I had no time to warn him, because I myself was unable to think.

Steven Blazing, however, did not NEED warnings.

In a split-second, he dodged the punch, and with unexpected skill and speed, blocked all the consecutive attacks, and then, in two seconds, had the assailant trapped in a choke hold.

'Welcome, Mr.Tyler. Please, won't you let us in?', smiled Blazing.

Wow, just wow.

The mystery man was struggling to break free, and Blazing let go.

'Who are you people?', he demanded.

'Your salvation, or your nightmare. Depends.', grinned Blazing.

'We're investigating a murder case, Mr.Tyler, and we need to ask you some questions. That's all.', I said, having had enough of their shenanigans.

'Why wasn't I informed beforehand?'

'So that you don't run away, or worse, take down the NYPD.'

That was Blazing, AGAIN.

'May we talk inside, please?', I cried. The neighborhood was creeping me out.

Without a word, Harry Tyler led us inside. He switched on the lights, told us to make ourselves comfortable, offered us coffee, while he himself drank some cold water.

'You don't drink coffee?'

'Yes, I do. Not feeling like it right now.', replied Mr.Tyler.

'You really should quit it, Mr.Tyler. The caffeine is doing it for you. You haven't been sleeping well AT ALL.', said Blazing, with a faint smile.

'How did you know that?', asked Mr.Tyler.

'Dark circles. Under your eyes. Quite simple, really.'

'Oh, that. That's not because of the coffee. It's because...', said Harry Tyler, and then stopped.

'Yes?'

'Nothing.'

Steven Blazing looked at me triumphantly.

Mr.Tyler seemed to have calmed down after the cool water hit him.

'I must apologize for my savage behavior. This isn't a nice neighborhood, if you couldn't tell. Robberies are commonplace here. Since I wasn't expecting any visitors, I took you both to be robbers trying to check whether anyone was home.'

'Where had you gone?'

'I was going to go to the supermarket to get some stuff. I had just left by the back door when I heard a taxi pull up close-by. I didn't see you two come out of it, I'm sorry.'

'Well, its lucky I dodged your punch, who knows what could have happened, huh?', smiled Blazing.

Mr.Tyler's face flushed red with embarrassment.

'I believe we haven't been properly introduced. I am Steven Blazing, this here is my friend and colleague Charlie Bolt. No doubt you've heard?'

'Heard what?'

'About the murder?'

'No, I haven't been socializing a whole lot in recent times.'

'Well, Mrs.Turner, wife of Assistant Commissioner Michael Turner, was found dead on the night of the 5th.'

Harry Tyler gripped his glass of water more tightly.

'Oh yes.', he smirked, 'I remember Cassie Turner.'

'Then you also understand why we are questioning you.', I added.

'I do. Please proceed.'

'Where were you on the night of the 5th?'

'I don't... exactly remember. All these nights feel the same now. Oh wait, I think I had ordered some pizza, and had passed out on alcohol.'

'Any witnesses to your alibi?'

'I was alone.'

'What pizza?', asked Blazing suddenly.

'Uhh, a Pepperoni pizza.'

'With cheese, I suppose. I just LOVE IT! Don't you?', grinned Steven Blazing.

'Yeah, sure. Why not? I like it too.', smiled Harry Tyler.

'Oh is that so? But you're lactose intolerant, Mr.Tyler. Or have you forgotten?', said Blazing, his smile vanishing.

Mr.Tyler was shocked.

'How did you know that?'

'Do you think we come to interrogate someone without doing our homework? So you see, you disproved your own alibi.'

Harry Tyler's face bespoke despair.

'I really don't want to admit it, since it makes me look like an inconsiderate and selfish brother.'

'You have no fears of being judged.', promised Blazing.

'Well, on the 5th, there was a party at one of the local bars. My friends had invited me. My sister's suicide had already shook me from the core. I couldn't concentrate on work after that. I turned heavily alcoholic. I just couldn't believe I had lost my only remaining family. My friends were worried about me. They asked me to come out, and to relax a little, to calm my nerves.

Why they chose a bar to calm a drunkard down, I do not know. But, that night, after a couple of drinks, I got chatty with a pretty girl. I spent the night at her place. '

'Though it is suspicious as to why you chose your fake alibi to portray that you are NOT lactose intolerant and NOT a vegetarian, but, alright. This looks closer to the truth. '

'This IS the truth.'

