Belle 1104

Behind the Mask

It was 5 p.m. in a town where people was walking and running everywhere getting

ready for the ball that was held by the mayor at his house, but not Nancy Nevin who just

move into the town. Nancy is already dressed up and now she is helping her 2 children

putting on an accessories in the living room of her house. Creak The door opens showing a

man that is about 180 cm tall, wearing black coat with a fancy suit inside.

“I’m home honey! Is everything ready yet?” shouted Mark from the door. He took off

his coat and put it on a hanger that is beside the door.

“Welcome back darling. Everything is ready,” answered Nancy, walking toward Mark

from the living room.

“Good, then let’s go everyone, to the car!” said Mark in a funny sound in order to

make his kids laugh from nervousness because it’s their first time going to the ball.

At the same time, in the dark alley near the main street, two men were talking

together. One man was wearing a long sleeves shirt, long pants, and a black coat, holding a

lustrous, silver, dagger that was painted in a red crimson liquid, flinching, while looking at

another man who was now having a horror face.

“Mayor! What’ve you done to Ms. Ashley?” said a middle aged man looking frighten

towards the Mayor, while pointing at a woman lying in a pool of red liquid in the alley. The

clouds are moving across the evening dark sky. The gleam of light from the full moon hit the

man’s, who is holding a dagger, face. Revealing the Mayor’s surprise face.

“Oh! it’s you Mr. Brian!” said the Mayor, looking at Brian then he starts to smirk.

“W...What did you do to Ms. Ashley?! She is your secretary isn’t she?! I will tell the

cops!” shouted Brian in a shaking voice.

“Oh no no, Mr. Brian…Here, I have a great idea! I’ll give you some money and

tonight there will be a ball happening at my house. You can choose whoever you want in the
party and blame for the crime. I’m sure there will be someone running into the party and

screaming about the crime,” said the Mayor in a cold voice. He smirks and takes out a wad of

bills from his coat pocket.

“N..n..no way, I...I...I am not g...going to do that,” said Brian in a trembling voice,

looking at the Mayor and his wad of bills that is in the Mayor’s hand.

“Oh, come on~, I can give you more money if you want. Right! Your family also

have a financial problems with me too right? I’ll help you with that also,” said the Mayor

with a cold and persuasive voice. Making a man who is in front of him, starts to look more at

the wad of money that is in the Mayor’s hand.

“A...A..Alright, b...but you have to do as you said,” said Brian accepting the Mayor’s

offer with a tremble and teary eyes, running away from the alley.

“Good,” said the Mayor with a victory face and smirk. Then he walks slowly out of

the alley like nothing happens without noticing that he had leave some traces behind.

One hour had passed by and the Nevins reached the ball, in the ball there are music

playing and many counters full of food and drinks. The dance floor were covered in cream

color tile and the rest of the floor, including the stairs that is in the middle of wall leading to

the second floor, were covered in red carpets . The lights from three giant chandelier are

shining brightly, many people are talking together, some are dancing in the middle of the

ballroom and the kids are playing together in the garden near the ballroom where the lights

from the ballroom can reached. Nancy and Mark went into the ball wearing a fancy mask,

leaving their children playing with their friends in the garden.

“Well, Hello! Nancy, you look very pretty today!” said a woman wearing a red mask

walking towards her.

“Ummm, Hi….Uhh,” said Nancy confusingly.

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 “Don’t tell me, you can’t realize me from my voice?” said a woman in a serious

voice, then she took off her mask for few minutes and wore them back again.

“It’s you, Laurin!” said Mrs. Nevin suprisingly.

“Haha, finally you remember my wife huh, Nancy” said a mystery man walking up

towards Mrs. Nevin.

“Excuse me, sir, but who are you?” ask Mr. Nevin politely while examining a man in

front of him and grab Mrs. Nevin’s hand.

“Oh my, you’re probably Nancy’s husband?” asked Mrs. White with a chuckle.

“Oh, right, Mark...these two are two of my university friends,” said Nancy with a little

smile.

“Hi, my name is Laurin, Laurin White, and this is my husband Kevin. Nice to meet

you,” said Mrs. White, while raising her hand ready for a handshake.

