The Modern Age of the Mysterious

When Sean walked out of the abandoned building, a drunk man on the corner came over and stared into Sean's eyes: "Did you see the flames too? Did you see them too?"

Sean didn't want to talk, just walked straight - he was going to call the police.

The drunk man shouted behind him: "They... were burned to death by the fire! It was caused by those big men!

The drunk man raised the bottle and took a sip, "but I can only watch, there is no way!"

"There is no way..." The drunk man muttered and returned to his corner.

After receiving the call, the education officers came quickly. Sean tried to keep himself calm as he narrated to them, but Arya's body kept flashing in his mind. Flawed skin, swollen body...

"Why did this happen? Who did it? Why Arya?" These angry, sad, and extremely confused questions kept pouring out and forcibly taking over his attention.

He expressed it very hard, and paused several times. But the indoctrination officer and the forensic doctor who had seen the corpse listened to his remarks in silence.

"Sean, we all know, you go and take a rest." A senior education officer patted Sean on the back.

Sean felt that everything in front of him was a bit illusory. As he walked out the door, there were several more cars from the discipline office, as if he didn't see it.

Standing on the street, Sean felt a little dizzy. Reaching into his inner pocket for a cigarette, he felt empty before remembering that Aaliyah had urged him to quit smoking a year ago.

My sister's face flashed before my eyes again.

Seemingly sweating, Sean pulled the collar, which was already wet.

—

The indoctrination officer named Link who was in charge of the scene found Sean and took him back to the Ninth Avenue Precepts.

He admired Sean's calmness and restraint, and said in a low voice, "The forensic doctor has completed a preliminary examination. According to the condition of the body, it can be known that Aaliyah's death was ten days ago."

Ten days ago? Sean then realized that Arya had died shortly after sending her last telegram to her home.

"Are you aware of her social status? Does she know anyone of the opposite **** here? Has she ever had a grudge against others?"

In order to investigate, the education officer Link asked Sean a lot of questions, and Sean told the truth about what he knew.

But Sean knew that this information would not be helpful in investigating the cause of Aaliyah's death. Because until now, he didn't know who would do such a thing to Arya.

After the questioning, Link said: "This is obviously a vicious crime, and Aaliyah's body will be investigated at the autopsy for about a week to collect evidence, and then it can be cremated.

"You wait in New York City. I'll inform you after the investigation of the body is over."

Sean left the precepts center. He didn't know where to go, so he let himself walk around on the street.

His mind has never been so chaotic. The mystery of Aaliyah's death has not been resolved, and the pent-up sadness, pent-up anger, and deep self-blame have not been released.

"My kind-hearted sister, why should she suffer this?"

"Who is it and why do you do this?!"

"If, if I could come with her... this wouldn't happen!"

The intense emotions were mixed together, as if it had turned into a monster, constantly gnawing at Sean's heart.

He even really felt some discomfort in his heart, so he had to stop for a while.

Then, Sean tried hard to force himself not to indulge in his emotions, but to look forward and think forward.

"Next, we can only wait for the investigation of the discipline institute.

"After the autopsy, I will take Arya's ashes back to my hometown.

"After burying Aaliyah, I will return to New York City. I will find the murderer and make him regret being born in this world!"

Shawn struggled with the constant surge of pain, and kept his feet on the ground.

When he got out of his contemplation, Sean found that it was already dark. He had already walked back to Ninth Avenue, and the neon sign of "Fog and Roses" was not far away.

Sean went straight back to the room and fell asleep.

—

There was a knock on the door, and sunlight filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

When Sean woke up, he was still feeling fine, but suddenly remembered everything that happened, and his buoyant emotions fell into the ice cave.

After eating breakfast, Sean suddenly thought of Miss Daisy: "She may not know what happened. Tell her as soon as possible, lest her friends waste their efforts."

Sean tidied himself up a little and walked out of the door.

