Chapter Three: An Unexpected Visitor

The next morning around 8 o'clock, a young boy no older than eight years came to our house. He was a stranger. He entered our doorstep and was shouting very loudly. My parents had gone somewhere that day. I was very busy getting ready for going to my work. I quickly went to the boy. He wore clothes of poor quality and was very dirty.

'Why are you so dirty in this early morning young man? How can I help you?' I asked him.

'Can I please talk to Detective Ionen Delbis? I have a case.' said he in some sort of Indian English. It was not at all stylish.

'Ionen!' I screamed. 'This young man wants to meet you.'

'Oh wow! A boy wants to meet me?' said he as he came to us. The boy handed over his ID card to Ionen.

'Detective Ionen Delbis, my name is Andrew Das. I have brought you a case to solve.'

'Ok well, come with me to the living room and we may have a talk.'

They went to the living room and I followed them. They sat face to face in the room.

'Well Detective Ionen Delbis------'

'Just call me Mr. Delbis' Ionen interrupted him.

'Well Mr. Delbis, I wanted to tell you that....that something terrible happened to me. It has killed my heart. My parents were walking along an isolated street with me. Suddenly a man came running to us and killed my parents with a knife. I ran away from there or else he would kill me too. I came to you after that.' said the boy. 'I want you to help me catch the person.'

'Okay, have you seen his face?' asked Ionen.

'No, I haven't.' said the boy smartly. 'He was wearing a mask.'

'Hmmm, Mark!' said Ionen.

'Yes what?' I replied.

'Would you mind closing the door and the windows? Andrew is sweating a lot. I will turn on the AC.'

I stood up when suddenly the boy said:

'No, no need to close the windows. You may have your seat.'

'Okay,' said Ionen calmly. 'Do as he says. Have your seat.'

I did as I was told.

'If you are free now,' said the boy, 'you can come to my house with me right now. You might find some clue about the murderer.'

'No, I am very busy now. Give me your address. I will reach there as soon as possible.'

I wondered why Ionen was so busy. He was totally vagabond except his case. I remained quite because I knew that Ionen was much smarter and cleverer than me.

'Ok, I will be waiting for you. Please give me a paper and pen so that I can write down my address.'

He stood up and went to his study table. He tore a page, took a pen and gave the two things to the boy. The boy wrote the address and handed over the two things back to Ionen. We stood up and helped him till the door. He went away.