“Hi,” said Kevin.

“Hello, I’m Mark, Mark Nevin,” said Mark while shaking Laura’s hand and then

shake with Kevin’s hand.

“Hello, Ladies and Gentlemen. Welcome to my Masquerade Ball! I am the Mayor of

this town!” shouted the Mayor from the top of the stairs, wearing a black fancy mask and a

black suit, then he started to walk down the stairs saying,

“ I am very happy that everyone comes to the ball either both the old citizens or the

new citizens in the town,” said the Mayor, smiling towards the audience that was looking at

him. While the Mayor was looking at a large group of people that is in front of him, he saw

Brian nervously looking around him. The mayor look at Brian then he revealed a small evil

grin that no one notice, then he turns his face back to normal and continue announcing.

“Well then, let the Masquerade ball begi--,” BAM! the door of the ballroom suddenly

opens loudly, grabbing everyone’s attention including Nancy and Mark.

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 “Mayor! Mayor! There was a crime happened in the alley. Ms. Ashley got

murdered!,” cried the man, who just ran into the ball, crazily, causing a big commotion.

“Oh my gosh! What happen Mr. David! What do you mean by murdered?” shouted

the mayor while running towards David, in a horrifying face.

“A woman named Ashley Morgan got murdered in the alley about 5 p.m. She got

stabbed by a dagger in the back and died. So, I came here to ask if anyone had happen to see

the murderer or does anyone have any clue about the crime?” asked Daniel the policeman in a

very serious voice, looking around suspiciously as if he was trying to read every person’s

thought.

“Hmmm….Oh! Right! I think that while I was passing by some alley there are two

men talking to each other!” cried out Laurin with a surprise. She realize what she saw in the

alley, when she was walking down the street trying to find a suitable dress for herself. After

Laurin said that, the Mayor quickly turn his head around with a surprised face towards

Laurin.

“What is your name, ma’am, and can you describe those men you saw in the alley?”

asked Daniel, while walking quickly towards Laurin, who is standing next to Kevin, Mark,

and Nancy.

“My name is Laurin White, but I’m sorry, sir, I’m afraid I can’t really say it much in

details because it was really dark back then I can only see some details from the street light,”

said Laurin looking nervously. She raise her hand and hold her chin, thinking about what she

saw in the alley.

“It’s alright, ma’am, please tell me the details as much possible as you can

remember,” said Daniel, looking at Laurin curiously.

“Well, one man I saw is wearing a long pants, and a black coat…..another

man….hmmm….I’m pretty sure he was wearing a suit...black suit,” said Laurin hesitating.

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 “M...me too! I saw someone at the alley too!” shouted David nervously “At that time I

was very scared so I didn’t dare to shout but I’m sure I saw someone like him in the alley!”

cried David with a very shaking voice. He pointed his finger towards Mark, making him the

center of many people’s eyes.

“What!? Me!? No way! I’m with my family the whole time!” shouted Mark angrily.

“There is no way he can be a murderer! Do you have any prove that he’s a murderer?”

cried Nancy, who is standing next to Mark.

“Maybe, it IS Mr. Nevin because I saw him come out of his house before coming to

the ball,” said a sound gossiping from somewhere in a crowd.

“Oh no, then it might be him!” cried gossip quietly from somewhere. Even though it

is quiet but Daniel can hear the gossiping quite clearly.

“Ummm...anyhow, sir, there are some people says that you went outside. So, would

you please come with me to the police station?” ask Daniel looking at Mark curiously.

“No, sir! I didn’t do anything wrong! Those people are accusing me! I have a witness

which is my wife,” said Mark in a very serious, loud voice.

“Anyhow, sir, whether you are right or wrong you still have to go to the police station

fto interrogate or else I will have to force you,” said Daniel in a serious voice, staring into

Mark’s eyes like he was trying to find out the truth.

“Sigh….Alright, I’ll go with you but, again, I am not the murderer. I’ll find evidence

that I’m innocence after the interrogation,” said Mark to Daniel. Before Mark went out, he

glared angrily at Brian, hmm….that guy might be the murderer or he might know something,

but why did he pointed at me? We’ve never met each other before thought Mark angrily.

