Die Geschichte von Prinzessin Song in Heian-kyo

Kapitel 15

Julie continued reading: "Susie and David are engaged and about to get married." The memory of that night flashed through her mind.

The image, "I remember he had her name tattooed on his arm, um... and then his mother, sister? Claire and Missy lived in Merryburg."

Helen asked, "What do you think of them living in the countryside?"

Julie shrugged and said, "What do we have to lose..."

A car speeds along a country road.

“Turn right, that’s behind us,” Helen said to Julie, sitting in the passenger seat and looking at the map in her hand.

Not far behind, there was a quiet, crisscrossing path, with warm sunlight filtering through the leaves and dappling the ground. Julie reversed and drove onto the path.

Helen asked, "How exactly do you explain the plan? Ring the doorbell and say we killed your son?"

Julie hadn't figured it out either, or rather, she couldn't think of one: "First, observe the surroundings, and then make up an excuse."

"Do you really think there should be a plan? The female detective always has a plan." Helen's mind was always filled with plots from Hollywood movies, which was often the basis for her actions.

Julie ignored her.

The car stopped in the shade. Julie took a deep breath.

A sign on the side of the road reads: Egan.

The two got out of the car and walked over. It was very quiet around them; it seemed as if there were no residents at all.

Helen grew increasingly nervous as she walked: "What if they're waiting for us? They might shoot us."

"Is that right?"

Julie said casually, "It's been a year. If you wanted to kill someone, you would have done it long ago." She tried her best to prevent Helen from giving that portion of the document.

The tension was contagious to her.

At the end of the road stood a solitary little building. The wooden structure looked a bit old, and the white exterior was beginning to yellow, but in Julie and Helen's eyes, it was more terrifying than a mysterious castle.

Helen continued rambling, "Jodie Foster was confronted by a serial killer who answered the door."

There is an extended porch in front of the small building, which is extremely quiet, even a little unsettling.

Julie went up and knocked on the door. Helen stood to the side, looking uneasily at the afternoon sunlight.

No one answered from inside the house.

Helen breathed a sigh of relief: "Good test."

Julie didn't leave immediately. She stepped out onto the porch, and Helen hurriedly followed. The two reached the side of the building, where a tall pile of chopped firewood stood against the wall, next to a discarded mirror. Julie looked around carefully, then decided to climb onto the pile of firewood and peer through the window.

(6)

Helen said worriedly, "Should we add another charge of trespassing?"

As they were talking, a woman suddenly appeared in the mirror, looking at them warily.

The woman was very young, but extremely thin; her bones were clearly visible under her clothes.

Her tone was flat and monotone: "What brings you here?"

Julie was so frightened she almost fell off the woodpile, but Helen quickly caught her.

Julie managed to stand up, forcing a smile: "Hi, our car broke down on the road, I don't know if we can..."

"Could I borrow your phone?"

The woman stared at her suspiciously, but she still invited Julie and Helen into the house.

The woman pointed to one side and said coldly, "The phone is over there."

Julie turned her back to Helen and said, "Judy, could you please call the Automobile Association?"

Helen immediately understood what Angela meant and cooperated by saying, "No problem... Angela."

Julie almost burst out laughing, but then she noticed the woman staring at her and immediately held it back.

Helen had just turned around when she suddenly screamed. Julie turned back and saw a black raincoat hanging there: the kind fishermen often wore!

The woman introduced herself: "My name is Missy Egan. Are you from Merriburg?"

Julie snapped out of her daze and said, "Oh, no, Southport."

Missy was somewhat surprised: "I went to Southport High School."

Julie immediately saw this as a good opportunity and, feigning nonchalance, asked, "Oh, really? I just..."

You look familiar. What year?

“1988.” Missy answered Julie’s question while keeping an eye on Helen in the living room, who immediately pretended to make a phone call.

Julie asked tentatively, "Your last name is Egan? That sounds familiar. Do you have any brothers?"

Missy indeed said, "He has a younger brother named David."

"Which year was he in?" Julie pressed.

"He was a member of the Class of '92, but he passed away last July."

Although Helen was holding the phone receiver, her attention was completely focused on the conversation between the two women. She was certain it was the right place. She wondered what else Julie would ask.

“I’m very sorry.” Julie’s tone was indeed very sincere.

Missy remained calm: "It's nothing." Then he turned to walk away.

Julie looked around the room, quickly searching for clues. She asked, "Do you live alone?"

Missy smiled slightly: "...Yes. My father died young, and my mother lives in a nursing home; she endures..."

I cannot understand David's fate.

Julie saw the photo on the table; it was a bit far away and not very clear, but it should be David.

Missy looked at the photos and said with a sigh, "Things have never been the same since he died."

Helen hung up the phone and walked over, saying, "They've already set off."

Julie nodded, and the three girls looked at each other. A silence fell over the room as they didn't know what to say next.

Missy suddenly suggested, "While you're waiting, I'll go make some tea."

Helen quickly replied, "Thank you."

Julie quickly replied, "Yes, thank you. You're so kind."

Missy went to the kitchen. Julie came to the table and looked at the photo; it was a picture of David and Missy together, looking very close.

Helen deliberately raised her voice and said, "I think I remember David. He had a friend... what was his name?"

Missy's voice came from the kitchen: "Who's there?"

It seemed Missy didn't suspect much, so Helen boldly continued, "Isn't he often with David?"

"Shall we get up? They're very close. What's his name again?"

Julie walked to Helen's side, anxiously awaiting Missy's answer.

Missy came out of the kitchen and said, "I don't know, I'm not familiar with David's friends." She walked to the table.

Before he could finish speaking, he thought for a moment, “But there was one man who came shortly after David’s death. He came to pay his respects.”

Julie was very surprised: "Really?"

Missy nodded. "Yes, he's a very nice person, cute, and smart." Missy smiled shyly and continued...

"We had a two-minute romantic moment, but it didn't lead anywhere. I felt pain in his eyes when he approached me."

"

Helen asked, "Where is this old friend now?"

"I don't know." Missy shook her head sadly.

Helen cautiously pressed, "Do you... know his name?"

“Billy.” A very ordinary male name came out of Missy’s mouth.

What's your surname?

Missy said, "Bruce, Billy Bruce."

Helen turned and looked back at Julie with a puzzled expression.

Julie suddenly ended the conversation, saying to Missy, "Oh, you know what? We should be in the car..."

"Wait there."

Missy: "Stop talking nonsense, stay."

“I don’t want to miss the people from the Automotive Association,” Julie said, feigning a joke, and walked out impatiently.

"Thank you for your call." Helen hurriedly followed after her.

Missy said quietly, "Don't mention it, not many people will come knocking on my door."

Inside the car.

Julie slumped against the car window, looking utterly dejected.

Helen asked with concern, "Are you alright?"

Julie struggled to contain her excitement, saying, "I didn't have the courage. I'm sorry. Seeing his sister at his house..."

"...Did you see the good thing we did?"

Helen helplessly defended herself, saying, "It was an accident."

Julie said painfully, "We killed him and brought trouble to his family." As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes.

Helen was a little impatient; whenever she thought about this problem, she couldn't help but feel restless and uneasy:

We're not that capable; you're giving us too much credit.

But Julie was too exhausted to say anything more.

Suddenly, a roar was heard, and Missy rushed out of the house.

Julie and Helen were startled, not knowing what she was going to do. Julie fearfully rolled down the glass window.

Missy handed him a pack of cigarettes: "You forgot your cigarettes."