'We shall be the judge of that. Tell us about your sister.'

'Bernice? She was an angel. My big sister. She was all I had after we lost our parents in that horrible accident. We lived here together, protecting each other. Life was almost good. Then one day, that female officer, Mrs.Turner came, and arrested her in front of me. I tried to plea bail, but they wouldn't listen to me. They pinned double homicide on her. The last time I went to visit my sister, she swore she didn't do it. I trusted my sister. And now, she's left me all alone to fend for myself. '

I looked at Harry. He was weeping.

'May I use your bathroom? ', asked Blazing.

Harry nodded and pointed towards it.

While Blazing was gone, I tried consoling him. I also told him he was welcome to talk to us anytime he liked, and that we may need to return for more info, if the need arises.

'Yes, no problem. You come back as many times you like. I'll co-operate fully. My sister has been branded as a killer to her death, I will NOT let the same happen to me, and have my dead family ashamed! You need ANYTHING, you call me!'

Steven Blazing returned and said:

'I understand your emotions, Mr.Tyler, but you are an adult. You do realize your sister wasn't convicted for no reasons? She was connected to the crimes, and the police had some pretty good evidence. I glanced over them myself. It was pretty solid. Yes, I didn't investigate myself, but if the evidence was to be believed... '

'IT WAS PLANTED! ALL OF IT, FAKE!'

'Unfortunately, that's impossible Mr.Tyler. I'm sorry.'

'So you're calling my sister a killer AND a liar?! GET OUT! RIGHT NOW! BOTH OF YOU, OUT! DON'T SHOW ME YOUR FACES AGAIN!'

Harry Tyler had broken down completely. We thought it best to leave him alone, for the moment.

'That's the most fearsome suspect we've questioned.', I remarked, in the taxi.

'Agreed.'

'Was he lying? About his alibi?'

'I do not know. Only time will tell. But I did find something interesting when I went to the bathroom.'

'You didn't go there, did you?'

'No, I went into his bedroom. Guess what I found? A prescription. He takes the SAME sleeping pills as the ones found in The Turner domicile.'

'So THAT'S why he hasn't been sleeping well, since he lost them in Cassie's house?'

'Dear God, no. I never said that. To say that would mean that Harry Tyler IS THE KILLER. But at the moment, data is insufficient.'

'But why didn't he just go and buy another pill box?'

'That... is a good question. I want the same answer.', nodded Blazing.

We reached our apartment pretty late. It was around 10:30 p.m. when the two of us sat down on the sofa.

'I look at this day as a success. Quite a lot of interesting events occured today.', said Blazing.

'I hope no more do.'

But, as always, God doesn't LISTEN TO ME.

A few moments later, there was a loud, demanding knock on the door. Even before we could ask them to come in, a gentleman of around our own age strolled in. He was dressed in a black suit, complete with a red tie. Something about his air of defiance scared me. Blazing was just as stiff as the other man. The three of us stood in silence for sometime. Finally, the man spoke:

'Which one of you is STEVEN BLAZING?'

'Who are you? Why have you come at such a late hour?', demanded Blazing.

The man turned to face him.

'Then YOU'RE STEVEN BLAZING, I see.'

'That is a correct deduction. May I ask how I may assist you, Mr...?'

The man smiled, just smiled. His smile was so very evil, so mysterious, it gave me chills. He said, in a voice that is too confident of itself:

'I am Matthew Hood. A little bird told me YOU were looking for ME.'

Hey Blazers! (I'm gonna call you guys Blazers from now on, LOL! Isn't it nice? Such a nice, WARM name!)

Blazers, stream 'Dynamite' by BTS on YT, or wherever you can. The song was released today itself, and its already breaking the charts. Its SUCH A GOOD, SWEET, GROOVY SONG!

Anyway, weren't expecting that twist in the chapter, were you? I hope not! Don't worry, it only gets better from here.

You haven't seen anything yet!! That's a promise!

Next chapter will be up in 48 hours, yeah, really!

VOTE. COMMENT. FOLLOW.

See you again soon! Till then, Happy Unscrambling!

-S. B.