He planned to go to the front desk to inquire about Miss Daisy's location. As soon as he arrived in the lobby, he saw Miss Daisy in an emerald dress, walking over with a smile on his face: "Sean, how are you, any news? "

Sean tried his best to smile and said, "Actually, I have some news."

Miss Daisy seemed to be in a good mood: "I also have something to tell you, let's go to my office."

Daisy turned around, her high heels clattered in the corridor, and took Sean to her office.

There is a fragrance in the office, which makes people feel at ease.

The light was dim, Daisy strode to the window and opened the curtains, and the morning sun slanted in.

Daisy passed Sean: "Coffee or tea?"

"Coffee, no sugar. Thank you."

Daisy flicked the coffee pot with her fingers and felt slightly hot. She was very satisfied with the time the assistant brewed the coffee.

Seeing Daisy sitting with her fingers lightly, Sean felt a little envious: she didn't have to go through those...she didn't have to see her beloved family suffer like that...

He now envies almost everyone.

Anger and sadness appeared uncontrollably, he breathed slowly, tried his best to calm down, and let himself be distracted.

Daisy came over with two cups and saucers. Sean got up to take it for her, and put the coffee on the glass coffee table in front of her.

"So," Daisy sat on the sofa opposite with a look of anticipation, "what's your progress?"

Sean considered how much he should tell Daisy, so he subconsciously said, "It's a long story. You just said you have something to tell me, what is it?"

Daisy smiled mysteriously, stood up and said, "I believe Aaliyah will be found soon."

Sean was a little confused: Did Daisy's detective friend find useful clues?

But, Aaliyah is dead, what use are those clues?

Out of courtesy, Sean still wanted to see Daisy's harvest in person.

Daisy walked behind her desk, opened the drawer, and took out a file bag: "I asked my friends to find Aaliyah, but they were lucky and found this soon..."

While talking, Daisy walked back, took out the contents of the file bag and handed it to Sean.

That's a few photos. Sean looked at the first photo, which appeared to be an outdoor cocktail party, with people chatting over cocktails on a beautifully manicured lawn.

Just as Sean was about to ask what was so special about this photo, his eyes were drawn to a face in the crowd. It was a round face that was often misjudged by age, with thick and long tresses tucked behind his head, and a somewhat indifferent look in the crowd of strangers...

The girl in the photo looks very similar to Aaliyah, almost exactly the same.

Sean looked at the next few pictures again. They were all taken in the same time period and in the same place. What they have in common is that the girl wearing a black skirt and leather shoes with a cold face was photographed, and beside her, there was a tall and thin middle-aged man with a flat top hat and a tuxedo.

"This girl," Sean pointed to the photo, "looks a lot like Arya."

"Yes!" Daisy turned to the same angle as Sean and looked at the photo seriously, "Aaliyah is a little beauty, after my friend saw her photo, he thought he had seen it somewhere, and he found this place. A few pictures."

Daisy was so close, Sean could smell the faint scent of perfume on her body.

Sean can be sure that the one in the photo is Aaliyah. Because not only the faces are exactly the same, but that long braid is rare.

This photo, although it is impossible to change the fact that Aaliyah is dead. But it may help to restore what happened to Arya before she was killed, and thus find the murderer.

Sean nodded slightly, grateful from the bottom of his heart for Daisy's help. He felt it was time to tell Daisy the truth: "Daisy..."

Daisy continued: "With this photo, you should be able to find Aaliyah soon.

"This photo was taken at the 'Long Island Bill' banquet three days ago. If you go to inquire about it, you will definitely know the whereabouts of Arya!"

Sean was stunned.

three days ago? A photo taken three days ago?

Instructor Link's voice sounded in Sean's mind: "...According to the condition of the corpse, it can be known that Arya died ten days ago."

Arya died ten days ago, how could she have appeared at the banquet three days ago?

Sean's movements stopped, staring blankly at Daisy's profile.