Then Mark goes into Daniel’s car towards the police station.

At the police station, Mark was sitting in a room where there are only two chairs facing each

other in the middle of the room and a small table in between those chairs. The light from the

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small lamp shines toward Mark’s face. There is also a big mirror on a wall that is opposite to

a small door. Click The door opens shows Daniel entering the room and sit in the chair that is

in front of Mark.

“Well, Mr. Nevin, would you mind telling me what you did outside of your house

before going to the ball?” ask Daniel.

“Before the ball starts, I went outside to get my car from the carwash that was nearby

my house. After I got my car I drove back to my house,” said Mark while looking at the

policeman that was noting something down.

“What are you wearing at that time?” ask Daniel, while still noting something down.

“I was wearing a black coat and a suit inside,” said Mark in a normal voice.

“Then do you have any evidence that you went to the car wash?” ask Daniel looking

up at Mark.

“Of course, I have the evidence, here,” said Mark, then he takes out his wallet, open

it, and takes out the receipt, and hands it to Daniel.

“This is a receipt that I pay for the car wash before I went to the ball,” said Mark.

“Hmmm….do you have any witness?” ask Daniel looking at Mark curiously as if he

doesn’t believe in what Mark just said.

“Yes, I have a witness which is my wife,” said Mark in a serious tone.

“Your wife will not be a enough, do you have any other witness?” ask Daniel,

while staring at Mark.

“The car wash person, I’m sure he will remember me,” said Mark in a very confident

voice.

“Sure, then I will take you to car wash person,” said Daniel standing up and take

Mark with him to the Car Wash.

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At the carwash, there’s not much people inside because it is late and it is almost closed. But

the fact that it was almost closed doesn’t stop Daniel and Mark not to enter the car wash.

Ring The car wash door opened entering Mark and the policeman.

“Welcome, what can I help you with, sir?” ask the car wash person.

“Well, I was actually on an investigation about a crime and I would like to ask you if

you remember this man that was standing beside me?” ask Daniel looking at the carwasher

that was standing in front of him.

“Hmmmm….excuse me sir, but what day and time did you come to the car wash?”

ask the carwasher.

“I come here about 5 p.m. today to get my car,” said Mark.

“Oh, 5 p.m. I’m sorry at that time I’m not here. It was actually the other person’s shift

at that time,” said the carwasher.

“Well, do you know where the other person is?” ask Mark nervously.

“I’m sorry sir, I’m afraid that the other person is not here, he just leave the town to do

some of his urgent business about few minutes ago,” said the carwasher. Oh man! Then who

will be my witness here?! Mark thinks with a very disappointed face.

“Well, Mr. Nevin, from the situation it means that you don’t have any witnesses and

in the ball there are many people who said that they saw you went outside the house too,”

said Daniel, looking at Mark with a serious face.

“B...B...But I didn’t do anything! I am not the murderer!” shouted Mark in a serious

loud voice.

“Sorry Mr. Nevin, you don’t have enough witness and evidence. So today, you will be

in jail due to being suspicious about the crime,” said Daniel while putting a hand-cuffs on Mr.

Nevin, put him in the car, and drove towards the police station.

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 At the Nevin’s house, Nancy is walking around in circles in the living room. After the

incident of the policeman taking Mark to the police station, she immediately head back home

with her children, Laurin, and Kevin.

“Everything will be alright Nancy,” said Laurin in a soft tone in order to clam Nancy

down.

“Yeah, sit down first Nancy, everything will be o---,” Ding Dong the sound of a

doorbell interrupt the conversation that is inside Nevins house. Nancy run as fast as she can

to open a door. She found Daniel, standing front of her house, in the a dark cold night.

