C20 CAUSE OF FIRE

It's was a Saturday morning, the sun was as bright as always yet deprived of the usual cheers and laughter of the family after the unfortunate incident. The atmosphere seems sober and gloomy.

Aimscious was busy tidying up her room as means of overcoming the burden and scare the lost had left. Just then, a ring from her phone caught her attention which made her pause, turning to it.

Buzz...... buzz...... buzz...... the sound came again. Settling at the edge of the bed, she reached for it ~ checking the caller ID in the process. It was a new number. Who might it be, she wondered.

" A strange number?" She stuttered, not so sure to answer but then. " Could it be Lilia?....never heard from her since she left and not getting her through her line as well. Could it be... she changed her number?" She contemplated.

With the persistent buzz, she finally picked up.

" Hello, am I talking to Miss Aimscious Nelson?" A masculine voice quried.

" Yes... you are and who are you" She answered , uncertain with the caller's identity which had not been disclosed yet.

" I'm Mr. Franklin from the fire service department and calling to update you on the new revelation we've received concerning the fire outbreak which occurred in your apartment a few months passed". The caller introduced himself. With that, she jerked to her full length, pacing to and fro.

" I'm all ears sir".

" Well.... observations made shows that the incident wasn't just a mere accident but an assassination plot which may need further investigations ." He explained of which Aims listened on, crumpled inside. Her heart wrenched and it felt like a knife to her heart. "Your neighbors confessed they'd noticed strange movement the night before ". He added.

"So have you found out the cause of the fire now? ~ who was behind it , tell me... please" She asked, sorrow shredded her inside which verbalized her desperation.

" Kindly come by the office for further information if...."

" Sure... sure,sir... I'll be there in a few minutes.Bye..." She cut in after which the line went dead. Not hesitating, she quickly dialed Mart's line. With a few rings, he answered.

"Hello......Aims, miss me already?... Hope...." He started but then, she instinctively cut in, sounding urgent.

" Stop acting funny...not now... please"

" Hey... is everything alright?" He sounded worried, diminishing the previous light of joy.

" I need you to escort me to the fire service department immediately. I'll meet you at the restaurant opposite your house...Alright?~ bye".

With that, she hanged up, not waiting for his reply and dashed off to the washroom.

MART'S HOUSE

Mart just gazed at the phone, worried and confused as he stood rooted in his tracks.

" Why sounding so urgent and serious?.... what's it with the fire service department? ~Hope all is well ." He thought but then all the questions were met with no answers at all. All he could do now was to meet her up if he wanted to find out. Not wasting anymore time, he picked up his jacket from the bed and rushed out, calling out his mother.

"Mum... Mum...Mum.... "He kept calling as he descended the stairs.

"Yes...honey, I'm over here~ in the store room."

I'm going out with Aimscious~ I may be a little late in returning" He called from the door.

"okay , honey, take care and my regards to her...."

"Sure...mum, later." He howled and rushed of the house.

AIMSCIOUS' HUT

Dashing out of the room with the speed of lightening, she hurried down, dazzling in her pink blouse coupled with a purple jeans. Just when she got to the door, Solidad, who was now exiting from the kitchen, noticed her.

" Where are you going so early ?" She queried with a surprised gaze, making her pause at the entrance.

"I'm going out with Mart... not sure of the time I'll be returning but make sure to eat and take your medications, okay?". She smiled and hugged her mother.

" Alright...my dear, just take care of yourself and don't stay out too late". Solidad smiled.

Just when she turned to leave , her phone start rang. Attaining to it, she hurried out.

"Hello, Mart, I'm coming. Will be with you soon". Solidad stared as she faded out of her sight.

DARLING RESTAURANT

It's past 30mins since he arrived at the said venue but then, there's still no sign of her at all which got him even more worried. Just when he drew out his phone to call her, he noticed a familiar figure approaching~ mesmerized by the approaching, he smiled.

" Good morning , Mart, sorry for keeping you waiting". She greeted on closing up on him.

" I'm... okay" He smiled. " You're looking gorgeous in that ,Aims". He complimented and she blushed, gazing away,shy.

" oh no, he can't see me like this. This is so embarrassing ". She whispered to herself.

" So...why did you call me here with so much urgency~what's the problem? "

" Um, yeah, that~" She stuttered, bringing herself together. " I had a call from the fire service department saying, they've found out the cause of the fire. And they want me to come over for further information ". She explained.

" Let's go then. What are we waiting for". He urged and they hurriedly left off.

FIRE SERVICE DEPARTMENT

Mart and Aimscious finally arrived at the office. Finding their way to the secretary, they requested to meet Mr. Franklin.

" Do you have any appointment with him?" She asked.

" Yes, he called me this morning to come by the office". Aimscious replied, nervous.

" Okay, excuse me~let me call and inform him that you are in". They nodded their response with a faint smile as Mart gently rubbed her shoulder, to calm her. Reaching for the telephone, the secretary called his office.

" Hello, sir, some people are here to meet you~ they said they had an appointment with you".

" Who are they" A voice from the other side of the phone replied.

Swiftly, she signaled them for their names of which Mart spontaneously gave out their names in a faint voice. With a nod, she turned back to the call.

" Miss Aimscious and Mr. Mart, please".

" Okay, okay, let them in". The voice responded and hanged up of which her gaze was suddenly turned on them with a smile.

" You may go in now... third door on the right " She urged them.

" Okay, thank you". With that, they hastened off.

MR. FRANKLIN'S OFFICE

With a knock on the door, a voice called them in. Aimscious gently opened the door and stepped in with Mart following suit.

" Good morning, sir" They greeted of which they were showed to their seats.

" Oh, Miss Aimscious... welcome~ Mr. Mart, have a sit". Pulling on a good smile, a tough one as that , they settled in.

" Sir, you called and informed of the progress of the investigation" Aims begun.

" Yes, yes, um... as informed earlier, we've seen the cause of the fire and the culprit but it gonna be very difficult to bring him to book."

" Why..?" They growled in displeasure. " Why that.... why can't the law deal with the culprit~ this is a murder case we're talking about here. Is the person bigger than the law?" Aims barked with both anger and pain.

" Doesn't the law go for all? " Mart asked with a shocked look, disappointment sagged through him.

" It does but this person we're talking about is one of the big men in this town who influences a great deal and it will be very difficult to bring him down" Mr. Franklin cautioned.

" Who is he" Aimscious angrily asked, her throat thickened with sobs.

" He's Mr. Simon".Mr. Franklin replied.

Rendered speechless for a moment, her body felt leaden and grief shattered her.

" How can I forget.... " She sobbed. " he once threatened dad~ How could he be so wicked?" She cried. Brushing off the tears in her eyes, she vowed. " This is the the end of it, Simon... I promise, I'll one day bring you down. He'll never go scot-free for what he did to my family ".

With sobs, she barged out of the office in anger~ Mark thanked Mr. Franklin and hurried after her, calling.

Aims...! Aimscious....!! wait, Aims!!