Chapter 10— The Orphanage

Ryan pulled up his navy blue car in front of the 18th house on Doyers street, number 18 was boldly written on the wall of the old looking building and when he looked up, he could see a sign saying it's an orphanage home. He brought out the piece of paper with Lara's details, checked the address again to make sure he was in the right place.

He sighed, "It's an orphanage?" Ryan was a bit confused but he decided to enter the building.

He pressed the button on the door and he could hear the bell ring aloud from inside the house, he waited for a few seconds but no one replied so he pressed the button again.

Ding dong!

"Hold your horses!" A lady shouted angrily from the house with a croaky loud voice.

Finally the door was opened by a fat white lady, she wore a large red dress and there were jewelries on her ears, neck, hands, fingers and one on her nose too. Her hair was wrapped high up with a green scarf, her chubby face was covered with heavy make up; her lips were painted with a bright red colour. She also had a black mole close to her nose and her eyeballs were large and bulging.

Despite her makeup and jewelry she looked like a witch!

"Yessss what is it?!" She asked Ryan with disdain.

"Hi, My name's Ryan Steven, FBI!" Ryan pointed his ID at her.

"FBI?! What have these kids done this time?! Joseph! This better not be you!" She shouted back into the house to one of the orphans.

"I didn't do anything wrong Miss Juliet!" A teenage boy with a masculine voice replied her from one of the rooms.

"You children better ain't be the cause of this or I'll be coming for y'all!" The fat lady thundered at them messily.

"Hey calm down, Miss Juliet! I'm just here to ask a few questions".

"Alright go on!"

"Do you know know this girl?" Ryan showed her a picture of Lara. The lady studied the photo for seconds.

"Oh yeah that's Lara!"

"Is she here ma'am?"

"Oh no she ain't here no more, she and some other naughty kids like her ran away from the orphanage when they were ten years old! Woke up one morning and they were not in their beds". She scoffed. "Years later she came here with her gang, they brought some supplies and some money for the orphanage. Had the guts to threaten me to use the money strictly for the kids!" The lady laughed mischievously, "As if I wouldn't feed the children with the money and supplies, as if I'd let them starve!" She continued to laugh messily. "They come here every now and then unannounced, what has she done this time, that wench!" She concluded and scoffed again.

"She's a criminal— a thief and a murderer! I'm currently investigating her case to bring her to justice!"

"Well you ain't gonna catch her, that's for sure!" The lady laughed and the chubby flesh on her neck danced.

"Why would you say that?"

"She's a witch! A fox! And the five of them would kill for one another, they've been inseparable since childhood. She'll slip right out of ya fingers just when you think you've had her!" She explained and clenched her brown teeth.

"You say there are five of them, could you tell me their names?"

"I don't think she's gonna give you that information easily!" Ava finally spoke through the chip in Ryan's ear.

"I need to concentrate here Ava!" Ryan whispered back.

"I can't tell you anything more Mister, I don't want no trouble and Lara's trouble. I'm putting myself in danger already, by talking to you! You must leave now!" The fat lady replied angrily and began to lock to the door.

"Ok but please here's my card, you should be helping the police you know. Ma'am if you hear anything, keep in touch will ya!" Ryan handed his business card to the lady.

She took the card from him hesitantly and quickly jammed the door.

"Damn it! Another dead end!" Ryan cursed and kicked one of the tires of his car.

"We'll find them Ryan, I know it!" Ava's voice sounded again through the chip.

"Uh– Ava, I'll stop by the station later, I need to clear my head!"

"Yes boss!"

Ryan took out the chip from his ear and placed it into a tiny black case, then returned it to his jean pocket. He got in his car and went for a ride.