Chapter Eleven - Strangetown
Content warning: This story contains mature themes and is not suitable for minors. For this chapter, adult references and references to violence.
2 Tesla Court, Strangetown
As Loki saw the police car approach, he turned to his wife, “I hope you’re clear on how we handle this. We say as little as nothing, in fact you didn’t even know he was missing,” Loki said sharply. He had known from day one it was likely the police would find a reason to question them, and had worked hard to ensure he and Circe were prepared for when they arrived.
“I’m not an idiot Loki,” Circe snapped, “I get it.”
“Do you?” he asked menacingly. “How long do you think a man like me will survive in prison Circe? I’d be lucky to survive a year.”
Circe was very tempted to retort that being someone’s bitch might be a good lesson for him, but restrained herself. “If I was going to do anything to incriminate you, l wouldn’t have waited this long I assure you,” she seethed.
“Well, just you remember you helped cover up this crime. I’ve always told you if I came down, you would too,” he said viciously.
“Don’t threaten me,” she hissed, despite knowing how true his words were. If Loki fell, she would fall with him.
After all it was her who had come up with the plan to dispose of the body. While Loki had dragged the lifeless body down into the basement, she had showered and gone into work. After an hour, she had told her superiors she was ill and needed to go home, before heading into the store room and taking a large container of the hospital’s disinfectant. On her return, she had then scrubbed the walls and floors of Vidcund’s blood as Loki poured concrete into their basement, burying it and hopefully all the secrets it held.
As she noticed Loki looking towards the door and smiling falsely, she couldn’t help wondering if his smile had always appeared as a sneer.
“We have company, why don’t you go greet them sweetheart,” Loki said to Circe, his voice falsely sweet.
Circe approached the two officers, hoping she appeared calmer than she actually felt. She noticed one of the officers was already look around warily.
“Are you Mrs. Beaker?” the first officer asked kindly.
“Yes, but please, call me Circe,” she replied, knowing the role she needed to play, she need to appear pleasant and harmless, no matter how far that was from the truth.
“My name is Detective Albijheet Cho and this is Detective Dominic Phillips,” the first officer said, introducing himself and his partner, “we just had a just had a few routine enquiries.”
Detective Cho smile amicably before Circe invited the two officers to take a seat. Loki joined them, introducing himself before taking a seat next to Circe.
“How can we help you,” Loki questioned evenly.
There had been frustratingly little evidence to work with in the case of the disappearance of Vidcund Curious despite his brothers’ vehement belief that it was foul play and that, if anyone was involved, it was the Beakers. Questioning the couple seemed pointless until Pascal Curious had brought a bizarre young man into the station, who agreed to talk about his time living with the couple as his guardians, as long as he stayed anonymous. If Mr. Beaker had done even half the things the young man had described, then he was certainly capable of murder. And by the sound of it, Mrs. Beaker was hardly any better, apparently content to pay no attention to her husband’s activities.
“Were you aware that Vidcund Curious is missing, presumed dead,” Detective Cho asked.
Circe looked hesitantly at Loki who kept his face impassive but didn’t move to answer the question. “Ah, no,” she said slowly, “but then again, I’ve been a little preoccupied lately,” she said running her hand over her swelling abdomen.
“Of course,” Detective Cho replied pleasantly, “is this your first child?”
“Yes,” Loki responded bluntly.
Circe looked at him questioningly before turning back to the detective, “How long has he been missing?” she asked carefully.
She may not have noticed Loki glaring at her but the detectives certainly did. “Over a month,” Detective Phillips told her.
“I can see why his family would be concerned,” she replied, trying to ignore the stabbing guilt she felt. “Although, I’m not sure how we can be of assistance, we’re not really close to the Curious family.”
“Although you were once, weren’t you Mrs. Beaker?” Detective Cho questioned.
Circe was pretty sure she could hear Loki grinding his teeth, but focused on remaining composed, “A long time ago Detective.”
“You and Vidcund Curious dated, is that correct?”
“Well yes, but again, that was such a long time ago,” Circe replied anxiously.
“How was your relationship with Vidcund Curious, Mr. Beaker?” Detective Phillips asked pointedly, “We understand there has been discord between you and the Curious family over the years.”
“I think I may have given the older brother a black eye in High School,” Loki responded coolly, “as my wife says, it was a long time ago.”
“You and Vidcund worked in the same field and you recently received a promotion,” Detective Phillips continued, “was he a threat to you professionally?”
Loki looked at the detective incredulously, “Hardly.”
“Loki, please. Men can be so competitive sometimes,” she said with an awkward laugh. Was it too much to ask that Loki not act utterly superior to a man whose murder they had committed and were currently being questioned over.
Loki ignored Circe, “I can see where you’re going with this. But honestly, I can assure you I have never thought of Vidcund Curious, or any other Curious brother for that matter, as a threat professionally”
After pausing for a moment, Detective Phillips addressed Loki again, “What about personally?”
“I’m not sure I know what you mean,” Loki told him firmly.
“Phone records show that calls were placed from your home number to the Curious residence numerous times over the last six months,” Detective Phillips supplied.
Circe felt a lump in her throat. Although she wasn’t sure whether she was more concerned about Loki’s reaction to the extent of her contact with Vidcund, or the police thinking she had been having an affair with him and utilising it as a motive for murder.
She felt Loki’s arm come around her shoulders and she turned to look at him. For the first time in many months he was wearing her favourite expression, the one that told her that that no one else existed in the world. Without even questioning it, her hand automatically reached for his, settling in his lap. She only wished she could enjoy the feeling of his touch without questioning whether it was for her or an act for the policeman present.
