- Miss Ross! I need you right now.- my head quickly turned to welcome the newcomer.

Janet Harter, resident of the same building I reside in. She entered just like a wild wind, that reminds me. Is it spring already?…

Her voice took place again.

- My brother had been killed, **_he_** did it. You have to attend the judge. Please, Natalie, please.- she didn’t even take breath between words and her tears were flowing down like a storm.

- Janet, please, calm down and explain yourself. My condolences for your brother, I’m sure he’ll rest peacefully in heaven.- I sat down with my back straight and looked at the papers on the table, more cases, being a lawyer is not an easy job.

- **_He_** did it, Natalie. I’m sure **_he_** did it.- She took a deep breath before starting to give me all the information.

Anthony Harter, 23 years old. I remember how I’ve chatted with him many times, a very old resident and a nice guy, even though he was quite a troublemaker sometimes. But it was just because he couldn’t keep any of his thoughts and opinions to himself.

It seems this last afternoon, he was found dead between the woods around the village. Wearing the same clothes he had when he disappeared two days ago, covered in bruises, many broken bones, without some teeth, with all his belongings and his face destroyed. Almost unrecognizable.

Cause of death: heart attack.

The police discovered he died yesterday, but the bruises were even older than his death. So the beating was the day he disappeared.

- Okay. - I sighed and rolled my head, analyzing the situation. - so, you said you had a suspect.

- No, no. I have _the culprit_. Because I know **_he_** did it! - The rage grew on her voice as she spoke - **_He_** always hated Tony and **_he_** was jealous, very jealous of him. It’s obvious **_he_** did it.

- Do you have any evidence? - I sharpened my eyes, this is the first time I see Janet like this.

- No… but I’ll find evidence. Police don’t believe me but that doesn’t matter. - she stopped talking and it seems she started dissociating, her eyes settled on an empty point as she straightened her face.

- I see… and who are we talking about? - I softly took a sip of my coffee, crossing my legs below the table.

- **Dimitri** - I stopped right there. My mind travelled to another place… another time. - The one with the hazel eyes. Do you remember him?

. . .

Oh those eyes, how can I not remember them?

It started that autumn weekend, I didn’t expect anything special, just a normal autumn weekend. Nothing to do and nothing takes place.

But my afternoon got quite busy with extra work and it seems god had something planned already. It never happened, not even once, in all my short life… the bakery was closed.

The bakery I used to go since I was a little kid was being closed, and there is when I knew something was off. Because these things never happen, these things are not meant to happen, right?

Before I could get a little bit angrier, some leaves fell off besides me, I didn’t bother to take a look at them. But they were not the only thing that took place next to me without calling my attention.

I sighed in disbelief as I watched the bakery workers taking everything out to the front, where a truck waited for them. Maybe I stared more than I should have done, because a warm hand touched my shoulder, making me snap out of my thoughts and turn around.

There, next to me and a little bit higher, I looked deep into those eyes, those sweet eyes that looked at me so softly and kindly. Eyes with the color of the pure autumn: leaves falling since the cold wind needs to get rid of them for the winter to arrive. That subtle and beautiful combination of bright, living green and dark, dying brown.

- Hey… I’m new at the village. May I ask why do you look so in distress? Can I help you out? - the sweetest voice I’ve heard and then… his smile.

I think those eyes were just the prologue, because that smile was even brighter than any other star I’ve ever seen, brighter than the sun itself and brighter than the post who illuminated us that afternoon when we first hung up.

. . .

- No. - I softly said, looking at the floor.

- What do you mean “No”, Natalie? - Janet quickly answered, looking quite confused.

- What I’m trying to tell you, miss Harter…- I softly sighed - I can’t accept your request and I won’t take place against him in the judge. - I politely declined her request.

- I can pay you twice, I swear, but please, defend my brother. He has to be—-

- I think you haven’t understood me, Janet. The problem is not the money. - I sighed, reclining myself on my seat and closing my eyes. - it’s just that…

_Those eyes don’t belong to a killer. _

__