by Sandra Ryan
“It is all connected somehow. The person who committed the first crime is probably the person who is orchestrating the cover up.”
“Then why is Mr. Clark not here? Why did he conveniently disappear, leaving his car at the scene of the crime?”
“Seriously Abby, would you hang around at the sight of a murder you are implicated in, waiting for the police to come haul you in?”
“You are unbelievable!” She said.
“You have to believe me on this. I may not have all the facts lined up right now, but there is more to this case than we know.”
“No kidding,” Abby muttered. “What do you want to do about it?”
“I’m not sure. That is why I decided to talk to you.”
“Did you not say that Special Agent Roderick asked you to find Samuel and haul him in?”
“Yes,” He replied, looking away.
“Well, it doesn’t look like you are set on obeying that instruction,” Abby said, her eyes set intently on his face.
She stood up and came to stand before him.
“I am sorry, Kyle. I cannot be part of this. I cannot help you. It is not because I do not trust you. I just do not share the convictions you have about Clark.”
“It is okay. Would you promise that you would at least keep all I’ve told you to yourself till I have been able to sort these things out conclusively?”
She nodded, squeezed his hand and walked away.
Kyle watched as she walked away. He knew there was just one other option left for him. He wondered if he had the strength to do exactly what was required of him.
*******
“What is it? Who is it?” Olga asked on sighting the look on Holly’s face.
“Kyle Burns.”
“The FBI agent?”
“Yup, that one,” Holly replied.
“First, how the hell did you get his number? And why the hell is he calling you?”
“I’m not going to bother answering that first question. As for the second one, how the hell am I supposed to know?”
“Just take the call. I will track to see if the call is being monitored and I would block it.”
“Okay,” Holly said then answered the call. “Hello Agent Burns, to what do I owe this pleasure.”
“I know you are with Samuel Clark,” he said. Holly put the call on loudspeaker and placed the phone on the table between Olga and her.
“I have no idea what you are talking about,” Holly stammered, trying to sound convincing.
“Please do not be coy with me, Ms. Hackett. I know you are harboring a known fugitive of the law, and it is my orders to bring him in. Well, since you are with him it means that if eventually I decide to take him into custody, I would have to take you alongside him too.”
“I see. So what is stopping you from doing that?” she said, leaning back on her seat. She had sensed from the tone of his voice that he wasn’t calling because he wanted to make an arrest.
“Well, let’s say I have some doubts if he committed the crime. I need some clarifications first. Of course, eventually, I may still decide to arrest him but I want to be sure that when I am doing that, that there is no doubt on my part.”
“Are you going rouge, agent Burns? This doesn’t seem to me like a bureau sanctioned endeavor.”
“It doesn’t really matter at this point,” he muttered. She could hear the hesitancy in his voice.
“What do you want from me? What could I do to help prove that Samuel is innocent?” she asked.
“Perhaps you could begin by telling me exactly what makes you think he is innocent in the first place. Even in the face of the murder charges against him.” he said.
She thought about it for a while. She looked at Olga who gave her the thumbs up sign, indicating that the call was not being bugged.
“So, everything I am going to tell you is in a hypothetical situation, okay?”
“Okay,” he said.
“So, hypothetically, what if I was with him the time he got to the scene of the murder? That would mean that I am his alibi for the time the murder was committed. ” Holly replied.
Burns seemed to consider this for a while.
“This is all a hypothetical situation of course,” she reminded him when he was silent for a long time.
“I get that. I am just processing this hypothetical situation of yours.” He said. “Now, even if I am to agree with you based on this scenario you just painted, it still isn’t enough to get him off the hook. If it proves anything, it would be that he wasn’t the person who committed the murders, it does not mean that he did not kidnap the boy.”
“Well, in that hypothetical situation, what I would do would be to look for some evidence which would prove him innocent not just of the murder but also of the kidnap too.”
“Okay, Ms. Hackett, can we cut to the chase already? Please tell me what information you have gathered regarding Mr. Clark’s innocence.”
She gave a small laugh.
“Frankly, I was getting tired of the hypothetical nonsense. But, no, I am not informing you of any evidence we have gathered.”
“You may not believe me but I am trying to help. And I am risking a lot by even doing that in the first place. I am trying to be a friend, and believe me, at this point, I may be the only friend you have right now.”
“While that may be so, you are still a police officer and however good your intentions are, I cannot take you up on your offer.” Holly replied
Before Burns could reply Olga reached out and muted the call.
“What the hell are you doing?” Holly asked her,
“I should be asking you what the hell you are doing,” Olga replied.
“What do you mean by that?”
“We have an FBI agent offering to help us and you are turning down his help. Why?”
“The fact that he is an FBI agent isn’t that reason enough?” Holly fired back.
“From all indications the man is working against the express instructions of his superiors which could only mean that either he is a fool or that he truly believes Samuel is innocent. In either case, we need to give him the benefit of the doubt,” Olga said.
