“Better than yesterday and please call me Cynthia,” she said softly.
“So, Cynthia. You understand that we’re here to ask a few questions to the both of you.”
Cynthia nodded. “Please go ahead.”
“We would like to know what exactly happened on that day,” Kiara asked as Jake pulled out his journal. “Besides you, no one knows the exact manner in which the events took place.”
“I usually write my blog in the night, and even that night, I was writing till two in the morning. The maid … Sylvia usually comes around seven daily. She knows that I work late night, so she doesn’t disturb me. That day, when she came, I did hear her entering the apartment. I must have dozed off when she left. Around eight o’clock, I woke up and heard some sounds coming from the hall. I thought Sylvia was still there. I came out to check, but … but he was waiting for me. As soon as I opened the door and walked into the hall, he came from behind and put a kerchief on my face. I remember him speaking to someone on the phone before I lost consciousness.”
“Are you sure there was only one person in the house?” Jake asked with surprise.
“I am not too, actually. But, I heard only one set of footsteps,” she said thoughtfully. Jake noted it down.
“You were held captive by two boys. Anything that you noticed while they were around?” Kiara asked this time.
“I was mostly unconscious. But, they used to feed me when the effect of the sedative wore off a little,” Cynthia replied. “They used to call someone. I heard the name Rafael from them quite a few times.”
“Rafael was Lorenzo’s local contact. As you may be aware, he died of a drug overdose,” Jake said.
“He deserved to die,” Shawn said at once. “That bastard.”
“I suppose you two have spoken about the reason for the kidnapping?” Jake asked in reply to Shawn’s outburst. Shawn’s face turned pale with fear, and all the anger evaporated at once.
Cynthia looked at him. “I understand that my husband had some financial trouble at work and had taken Rafael’s help to reach out to those people. But, he has every right to despise that man.”
“You understand that had your husband not used Rafael’s help to meet Lorenzo, this would’ve not happened,” Jake said firmly.
“You can ignore his comments,” Kiara said and looked angrily at Jake.
“Look, I know I screwed up, and I can’t change the past,” Shawn said in guilt. “But, the good thing is that Cynthia has come back safely, and Lorenzo is in police custody.”
Jake shook his head in frustration and raised his hands. “I am sorry.”
Kiara knew how difficult it was for him to apologize to someone. At least he was playing as a team.
“Mr. Hansen, I understand that you’re going through a rough phase. You had financial losses that led to Cynthia’s kidnapping, and it also brought into light your personal affair…” Kiara said and stopped midway though it was more of a planned stop. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
“I … I don’t want to talk about it either,” Cynthia replied before Shawn could’ve said anything. Cynthia’s face had turned red with anger.
Kiara knew they had to wrap it up before they were told by Shawn to do so. Carlson just needed a report, and any further questioning could bring the actual agenda of their meeting to his notice.
“I understand you’re still recovering. We’ve asked everything that we needed to know. I’ll just summarize it, so as to make sure that I haven’t missed anything,” Kiara said.
It worked, as Cynthia nodded and looked at Shawn. “Please, go ahead,” he said.
Kiara looked at Jake’s journal and thought for a moment.
“So, we know the motive, we have the list of the people who were involved in the kidnap, and we also know all the events in chronological order,” Kiara concluded.
“Yeah,” Jake smirked.
Kiara ignored him for the time being. “Just one last question, though it isn’t directly linked to the case. But if it ever comes up, we’ll be in a position to defend it.”
“Okay,” Cynthia said.
“Do you have a joint bank account?” Kiara asked, looking at them.
“It’s about the money transferred to Amy, isn’t it?” Shawn retorted. “How many times do I have to tell you that she has nothing to do with it? Isn’t that clear?”
“It is now,” Jake said in a low voice.
Kiara stood up. “Everything is clear now. The report will be filed by tomorrow, and the case will be closed once and for all. We’re sorry if we posed some uncomfortable questions. We will take your leave now.”
“I … I will guide them to the door. You take some rest,” Shawn said.
“Okay,” Cynthia replied.
With that, they walked to the hall. As Jake and Kiara were about to step out, Jake noticed that Shawn had something on his mind. He gestured Kiara to stop.
“You want to say something, Mr. Hansen?” he asked, looking into Shawn’s eyes.
“Yeah … I understand that you need to file a report. But, can you keep Amy’s part out of it? Already the media has made a mountain of a molehill, and I don’t want to add to Cynthia’s woes. I hope, you understand what I mean,” Shawn urged.
“Don’t worry. The report is confidential, and nothing would go out. Besides, there is nothing in it that the media or anyone else outside doesn’t know by now,” Kiara assured him.
“Mr. Hansen, you might have been offended by our questions, but they were not even one percent of what you’re going to be asked by the media during the press conference today.” Jake dropped his guard a bit. “I would advise you not to go ahead with it.”
Shawn’s face turned pale with a scare. “It’s … it’s not under my control. Cynthia wants it, and I’m in no position to put my point across after what I’ve done to her.”
“We understand Mr. Hansen. You take care. The worst part is over,” Kiara reassured him.