His eyes never left Circe’s as he responded to the detective’s question, “My wife and I recently had a rough patch in our marriage. I was stressed and regrettably Circe bore the brunt of that. I can only be grateful, no matter my own opinions on the Curious brothers, that she had someone to talk to. Thankfully we’re past that and are now focused on the future of our family.”
“Thank you for your honesty,” Detective Cho replied, focusing on appearing neutral despite wondering if he had ever met anyone who appeared so sinister in his entire career.
“If there are no more questions, I do have to prepare to leave for work soon,” Loki said tightly.
Detective Phillips had been thinking back to the evidence given by the young man who had been the couple’s ward, not that there had been any legal documentation of their guardianship that they could find. He remembered one of the most startling parts of his story was that he had slept in a basement and had ‘helped’ Mr. Beaker with his scientific experiments in a room just off the main living area. Detective Phillips couldn’t help but notice that there was indeed another door way which was currently blocked off with a decorative screen.
“Of course Mr. Beaker, but just quickly, what do you use that room for?” he asked indicating the room in question.
Loki felt Circe stiffen beside him and tighten her grip on his hand despite the forced smile on her features. “We’re renovating actually,” he said smoothly.
“You don’t mind if we have a quick look do you?” Detective Phillips questioned.
Loki was silent for a moment. “Fine, although there isn’t anything to see,” he said curtly, before raising himself from the couch to show the authorities the very room he had committed most of his worst deeds.
Loki pushed the decorative screen aside, “there’s really nothing to see, it’s just some old work equipment and a few boxes.”
Detective Phillips scanned the area, disappointedly noting that indeed that was all the space seemed to hold. He did notice however that there wasn’t a basement as their informant had described.
“Was there ever a basement in here?” he asked.
“What makes you ask that?” Loki questioned, his voice beginning to betray his discomfort.
Despite their best efforts the informant had insisted on remaining anonymous, and they needed to respect that. “There’s a difference in flooring,” Detective Cho offered.
“Right,” Loki huffed, “well, yes, it had been there forever. You know these old houses, basements everywhere.”
“Of course,” Detective Phillips said indifferently, before he and Detective Cho walked past Loki to examine the area more thoroughly. Loki could only observe with growing concern as the detectives looked around and talked quietly between themselves.
Circe rose from the couch to join her husband as they watched on anxiously. “We should go in and talk to them,” she whispered. “It’ll look like we have something to hide if we don’t.”
“That’s because we do,” he muttered, but nether the less focused on wiping the scowl from his face as he and his wife entered the room.
The detective turned to the Beakers as they approached. “Can I get either of you a coffee or tea?” Circe asked sweetly.
“No thank you, but we just had a couple more questions,” Detective Cho replied.
“Of course,” she responded, trying to keep her voice even.
“Did you have a tradesmen fill the basement, or did you do it yourself,” Detective Cho inquired.
“Oh, Loki did it,” Circe said quickly, “he was sick of me nagging him about it. I was worried once our baby found its feet, it would be a hazard.” She figured playing the concerned parent-to-be would paint them in the best light.
Detective Cho nodded and indicated for Loki to come over, “How long ago did you fill the basement?”
“Sometime last month.”
“You can’t remember specifically,” Detective Cho questioned.
“No, I don’t,” Loki responded briskly.
“And how long did it take to set?”
“Oh good god, I don’t remember.”
“Just roughly,” Detective Cho queried.
“Manual labour isn’t really my forte Detective,” Loki snapped. He heard the click of a camera and noticed the other detective taking pictures, “Why is he taking pictures,” he asked aggressively.
“There is some strange discolouration of the concrete we need to investigate,” Detective Cho replied, not responding to Loki’s increasing agitation.
Loki froze for a moment, “While I don’t remember exactly how long the concrete took to set, I can tell you it took a very long time. It’s probably just mould or something,” he said stiffly.
“You do understand that this is a possible murder investigation, don’t you, Mr. Beaker?” Detective Cho commented.
“Yes detective; what I fail to understand is how taking pictures of badly set concrete is going to be of help,” Loki replied exasperatedly.
Detective Cho could see Loki was beginning to struggle to maintain his performance, “Would you be willing to allow us to take a sample of the concrete?”
“No, I damn well would not. You can’t just come in here and start ripping up the foundations of my house,” Loki growled.
Detective Cho nearly smiled at the predictability of Loki’s response, “Of course, that’s perfectly understandable.”
“So, is that it?” Loki demanded incredulously.
Detective Cho didn’t have time to answer as his partner had finished taking pictures and told him they were good to go.
Detective Phillips addressed the deadly silent Loki and Circe, “Thank you for your cooperation and we’ll be returning soon with a search warrant. Please keep in mind that this is now considered a possible crime scene and as such any disruption to it would be considered perverting the course of justice.”
“If you have any questions, or statements you wish to make, please don’t hesitate to contact the station,” Detective Cho added before following his partner out of the manor.
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Author’s Note: I hope this wasn’t too unbelievable, my theory was that if you pour concrete on a recently deceased corpse, it’s likely blood, or moisture of some sort would cause discolouration of their concrete grave. That being said, I’m not a forensic investigator, a policeman or a builder, nor have I ever covered up any murders, so this was what too much television and a scarily active imagination came up with.
I’m heading overseas soon and I don’t think I’ll have time for another update before I go, so this will be the last update for a while. I’m not sure how long I’m going for yet, but I will return to writing this when I get home and I’m sure I’ll still be around occasionally reading other people’s stories. I just wanted to thank everyone for reading and commenting, and staying with me this far : )