“I am not just comfortable working with an FBI agent. Especially one whose job was to find our client guilty in the first place.”
“Listen, Boss,” Olga said, leaning forward in her seat. “We actually do need him. I mean, we haven’t even figured out what we are going to do once we see Anderson. I mean, how are we going to make him talk? It is not as though we would waltz into his house and he would automatically begin to spill his guts.”
She paused to draw her breath.
“We need him. At least he would be coming with a gun,”
“I have a licensed firearm,” Holly countered.
“You know it isn’t the same,” Olga continued. “We mustn’t tell him everything. Let’s just go with him to Anderson’s tomorrow, then we would know what to do from there.”
“I hear you, Olga,” Holly said. She un-muted the phone.
“Hello, Agent Burns, are you still there?”
“Yes, I am,” he replied. “Seems you took a break.”
“Yes. I needed to put things in perspective.”
“Okay. So are you ready to play ball now?”
“Yes. I will tell you everything tomorrow. But first, we would be going on a road trip.”
“Where would we be heading to?”
“We are going in pursuit of evidence. I will fill you in on the rest tomorrow.”
CHAPTER 14
WHEN THE CANARY SINGS
“You drive like an old woman,” Holly complained, turning to stare at the scenery.
“And you drive like a maniac,” Burns retorted.
“I second that,” Olga said from the back seat.
“You are just a sissy,” Holly said to Burns. Then turning to Olga she said, “You are fired.”
“Right. That didn’t quite turn out well the last time now did it?” Olga answered.<
br />
“Fuck you! I only rehired you because I pitied your sorry ass,” Holly said. They both then burst into laughter.
Burns navigated the car through several bends and then they eventually burst into a long stretch of road that had greenery on both sides. They were on the other end of long island, heading towards the beach. The air was decidedly chilly and the trees on both sides of the road swayed in the breeze. There was just one single road that ran from the road to the beach, without any cut at any point. The road was in steep incline so the beach houses that lined the road looked as though they were imposing, as though the occupants were staring down at the house from an imposing height.
“Guys, we haven’t even decided on a course of action. What exactly are we going to tell the man to make him talk to us? I mean, it isn’t as though we could walk into the place and start demanding explanations from him?” Olga asked
“I haven’t been able to suggest anything because Holly here just filled me in on who we are going to visit just about thirty minutes ago.” Agent Burns replied
“Right. And how long does it usually take you to come up with a plan, Mr. Agent?” Olga taunted.
“Don’t be an ass.” he replied. “Fact is, all we have now are mere speculations, and nothing ties the man to the crime. In fact, he has even fewer ties to the crime than Mr. Clark. And we are not even going in an official capacity so he has no obligation to talk to us.”
“So we are basically wasting our time with this journey. Damn! I could be playing my Xbox right now,” Olga said.
“And I could be having a drink” Holly added.
“Unless, of course he decides to confess. Then you would be able to tie him to the case. As it stands now, from all you’ve told me, it is either him or Mr. Benson who is in a position to tell us exactly what went down.”
Holly was silent throughout the entire exchange.
“Are you having doubts, boss?” Olga asked.
“No,” she replied. “It is just that for someone who went through this length to commit a crime for another man how are we ever going to convince him to turn against his boss. Yeah, I actually do think I may be having doubts.”
“You would be surprised,” Burns added, trying to be helpful. “Criminals confess for a lot of reasons. Some of them do that so they could show off to the world how they committed their crime, some others just confess for the sake of it. We need to figure out which works for Anderson and try to apply it to him.”
“Still, I just wish we had an alternative course of action beyond hoping that he would have a change of heart and confess.” Holly said.
The air in the car was tense. They each settled down with their thoughts.
“The cabin is just right ahead.” Olga said.
*******
Anderson Singleton stood on his house’s terrace and stared down at the car barreling towards their location. He had the premonition that the car was coming for him. He could not place why, but he could tell that it was getting to the end of the road for him. And strangely, he felt no panic, no need to run and escape.
What he felt was a deep sense of the inevitable; this was one trouble he knew he could not run away from however he tried. Instead, he focused his attention on the car. The owner had chosen well, it was a jeep. Any other vehicle would have found it practically impossible climbing the steep incline to the building. Also, the driver was driving carefully, navigating every bump slowly. Anderson sighed; the driver drove like his old man, ever careful, ever compliant, rarely making a fuss. That was not how he lived. He was one who was born to live on the edge, to take the risks and rake in the profits or losses. That was what had drawn him to Nathan Benson in the first place.
