Chapter 5: The Mystery Guest
Dexter was reading a book in his cell when a club knocked on the iron door again. The loud banging made Dexter grunt in annoyance and yell at whoever was behind the door. "Can't you knock quietly? It's a metal door, and my room is tiny."
Not long after, the door opened. Dexter chuckled when he saw Rufus' face appear from behind the door. "What do you want to do?"
"You have a visitor," Rufus said calmly.
Dexter's brow furrowed. "Since when am I allowed to have guests?"
Rufus shrugged. "I was just asked to deliver it to you. Are you willing to accept it?"
With a look full of astonishment, Dexter got up from his bed and walked over to Rufus. He lowered his head slightly as he stared at the young Warden, who seemed to flinch as he approached him. "Of course, I'll accept. This is the first visit I've received in two years."
Dexter then extended his hand to Rufus. But the man shook his head slowly. "You won't be handcuffed."
"Woah, maybe the rumor that I'll be released soon is true," Dexter teased.
He then walked ahead of Rufus. In his mind, Dexter wondered who had gotten permission to see him. According to the Judge's ruling, he was not allowed to receive visitors as it was considered dangerous.
Fortunately, Champion had always been kind enough to give him books to read so he wouldn't die of boredom in his cramped detention room. In addition, after his sister died as a suicide bomber, Dexter also had no one he hoped would come to visit him.
Dexter kept walking while thinking about the person he was going to meet. He was about to turn into the reception room when Rufus held him back. "We're not going to that room. You'll meet the guest in another room."
Dexter immediately turned around. He looked back at Rufus questioningly. "Who exactly is the guest?"
"I don't know either. But this is an order from the boss," Rufus replied.
"Your boss allowed me to receive guests?" asked Dexter, astonished.
As if not listening to Dexter's question, Rufus walked past him. He headed for the hallway to their left without looking at Dexter. Although astonished, Dexter walked after Rufus.
When they arrived in front of a brown wooden door, Rufus knocked while Dexter read the nameplate on the wall next to it. Hugo James. Dexter didn't really know the man who was the head of the military prison where he was being held. Still, from his chat with Champion, he could tell that Hugo James was a suave man with many government and military acquaintances.
Hugo's strong connections made him respected by his peers. At least that's what Champion said. Dexter was curious to know for sure if the story was true or not. But what was happening to him at the moment made Dexter think that Champion's words about Hugo were not a figment of his imagination.
After hearing Hugo's voice from behind the door, Rufus opened the wooden door in front of him. After that, he entered, and Dexter followed behind him. The pungent smell of tobacco greeted Dexter's sense of smell, and he could hear two men talking in the room. The conversation stopped as soon as they realized Dexter had joined them.
"You may leave." Hugo's hoarse voice ordered Rufus to leave his room immediately.
Rufus saluted the middle-aged man whose hair was half white, then left Dexter there. After Rufus left, Hugo stood up and walked over to Dexter. He nodded as he watched Dexter in his orange prison garb. Dexter could hear the man's heavy breathing as he looked at him before he opened his mouth and spoke.
"You must look a lot more dashing in your military uniform than you do in this prison uniform," Hugo said as he looked Dexter over from head to toe.
"Maybe if you guys weren't in such a hurry to find a scapegoat, I'd still be on duty today," Dexter replied.
Hugo let out another long sigh. "Unfortunately, all the evidence points to you."
Dexter clenched his fists and slowly turned to Hugo. He stared at the man with an intense gaze, his jaw tightening. It felt like he wanted to punch the old man because he was looking at him with a disgusted look that annoyed Dexter.
"You guys are always looking for someone to blame for what happens," Dexter finally said.
"I'm sorry if I'm interrupting. But can you leave me with this man, Hugo? I'd like to have a one-on-one talk with the man who cost me my son and the mother of my son."
Hugo turned his attention to his guest, who was sitting on the sofa. He chuckled and then turned his attention back to Dexter. "May God have mercy on your soul."
