mouth. He realized something horrible.
“What's the purpose of a dead body Edmond?”
Edmond didn’t say anything. He looked at her. He still wanted her to answer. It wouldn't be right if someone didn’t say it out loud.

“You could've guessed this if the body wasn’t taken. The body was near the chair. He used the body, Edmond.”
It was indeed brilliant.
“Rigor Mortis,” Edmond said quietly. he then continued,
“After death, the body stiffens due to Rigor Mortis. The whole process takes place for 12 hours but the main process is done in half that time.”

“The man was killed at nine. The murderer couldn't find a way out. After a few hours, he noticed the victims body getting harder. He was desperate. He put the body at an angle that it stays up. Probably used the wall. He then put the chair just behind the body. Did a run-up, first jumped on the chair, which gave a bit height and inertia, then used the body, hop, it should give him just enough height to reach the window with his hands. Most likely used the shoulders. He probably missed stepped the first time and fell, breaking the chairs back. Luckily he got it the second time.”

“He was killed at nine. It was still hours before morning. The process of stiffening most likely was done by five.”

Both of them looked at the floor. It felt awful.

“Killing is one thing, but using the body as a stepping stone? That's..that's..”
Fujimura put her head on Edmonds chest. Edmond wrapped his hands around her.
“I’m sorry I didn't know.”
“I know. It's not your fault, it's just-”
“I know. I know”

Both left the warehouse with a sour taste in their mouths.

4.
Edmond later told her how he tracked the man down. How he was deeply convicted. Edmond was sure he would've turned himself in even if he didn’t manage to catch him. Fujimura got over the incident rather quickly. She didn’t dwell in the bad for long. Edmond respected that.

Before long they were back at walking. Now they were tracing their steps right back at the festival. Everything ought to be ready right now. They don’t know where the time had gone but it was almost evening. The whole walk Fujimura was again seemed to be in thought. So Edmond lighted another cigarette.

When they reached the place it was really evening. But the whole place was lit with various colors of light from various sources. Edmond noticed Fujimura was troubled for some reason.

“What's wrong?” Edmond asked.
“It didn’t match.”
“What didn’t?”
“The step count. I counted the number of steps we made from the festival to the warehouse. Now that I recounted to make sure it doesn't match!”
Counting footsteps? She really was a kid.
“You must have miss counted.”
“But the gap is too big. I couldn't have miss counted this much!”
Edmond laughed on how she was getting worked up over something so kiddy.
Which only got him a pinch from her.
“Ouch. You still don't get it?”
“Get what?” Fujimura looked puzzled. Edmond turned around and pointed at the road.
“Hah. The road goes downhill from this direction. Young people walk faster downhill, old people tend to walk slower. From the other direction, the road goes uphill, which made you take more steps.”
Fujimura looked a bit angry. Seemed like shes a bit ashamed missing something as obvious as this.

It should be called a festival than a fair in Edmonds opinion. It was originally a festival in remembrance of some old legend. Whatever the unique rituals were done here many years back are forgotten. It’s now just a town fair that happens all the time. The far-reaching hand of capitalism is scary indeed, Edmond thought to himself.

“Its always usually green here. Everywhere just green with a tad bit of gold and yellow. The nights are just dark. So it’s really nice to see such varieties of lights no?” Fujimura said taking in the atmosphere. People are walking and talking, some are waiting in line to ride movable rides they build temporarily, eating in roughly made food stalls and playing minigames they are meant to lose. It felt overwhelming in contrast to the normal days. Where everything just happens as it suppose to.
“Compared to this, yesterday and even tomorrow, will just feel cold no?” Fujimura asked Edmond.
“I wonder. In the city its just white ash and grey. Even when the sky is pink, violet or red the blackness underneath still takes focus.”
“It’s because you look at it that way.”
“Maybe so.”
“Do you not like it here?”
“I don’t hate it. It's just. It feels more like the city. It feels like its taking over here. I don’t hate my new teapot, but I like to marvel my broken one in its own broken light”
“Wabi Sabi?”
“It’s nothing so philosophical as that. It’s just my personal preference. I don’t want this place to change not because I hate change but because I want to have both. It’s just me being selfish.
“Sometimes when you speak your mind, I just don’t understand you.”
“Someone did tell me that I was poor at talking about myself.”
“Oh tell me about him.”

Edmond only smiled at Fujimura. He then noticed a small stall that was for alcohol. Alcohol is a weird one. With every sip, it strips down a person to their emotional bare bones. The hard question is, when you're completely drunk, Is there more of you or less? Thinking about such Edmond and Fujimura both took a sit in the stall. There were only four sits so they had to wait a while before getting sits. Seeing a girl drink wasn’t really the usual so Fujimura did get some eye but not enough to make her too uncomfortable.