When they had first met, it had taken Anderson just a few minutes of interaction to recognize the desperation that shone in Nathan’s eyes. He recognized him as someone who was willing to do anything to get ahead. Someone who was willing to break a few rules as long as there was the promise of some quick cash to be made in the process. That resonated with Anderson. He had seen how his father lived, the man had been pious and saintly, but his life had had no visible achievement in it. The only thing he could boast of after years of driving rich people around was that cabin by the beach, and that had even been given to him by a generous patron. Thus when Nathan offered him the job, he had accepted it immediately although there were better offers elsewhere. He had accepted because Nathan held the promise of a luxurious life. When the other demands which did not form part of the job came, he also took it in stride, stifling his conscience till the point where he no longer felt any pricking whenever he did something drastic.
Anderson watched as the car inched closer. They were almost at the cabin. The night before, he had had a candid conversation with his father. He had told the old man everything that had transpired. The man listened as Anderson narrated, without interrupting him even once. When he finished the old man had looked at him with such pity in his eyes, then got up and left. They had not spoken since then.
The door opened and his father stepped out.. He came out to the balcony where Anderson stood and placed his hand on his shoulder.
“It is time. Are you ready? Have you decided on what you are going to do?”
Anderson nodded and turned to leave. His father said to him, “I forgive you.”
“Thank you,” Anderson said, tears flowing down his cheeks.
*******
“I think this is the address,” Olga said.
Burns killed the engine and they clambered down. They could see the beach up ahead. The waves crashed against the shore. The sea stretched out before them, going as far as their eyes could see. They stood beside the car watching the waves, silent. After a moment, Olga cleared her throat and said,
“What are we doing?”
“Quiet!” Holly hissed. “You do know how to spoil the beautiful moments.”
“Not to spoil the fun or anything, but the lady is right; we do need to get going,” Burns said.
“Right. You both really need some more beauty in your lives,” Holly said, walking past them and marching towards the door.
She knocked on the door twice before it swung open. They found themselves staring into the eyes of an old man. He walked with the aid of a cane, and his grip on the wood was slightly shaky. He was immaculately put together; he had on a white shirt over a pin stripped pair of trousers. He peered down at them over the rims of his glasses.
“Hello, how may I help you?”
“My name is Holly. We are looking for one Mr. Singleton.”
“I am Mr. Singleton,” the old man replied.
The trio shared looks between themselves. It wasn’t possible that it was this old man who had committed the murders. He didn’t even seem like he could walk ten paces without aid.
“We are looking for Mr Anderson Singleton” Burns said.
“Well, the lady should have been clearer,” the old man said. “My name is Silas Singleton.”
Please follow me.”
Silas led them into the living room. They could barely make out the old man who had led them in. He had sat on one of the seats near the fireplace. He did not offer them any seat.
“You did not tell me the names of your companions,” the man said.
“Sorry, my bad,” Holly replied, flustered. “This is Olga; she is a colleague from work. And this is Kyle Burns.” She deliberately did not say anything about him being a cop.
“He is a cop, isn’t he?” the old man asked.
“Yes I am,” Burns replied without waiting for Holly.
“I have been around cops long enough to be able to spot them a mile away. I am however curious that the young lady omitted to include that very vital detail. However how may I help you?”
“We do appreciate your hospitality sir, but we are here to speak with your son. So if you could point us to where he is, we would be out of your hair in no time.” Burns’ voice had acquired an edge to it.
“This is my house, agent so
I reserve every right to inquire why you are here. I am an old man but I do remember quite clearly what the rule about such etiquette is.” The old man did not seem to be offended in the least by Burns’ tone. He spoke evenly as though he had spent years mastering the art of controlling his temper.
Holly held Burns on the arm, preventing him from speaking. Then she smiled, hoping that the man would be able to see the smile from where he sat, even in the darkness.
“What Agent Burns here is trying to say is that what we have to discuss has to be with your son directly. I am afraid we cannot share that with you,” Holly said.
“I am afraid also that you may have wasted…”
“It is okay pops,” a voice said from the darkness. A man stepped in from the shadows and then flipped a switch and the room was suddenly flooded with light. Holly could see instantly why the man had left the room in darkness; he was sweating and shaking all over.
“I am Anderson Singleton. I understand that you are here to see me?”
Anderson was a younger version of his father. He had the same strong chin and hooked nose.
“I told you to stay out of this,” the older Mr. Singleton protested feebly.
“It is fine, pops,” Anderson reassured his father again. “Please can you state your business?” He looked at the three of them one at a time.
“My name is Holly Hackett. I am a private investigator. This is my colleague Olga and Agent Kyle Burns with the FBI. We would like to ask you some questions.”
His eyebrows had lifted when Holly mentioned that Burns worked with the FBI.
“What is this matter connected with?” He asked.
“It is concerning the missing Benson baby.”
“I am afraid I do not have anything to say to you concerning that particular matter. I mean, it is unfortunate that something that horrible happened to my boss and his wife but I have no particular knowledge about the incidence.”
“Mr. Singleton, the life of a baby is at stake right here. We would appreciate if you could help us. At least hear me out.” Holly said.
“The young man says he has nothing to say to you folks. I think you should take your leave right now,” Silas Anderson said. There was hatred shining in his eyes.