Side Story 1 - The Case Of The Missing E-Potato (2/3)

Three minutes later. At the entrance of the cave.

Suspect One: “Why did you bring me here, June? Don’t waste my time.”

Interviewer: ‘Let’s get straight to the point. You, Kearan, have been identified as a suspect in a criminal offence that occured today, August 3rd, approximately 6:10pm. The criminal offence is that of larceny and attempt to disregard the three e-potato daily limit that is in place. Anything you say or do may be recorded as evidence.’

Suspect One: Rolls his eyes. “Do you even know what you’re saying right now?”

Interviewer: Ignores him. ‘The first question I have for you is; where were you during the crime period?’

Suspect One: “I just got back from my hunting session.”

Interviewer: ‘Do you have a witness?’

Suspect One: “I went with Jay. He’ll vouch for me. Also, how is this even going to help, anyways? Can’t you just produce one more e-potato and call it done for the day?”

Interviewer: “No, because it means someone will have gone over their daily quota.”

Suspect One: Exhales heavily. “June… Don’t push it.” Gets up. Walks away.

Interviewer: “Wait! I’m not done with the interview yet!”

Suspect One: “I told you, I didn’t do it! Now let me eat in peace!”

The interview has ended.

Suspect Two: While eating. “What’s up, June? Why’d you call me out here?”

Interviewer: “Sorry about this, Jay. But did you happen to take or see anyone take an e-potato while I was taking a bath?”

Suspect Two: “You take baths? How do you scrub yourself? It’s not like you have hands.”

Interviewer: Exhales slowly. “That’s not important right now. I’d just like to know if you did or saw anyone.”

Suspect Two: “Nah, didn’t see anyone. The e-potatoes were all scattered around when Kearan and I entered the cave. We moved a few of them to the side. Have you checked underneath the rock?”

Interviewer: “Good idea. Let me check now.”

The interview has ended.

Once Jay had left, I immediately hopped off the stone and rechecked the area. It’d be embarrassing to accuse someone of stealing if I hadn’t even checked properly.

Unfortunately, there was not a single e-potato seed left.

I had picked them all up, just like I’d thought I’d done.

Sighing, I flew to where Verity and Winter were sitting, stitching up the clothes that’d been torn on the trip. Winter’s nimble fingers quickly slipped in and out, neatly patching up the holes. Verity, on the other hand, did so more aggressively, and seemed to cause more damage than she was trying to fix.

“Be more patient, Verity.” Winter soothed. “You’ve got to rest and spread out the tunic before you can stitch it up. If not, you’ll just tie the tunic together and it’ll be all bunched up; unwearable.”

“I’m trying!” Verity protested back, accidentally pricking herself with the needle in the process. “Damn this stupid thing!” She stuck her finger in her mouth and practically threw the bundle onto the floor.

‘A-ahem.’ I said, getting their attention.

“What? Oh, it’s you.” Verity said as she turned towards me. “What do you want?”

I took a mental deep breath to calm myself. ‘I’m just approaching you here today because of a serious incident I’m currently investigating-’

“Would you get to the point already?” She interrupted rudely.

That was it.

‘One of my e-potatoes is gone!’ I burst out. ‘And I know someone took it. Was it either of you?’

Verity paused. “Well… I was tempted to. Since I didn’t have much for lunch, I snatched one off the floor as you left.”

‘Ah-hah! So it was you that took it!’

She shook her head and rolled her eyes. “I’m not as stupid as you, potato. I put it back when I realised it wasn’t ripe yet. If I’d really taken it, what makes you think I’d come out and admit it just like that? Do you think I’m dumb?”

She had a point. ‘Well… What about you, Winter?’ I asked quickly.

Winter, who hadn’t spoken a word, looked down at her lap.

‘Winter?’

“Um… um…” She began.

‘Yes?’

“W-when I saw one on the floor, I-I was just s-so hungry I couldn’t r-resist… It was almost dinner time and my stomach was r-rumbling…” She blushed and suddenly grabbed me out of the air.

“Oh please, June! Please don’t ban me from ever eating your delicious e-potatoes ever again!”

Drool literally leaked down her mouth.

I sighed. Winter was too nice to scold.

‘It’s alright. Just tell me where it is now. Did you eat it yet?’

She shook her head profusely. “No, I didn’t. After I took it, I hid it in my pocket in case you came back and saw it. It wasn’t until after dinner that I was desperate enough to eat it raw… But then, when I put my hand into my pocket, it wasn’t there! Either it disappeared, or I must have dropped it somewhere…”

I hissed and slammed myself against the cave wall angrily.

‘But this doesn’t help at all!’