“Mr. Policeman! What happen? Where is Mark?” cried Nancy. She shoots out a lot of

questions toward policeman with a surprise face. Nancy expect a good news from Daniel, but

he simply crush her hope about her husband. Nancy, who was just standing in the doorway is

now having a shocked face. Everything in her brain was going blank and feels nothing as if

her heart was shattered into pieces. A clear water suddenly runs down her face and drops onto

the ground. Laurin, also hear the conversation walks up to Nancy and hugged her from the

back, making Nancy become conscious again. In Laurin’s arm, Nancy starts to cry more and

more like a child who their parents got killed. Laurin understands the situation, so she

continues to hug Nancy until she become unconscious again.

“Kevin, I think that we have to something about this. I can’t bare seeing Nancy

suffer,” said Laurin in a sad voice.

“Yeah...me either,” said Kevin while thinking something in his head. Suddenly, Kevin

stands up and look at Laurin.

“Honey, do you remember where did you saw those two men in the alley?” ask Kevin

in a serious voice.

“I’m not sure what it’s called but...I can lead you there. Anyhow, why did you ask?”

asked Laurin in a very confusing sound.

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 “I’m going to find an evidence to help Mark,” said Kevin in a very serious and

confident voice.

“Right! I’ll help you!” said Laurin, then she laid Nancy’s head on the pillow in a sofa

and both Laurin and Kevin disappear from the Nevin’s house.

Three days passed by Nancy was cooking something in the kitchen. The breakfast was

setting on the table nicely ready for the children to come down from their room and eat it.

“Kids, come down and eat your breakfast! Mommy will go outside to do some

business, make sure to clean up after yourselves, okay?” shouted Nancy.

“Okay mom!” replied one of the children. After hearing the reply, Nancy put a box of

food into a bag. She carried it to her car and drove of off her house. After the day I pass out, I

can’t find and contact both Laurin and Kevin again. I wonder what happen when I was pass

out. Arghh..whatever, today I have to modify that Mark isn’t the murderer and get him out of

the jail Nancy thinks while driving towards the police station. When she arrives at the police

station, she walks up to Daniel and talks to him.

“Mr. Policeman, I would like to talk about Mark Nevin’s case,” said Nancy in a very

serious voice while looking at Daniel.

“Yes ma’am, what about it?” ask Daniel while writing something on a piece of paper.

“I want to claim that Mark Nevin isn’t a murderer who killed Ashley Morgan,” said

Nancy.

“Well, do you have any evidence then?” ask Daniel looking up towards Nancy.

“I...I…I don------,”

“Wait a minute, sir. We have the evidence!” shouted a voice from the door.

“Laurin! Kevin! Where have you guys been?” asked Nancy in a very surprised voice.

“Nancy, we’ve been looking for an evidence to help Mark,” said Laurin in a happy

voice.

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 “Anyhow Mr.Policeman this is the evidence that my wife and I found. It is a security

camera clip from the shop in the opposite side of the alley. Also, we have a witness that Mark

Nevin is innocent!” said Kevin, who is standing beside Laurin. Then Kevin grabbed a flash

drive that is in his pocket and hand it to Daniel. After the policeman took the flash drive he

puts it into the computer and play the video during the time of the crime. The light shines

from the computer screen revealing a scene of an alley during the dark evening sky, where

there are barely any people walk pass by the alley. On the top right corner of the computer

sms.creen, shows the date and time of the scene which is 4:35 p.m.. 10 minutes had passed

by, Ms.Ashley walk to the front of the alley and look both left and right, like to make sure

that there is no one following her, then she enter the dark alley. Another 5 minutes had passed

the Mayor, wearing a black coat, also did the same thing that Ms.Ashley did and walk into

the alley. Then, something strange happens 10 minutes had passed by ever since the mayor

enter the alley, no one had come out yet. When the watch on the screen say 5:10 p.m., Brian

walks by and stopped in the front of the alley with a horror face and pointed at something that

is in the alley. In the screen, Brian seems to be talking and shouting to someone that is in the

alley and then quickly ran off to somewhere. Then the mayor slowly walks out of the alley

and off somewhere.

“Wait...so, the murderer is the Mayor?” ask Nancy in a surprise voice.

“Yes, also if you stop here on the video you can see that there are some red shoe

prints on the floor after the Mayor had walk out of the alley a few steps,” said Laurin. She

reached out her hand to stop the video when the Mayor just walked out of the alley and adjust

the screen clearly revealing a red shoe prints on the floor.