“Not for me,” Shawn said, looking at them. “Anyhow, thanks for everything.”
“Goodbye, Mr. Hansen,” Kiara said and turned to the elevator.
Shawn kept looking at them till they got in the elevator. Though, the air conditioning was set on full, Shawn’s face was covered with a sheen of sweat. He looked at the clock. He had only half an hour left before the press conference. He took a deep breath and walked to the bedroom.
“What was that all about?” Kiara asked as they walked out of the elevator.
“What are you talking about?” Jake feigned ignorance.
“You know very well what I’m talking about,” Kiara said.
“You’re talking about all the events being in the ‘chronological order’?” Jake asked while making air quotes.
Kiara smiled. “I couldn’t resist it. They don’t even know that Rafael died before the kidnapping. How could those boys be possibly speaking with him after the kidnapping?”
“That mean, our guess was right. She isn’t telling the truth. She said everything that was told to her at the hospital by the Campbell family,” Jake replied. “Also, we were right about the bank account. Shawn’s outburst means it’s a joint one. Besides Shawn and probably Amy, Cynthia also had the access to it.”
Kiara nodded. “She also knows something else that she’s trying to hide, and that’s why she avoided the question about Amy.”
“She won’t be able to hide it for long, though,” Jake replied. “You noticed the photographs kept on the chest.”
“Yes, the family removed her from the photos, but she still has feelings for them,” Kiara said as they got into the car.
“Then you didn’t notice what I noticed,” Jake said while pulling the seat belt. “There was not a single photograph of her mother in the collection,” he said.
“So, the feeling is mutual,” Kiara said and turned on the ignition.
“Yep,” Jake said and looked at her. “Where are we heading?”
“Karl Bennett’s house,” Kiara said
as they drove past the main gate. The whole area was deserted and that surprised Kiara. There was not a single reporter, only hordes of parked media vans.
“Shoot,” Kiara said and looked at her watch. “Shawn’s press conference starts in fifteen minutes.”
“You want to go back?” Jake asked.
“No…” Kiara said and passed her phone to him. “The news channels will be broadcasting it live. Besides, the way Cynthia conducted herself, it may not be that scandalous. They may not even talk about the divorce in the public.”
Jake nodded. “You have Karl Bennett’s Journal with you?”
“It’s in the glove box,” Kiara said while looking at the road.
Jake took out the journal and read it while Kiara concentrated on the driving.
“It’s time,” Kiara reminded Jake, who was engrossed in the journal.
“It’s already started,” he said and increased the phone volume. “He’s reading from a piece of paper.”
“Keep quiet,” Kiara gestured.
“We are very happy that you came here, and we expect you to keep supporting us the way you have done throughout this tumultuous phase of our life,” Shawn read out loud.
“He’s massaging their egos,” Jake smirked.
“He saved his company from their scrutiny. This is no different to him,” Kiara replied.
“The last few days have been very tough on us. As you all know, Cynthia was abducted by the Italian Mafia for ransom. It led to a lot of speculation across the country, and that resulted in a lot of rumors. Initially I … I was being projected as the one behind it, and it was linked to the way we got married. I understand why someone would think like that, but I want to make it clear, once and for all, that the people behind the kidnap have been caught, and the reason for the kidnapping was ransom and there is nothing else to it.”
“He’s saying what everyone already knows.” Jake said while shaking his head.
“No, he’s setting the foundation for the main announcement. He just wants to garner the sympathy first. It is going to be interesting,” Kiara said with a smile.
“There were also some speculations about our relationship. I know this is a stormy phase for both of us, but our relationship is not so weak that it can’t bear a small jolt like this. So, I want to make it clear, that we are together in this, and we will remain so for the rest of our lives. I request you all to put this matter to rest and please spare our families from any further stress and suffering.”
“What?” Jake said with surprise. Kiara was equally shell-shocked.
“She forgave him?” Kiara asked. “How’s that even possible?”
The media also had a similar reaction. All their hopes were pinned on a scandalous divorce, but this was an anticlimax.
“Mrs. Hansen, have you forgiven him for cheating on you?” one of the reporters shouted.
“We don’t have to answer anything. We just wanted to release a statement. Please spare us from further embarrassment,” Shawn said and got up. Cynthia followed suit.
“Mrs. Hansen, are you under family pressure to continue this relationship?” another reporter asked. Her words brought tears to Cynthia’s eyes. Shawn put his arm around her and escorted her out of the hall.
Jake locked the phone screen. “She definitely is under pressure. Maybe, Michael Campbell doesn’t want bad publicity during the elections.”
“Or, maybe she has actually forgiven him,” Kiara said and pointed at a small house at the corner. “We have reached our destination. So, let’s concentrate on our work now.”
“So, that’s it. She’s going back to her old life just like that,” Jake said as Kiara parked the car.
“Sometimes, people work out such things. Or, as you said, this isn’t the right time for them to separate. Firstly, they have to protect their family’s image and secondly, if they file for a divorce now, the media circus will continue for another six months. So, it’s better not to give any fodder to the media for some more days. And, when the media moves on to another story, they can separate without garnering any publicity.”