"My soul is long gone," Dexter replied sarcastically. He then looked at the man sitting on the sofa in Hugo's room. The man looked calm. His gaze was fixed on the table in front of him. But as soon as the door to Hugo's room closed, the man slowly turned to him.
"Dexter James?"
Dexter's brow furrowed as soon as the man said his name. "How do you know my name?"
Arthur stood up from his seat while buttoning his suit. He then walked over to Dexter. "How would I not know your name if I followed the explosion case that happened two years ago? My son and partner were victims in your sister's explosion."
"Arthur Kingsley," Arthur added as he stood before Dexter and extended his hand.
Dexter looked at Arthur's outstretched hand at him with a questioning gaze. "What do you want? Do you also need someone to blame for the death of your son and partner?"
Arthur let out a long sigh and retracted his hand. "We should be able to have a more casual conversation since we are both victims. But we can do it another time. I'll keep it short."
While Dexter was increasingly confused about Arthur's intentions, the man took something out of his coat pocket and showed it to Dexter.
"Does this picture have any special meaning for your sister? In case you didn't know, this is the last picture she posted on her social media. Somehow I feel like she's giving you a warning," Arthur said calmly.
Dexter quickly snatched the photo Arthur had shown him. His eyes rounded slightly when he read the title of the image uploaded by his older sister. After a few seconds, Dexter returned the photo to Arthur with a long sigh. He then laughed softly while looking at Arthur.
"You came all the way here to ask me about a social media photo my sister might have uploaded while drunk? Are you kidding me?" Dexter asked.
"You might take it as a joke. But not me," said Arthur.
Arthur's words made Dexter's laughter stop.
Dexter let out another long sigh. "This means nothing to my sister. I'm sure she just uploaded this picture for fun."
"Is that so?" asked Arthur.
Dexter nodded, although he felt slightly uncomfortable with what his sister had posted. To Dexter's knowledge, his sister had never been interested in myths and history. Monica did like to travel, but not to explore history or visit museums. Her sister traveled for her social media interests as she was paid to review hotels or clubs she stayed in.
"My sister is not interested in that kind of thing. So, I'm sure it was just a prank," Dexter said.
Arthur nodded after hearing Dexter's words. He put the photo he showed Dexter back into his coat pocket. "Are you sure?"
Dexter nodded again.
"All right, if you're sure. It looks like my business here is done. I thought you might know something about your sister and this symbol," Arthur said.
Arthur's words certainly piqued Dexter's curiosity. He felt he knew his sister well, but somehow the Eye of Horus symbol his sister had uploaded didn't reflect his sister at all.
"What is it that I don't know about my sister that you do?" asked Dexter.
Arthur shook his head slowly. "I don't know your sister. For the past two years, I've been gathering information about the explosion and felt something was wrong with your detention."
Dexter chuckled after hearing Arthur's words. "Don't people like you just like to find a scapegoat to blame?"
"I told you that we're both victims. If you don't mind, I'd like you to join me in investigating everything."
"You're two years too late, man," Dexter quipped.
Arthur stuffed both hands in his pants pockets as he stared at Dexter. "If you change your mind, you can find me at Maple corp headquarters."
As soon as he finished his words, Arthur walked past Dexter.
"What exactly do you want?" exclaimed Dexter.
Arthur, who was standing behind the door of Hugo's room, turned around. His face was calm, but his eyes were sharp like an eagle staring at its quarry.
"I want revenge," Arthur replied calmly and deeply.
Dexter was silent as he heard Arthur's answer. There was no hesitation at all in the words spoken by the man. The calmness and determination Arthur showed left Dexter speechless. The dark look in his eyes was like an overcast cloud ready to spew a massive storm at any moment.
"Come see me if you're really interested in doing the same," Arthur continued, snapping Dexter out of his reverie. After that, he left Hugo's office.
***
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