“Also, we’ve brought a witness to say that Mark Nevins is at the carwash during 5

p.m. as well, please come in,” said Laurin. A man who is about 175 cm tall walk into the

police station towards Laurin.

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 “Umm....hello, I’m the carwasher that wash Mr. Mark Nevin’s car three days ago,”

said the carwasher.

“Hmm….I would like to ask you some questions to verify the evidence,” said Daniel.

“Okay ,sir,” said the carwasher.

“Well, did you really wash Mark Nevin’s car?” ask Daniel looking at carwasher.

“Yeah, I remember him well! He was wearing a black coat and a suit inside, it looks

awkward so I ask him,” said the carwasher.

“Do you remeber what time did you saw him?” ask Daniel.

“Ummm...I think it’s about 5 p.m. because I have to leave the town 6 p.m.,” said the

carwasher.

“Why did you need to leave the town?” ask Daniel analytically.

“I have to go get something from my grandparents so I have to leave the town early,”

said the carwasher.

“Oh well, I guess this is enough evidence to release Mr. Mark Nevin from the prison,”

said Daniel with a calm face.

“Thank you! Oh, Thank you so much Mr. Policeman!” cried Nancy in a very

delighted face with some tears rolling down her cheeks. Few minutes, later Mark was

walking out of the police station. He saw Nancy, Laurin, and Kevin standing together by a

car waiting for Mark. He quickly ran out through the door towards the place where Nancy is

standing and hugged her like he haven’t seen her for many years. All of his stress and anger

was release just by a gently hug that he receive back from his beloved.

“Kevin, Laurin, I am very appreciated on what you guys did to help me,” said Mark

gratefully.

“No problem, we’re gladly to help you because you are our friends,” said Kevin

looking at Mark with a smile.

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 “Well, then why don’t we go home and had a supper together?” said Nancy happily.

“Actually, It’s fi---,”

“No, no, no, please come, I insist,” said Mark interrupting Kevin.

“Well, I guess we have to go,” laugh Laurin while looking at Kevin. So, they all went

home and had a good fun supper together.

At the Mayor’s house, he was sitting on a red sofa in a giant dark room where there

are only one candle that was lit. He laughed out loud like a crazy person and talk to himself.

The Mayor locked himself up in his room for three days ever since after the incident at the

ball.

“Hahaha, I’ve killed Ashley! Now, I can do whatever I wanted! I don’t have anyone

to be scared of anymore.” said the Mayor in an evil voice.

“But..but I will not have anyone to rely on anymore as well,” said the Mayor talking

to himself, then small clear tears roll down his cheeks.

“But, she knows too much! If she continues to stay then one day she might leaked out

my secrets! So, I have to kill her, everything will be alright. I just have to continue playing a

good mayor role, hahaha!” shouted the Mayor in a sudden change of mood. Knock Knock

“Excuse me, sir, the policeman wants to talk to you,” said a sweet soft voice of a maid

from outside the door.

“Let him in,” said the Mayor in a calm sound, while wiping all his small tears. The

policeman enter the Mayor’s room and towards him in a serious face. Then he puts a hand-

cuff on both of the mayor’s wrists.

“Mayor, I arrest you for killing Ms. Ashley Morgan in the alley. We have enough

evidence to arrest you as well,” said the policeman.

“W...What are you saying, sir?” said the Mayor with a teary eye and a soft smile.

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 “Well, you have to go into the prison, Mayor. You killed Ashley Morgan and we have

the video indicated that you killed her,” said the policeman while dragging the Mayor to the

car.

“Ha...haha...hahaha! Of course, I killed her! because she knows too much! She knows

about my trading in the black mar--!” The Mayor starts to talk crazily but have stop, because

he realise that he was going to say something unnecessary.

“Well, Mayor, you also trade with the black market. This makes you have even more

guilt,” said the policeman. Eventually, the Mayor was sentence to stay in the prison for a

lifetime and the mystery was solved. After the incident that the Mayor got caught, he become

a psychopath in a prison. Then due to a massive amount of stress the Mayor had committed

suicide.

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