“The media won’t spare them even then, but you’re right: it won’t be a big news.”
“Anyhow, that’s their headache. We should get down to work,” Kiara said as she glanced around the neighborhood. “No point in going inside Karl’s house. It must be clean by now. I’ll check with the people on the right. You take the houses on the left.”
Jake nodded. “I just hope that they don’t have a dog.”
The area was very quiet, and all the houses looked old and of poor condition. Jake had to knock five times before he heard some movement from inside. An old woman opened the door slightly and looked at him with question-filled eyes.
“Ma’am, I need some information on your neighbor Karl Bennett,” Jake said while flashing his badge.
“How many times are you people going to ask the same thing? I don’t know anything about that guy,” she said and closed the door on Jake’s face.
Jake knocked again. “Ma’am, I just need to know a couple of things.”
“GO AWAY!” she shouted.
Jake tried one more time, but he knew he wasn’t going to get anything out of it. He finally gave up, hoping that Kiara was luckier than him.
And, he was right. As he walked to the car, he saw her coming out of the house. The old man accompanying her looked really happy. Jake knew she had worked her charm again. He looked at the house where he had tried and shook his head in frustration.
“Either I’m always unlucky, or Kiara is right; I lack social skills,” he mumbled.
“Who is right?” Kiara asked with a smile.
“Nothing. What are you happy about?”
Kiara didn’t say anything but walked to the other side of the car.
“What?” he asked in frustration.
“Get inside,” Kiara said. With that, she gave him a piece of paper that had a number scribbled on it.
“You got Karl’s phone number? How did you get that?”
“Let’s get out of here first,” she said.
“Yeah, I know,” he said.
“What about you?” she asked.
“She shooed me away,” he said in a low voice.
“You should learn to speak politely,” she said softly. “Like I am doing right now.”
“Come on,” Jake said in exasperation.
“Okay… Karl doesn’t have a family. He has listed his neighbor as his emergency contact,” Kiara said. “I just had to show the badge.”
“You always get lucky,” Jake said ruefully. “Anything else that he said about Karl?”
“Well, according to him, because of Karl’s disease, he refrained from going out. But, of late he had been out of his house for long hours.”
“Because he was following Amy and Shawn,” Jake said. “Anything else? Anyone, he saw coming to meet Karl.”
“He didn’t notice anyone coming to his house. According to him, Karl conducted all his meetings from his one-room office in the adjoining market where we are headed now,” Kiara replied.
“I hope we get some clue there,” Jake said as they entered the crowded market. “Who’ll help us with Karl’s phone records?
“What?” Kiara asked while looking around for Karl’s office. There was a torn signage peeking through one of the shops on the first floor. “There it is.” She pointed and looked around for a place to park. “We can’t ask Bob for help. I’ll reach out to an old contact from another team. We’ll need 200 bucks, though.”
“What? We should report him to the management,” Jake said at once.
“And, he will report us,” Kiara replied while trying to park between two old cars.
“See, I have quite a few contacts within the department, and they go out of their way to help me,” Kiara said as the car came to a halt.
“By taking a bribe?” Jake sneered.
“Yeah, otherwise why would they help? You know, I had to babysit for a whole weekend in return for
getting information about a victim in one of the cases,” Kiara said while shaking her head. “The kids were alright, but the dog—it kept howling the whole night.”
“I get the picture,” Jake said and got out of the car. “Let’s ask for the information together this time.”
Kiara nodded and followed him to the other side of the street. “This neighborhood doesn’t look decent for the Campbell or Hansen family to visit.”
“You’re right, and we’re going to use that to our advantage,” Jake said.
“How?” Kiara asked.
Jake walked to one of the vendors selling used clothes on the roadside.
“Have you seen any big, expensive car here in the last week or so?” Jake asked.
“Yeah … a Mercedes came here four days back,” the vendor said immediately.
“No, it was a BMW,” another vendor joined the discussion.
“No … no, it was a Mercedes.”
“Folks, that’s fine. The point is that it was an expensive car. Now, tell me who was in the car.”
“An old lady wearing a scarf and large glasses … no … shades,” the vendor said.
“She wasn’t that old,” the other vendor pitched in.
Jake turned to him. “What’s your name?”
“Ralph,” he replied with pride.
“Ralph, why don’t you leave us and mind your own business,” Jake said firmly. Kiara was enjoying every moment of the discussion and was looking at them in amazement. Jake, on the other hand, was too miffed.
He turned toward the other vendor. “How old did she look?”
“Fifty-five to sixty, maybe,” he said thoughtfully.
“And, did she go to that shop?” Jake turned around and pointed at Karl’s office.
“Yes. How did you know?” the vendor said in excitement.
Kiara moved a bit closer.
“You’re not supposed to ask questions. Only I get to do that. Is that understood?” Jake said sternly.
The vendor’s face turned a little red.
“If I show you her photograph, will you be able to recognize her?” Jake asked.
“Am I going to be in trouble?” the vendor asked with suspicion. “I’m just a lowly hawker.”
Davenport Mysteries 03-Perfect Crime Page 12
