mystery

"Look, you have to listen to me, I didn't do that because I felt like it. The company was falling apart, I had to do something before it was too late," Mitari defended.

Following behind Musa as she paced the living room back and forth.

"And you didn't fucking ask me before leaking the tape! Are you fucking dumb?!" Musa barked, with gritted teeth.

"I had no other choice, I called you but you did not answer," Mitari fired back.

In the next second, Musa's palm slammed round her neck with force, forcing her back onto the couch while he hovers over her.

Mitari stared with wide eyes, lips parted like she couldn't process what just happened. Staring back at the pair of red, angry eyes glaring at her. Her chest is rising and falling at an uneven pace.

"I fucking warned you not to do anything without involving me," Musa murmured.

His palms are still wrapped round her neck, but not squeezing.

Mitari's lips parted, automatically muttering an apology.

"I am sorry," Mitari apologizes. Her breath is coming out harshly.

Musa's gaze immediately softens, he pulls his palms away from her neck as if realizing what he just did.

"Sweetheart." Musa's voice softens.

"I am sorry too, but next time don't make dumb decisions like this, without informing me okay?" Musa spoke softly.

He held her forearm and firmly pressed on it, still staring at her with a pleading gaze.

Mitari winced but nodded. "Okay," she whispered. Musa smiled and brought out an inhaler from his pocket, he went on one knee beside the bed.

When Mitari raised her hand to collect the inhaler, he pulled his arm back and shook his head.

"Let me treat my sweetheart, the way she should be treated," he said and put the inhaler in her mouth.

Watching quietly as she greedily inhaled.

[Police Station~ earlier that day]

Stella stared closely at the two earrings and rings on the table, her eyes squeezed tight as she kept staring at the two.

Maxwell was typing away on his PC, crawling through the addresses of jewelry brokers.

"Found one!" Maxwell announced.

"Let me see," Stella stood, and went to stand behind him.

"That address is on the same street as the police station," Stella raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah. Just two blocks away," Maxwell replied.

"So what are we waiting for? Let's go," Stella urged.

She grabbed the earrings and placed them in a plastic bag, then in her pocket. Walking out of the station with Maxwell.

They passed two buildings before reaching the jewelry broker's shop.

"Looks cracked," Maxwell said with a frown. Staring at the old building that looks like it was about to collapse.

"I didn't even know a building like this exists in this kind of area." Stella added, hands in her pockets as she stared at the building beside Maxwell.

An old woman with almost gray hair, and wrinkled face and skin walked out from the side of the building.

"Any problem?" The old woman questioned.

"Hi, good morning ma'am. I am Investigator Stella and this is my partner Maxwell," Stella introduced, showing the old lady her badge.

The old woman's wrinkled face twisted, while Stella and Maxwell watched her closely. She stared at the badge for almost three seconds before turning to them.

"I haven't committed any crime, so I have no business with the police," The old woman said and turned to leave but Stella stepped forward.

"We are just here to investigate ma'am," Maxwell stepped forward.

"Actually we are looking for a jewelry broker," Stella said but the woman didn't turn.

Stella brought out the earrings from her pocket, holding the bag, she pointed it to the old lady.

"This was found at Tari Tonla's accident scene," Stella said.

The old woman turned and stopped, she turned to stare at the earrings inside the white plastic bag. Her eyes shone with recognition.

"Follow me," The old woman said, and walked into the cracked house.

Stella exchanged looks with Maxwell, before entering the cracked building.

[Five minutes later]

Stella and Maxwell stood before the old lady, who was scrolling through a book containing designs of jewelry.

The outside of the building might look cracked, but the inside is the opposite.

Well-furnished room, with glass cases holding various designs.

She stopped on a page and turned the book to face them.

On the page was the drawing of the two earrings, but the details were clearer now.

"I remember those designs. My son was the one who made them before he died," The old woman explained.

Maxwell and Stella exchanged glances.

"Sorry for your loss, but do you know who he made them for?" Maxwell questioned.

The woman glanced down, and they stared at her closely. Her wrinkled jaw seemed to clench, tears gathered in her eyes, she glanced up at them and nodded.

Stella's face fell, while Maxwell just stared at her.

"I will tell you everything," The old woman said, and wiped her eyes with the back of her palm.

"I was the jewelry broker. At that time Taraji, late Mrs Tonla the mother of Tari and Mitari Tonla. She came running one night, saying she was looking for the jewelry broker and she needed a design and jewelry maker to make her jewelry that has never been seen for her girls." She paused, and inhaled then exhaled. Stella took a step forward and patted her back.

"Lucky for me that day, my son was around so they discussed. She was going to pay him millions if he kept the design away from the world, something he had never made. He agreed but I remembered clearly he made three sets, one was a sapphire, then the other was a gem and the last was with jade or diamond I can't clearly remember.

I overheard her saying it was for her three daughters but she only had two daughters. Two weeks later my son finished making the jewelries and on that day he was going to deliver them when his wife went into labour on the way, but unfortunately. They had an accident, it was a hit-and-run, my son died that instant but my daughter-in-law and my grandchild haven't been found till now. Including the jewelries till this day," The old lady spoke. And hiccupped.

"I only know that design because before he died he left his design book here, two hours after he died his home was vandalized." She broke, crying.

Stella and Maxwell exchanged glances. Maxwell sighed.

"If you are investigating that family you have to be careful," The old woman advised.

[ Nine minutes later]

Stella and Maxwell stood outside the cracked building, they took their time in consoling the old lady and asking more questions. And the woman was kind enough to tell them everything she knows.

"He died and suddenly the design he was supposed to make was found under the bridge? These earrings didn't just appear they must have gotten to the client because the place the accident happened was over seven miles away from the bridge. And the earrings were just on the ground, so this case is messier than we know, Stella," Maxwell said.

Stella nodded.

"The shit is about to get dirty," Stella adds.