“Hm maybe we shouldn't,” Fujimura whispered with concern.
“As long as you drink hard they will just cheer you on. Trust me.” Edmond reassured her.
“You seem experienced, Do you drink with girls that often? ” Fujimura said with an undertone. Edmond but only coughed.
They both had the same drinks. A bit of this and that. Nothing too powerful.
“I’m not really good at holding my liquor we should stop.” Fujimura declared.
“Don’t worry drink all you want.”
“I intend to. But someone has to stay sober. Are you sure you won't get drunk?”
“Someone once told me that I couldn’t get drunk.”
“Oh? This person seems to know a lot about you, who is this person”
Edmond took another sip before answering.
“She was an acquaintance. We knew each other quite well. So to speak”
Fujimura looked straight at Edmond. Edmond couldn't discern her expression. Seems he still had a lot to learn.
“You say it in the past tense. What happened? Your tone suggests you were fondly” Fujimura teased Edmond with a barrage. Edmond took his time before answering. Knowing he won't really convey what he wanted to tell.
“She was a classmate in college. She was a reserved girl, never saying more than needed. In second year she was- erm, something happened to her. She kept to herself, never telling anyone, not even me. Later that year in winter I got a letter from her. There she wrote down everything, she wrote down the hell she was living in the last five months. She wrote down how cruel I was to her for not noticing. I was the closest person she had. But for five months she was in inferno but I acted like everything was still Lavender. I never took action.” Edmonds voiced chocked. He took another sip before continuing,
“Tell me, Fujimura, who was wrong? Was it her? Who couldn't ask for help? Or was it me who failed to notice what was in front of me?”
Fujimura looked forward at her drink. She seemed to be deep in thought. She took a deep breath.
“I don’t know. But I think I understand.”
“What?”
“We girls get really mad when a guy doesn't understand how we feel. That's all.” Fujimura gripped her drink.
‘That letter made me who I am’ was along the lines of what Edmond wanted to say but only another order of sake came out of his mouth.
“I deduced wrong then,” Fujimura said poking Edmond.
“Yes. A colleague told me I couldn't get drunk. It was in my second year anniversary in the force. I wonder what he meant.”
Fujimura took a final sip of the bottle, finishing it. She isn’t bad at holding her liquor at all.
“You can’t take a leap of faith. You're always… always concerned. You can’t take anything, anyone at face value. You question everything and try to find concrete reasoning behind everything.It makes you a good detective but.. but it makes you an awful person to have a drink with.”
Edmond didn’t reply. He was still digesting her answer. He seemed lost.
“You can’t lose yourself for a moment can you?” Fujimura asked.
“Do I come off as that cold?”
“…...” Fujimura moistens her lips. Edmond looked down at his own feet for a good while. Then he looked up, slowly looking at Fujimura next.
“It’s just that, not knowing is so scary. ” Edmond said something unusual.
“She really hurt you didn’t she?” Edmond felt like he was about to cry.
“I see how you look at people. You're always discerning. It’s- it’s true that you can’t always trust words, and- and that no matter how hard you try you can’t convey everything through words. But you can’t rely on anything else either. Please, Edmond. Let it go. Let it go, for me? Please, don’t ever look at me with those eyes.”
Fujimura placed her palms on Edmonds cheek. She tried to clean his watery eyes with her thumb. Edmond didn’t even wince. He took one her hand in his own.
“Would you liked to get drunk with me?” Fujimura requested. Edmond shook his head.
“No.”
“……”
“I don’t want to forget this night.”

Fujimura laughed a bit trying to hide her reddened face. They both left paying the bills.

5.

They were quite late at coming home. Specifically speaking Fujimuras home. Everywhere was just pitch black. The yellow lamppost lights were just barely doing their job. By the time they reached the premise, everyone was probably asleep.
Edmond was facing the door, Fujimura got in front of him. It was so dark they could barely make out their face.
“Looks like everyone's asleep,” Fujimura stated.
“Your seems mother trusts you a lot.”
“What's with that tone, is it so surprising?”
“No it’s just, I always thought she would be a strict mother.”
“She was, with brother.” Both of them could slightly hear a fox howling in some distance.
“Well, I guess mistrust wouldn't have been surprising.” Fujimura smiled snuggly. “ Would you like to know how many I had?” she held her hands but Edmond couldn't make out the number she was trying to make. Edmond slightly held her hands down.
“I don’t think my heart is ready for that information.” He said honestly.
Fujimura looked in front of her as if she really knew what was in front of her.
“You really are too tall for your own good,” she said looking down. Edmond slowly closed the gap between them. Uncomfortable close so. Fujimura had to look up. Edmond then nudged his head down. Fujimura smiled. She slowly wrapped her hands around his neck.
“You got it this time.”
She took his lips for a while.

It wasn’t long before she had to let go and put her left leg back to place. She slowly walked back and opened the gate. Before closing the door completely, she stuck her head in the gap.

“Goodnight detective.”
Edmond took his cap and gestured a bow with it. Which amused her ever so slightly.

Walking back to the road, Edmond mused how little he will get sleep tonight. He had to leave early to get back in time. Back to the greyness. But ever so slightly, there was a chance the people will seem a bit brighter.