“Keep me posted,” Carlson said and disconnected.
Kiara knew Carlson’s job was on the line, but convincing Jake about the seriousness of the affair was an entirely different problem.
She kept thinking about Carlson’s words on the timing of Rafael’s death. It was indeed intriguing and had opened lots of possibilities.
As she walked back to the bedroom, she saw Jake and the other officers putting Rafael’s belongings in a box.
“Did you find anything?” she asked Jake.
“There are some old diaries. Apparently, he was running a bakery for the last ten years. The diaries have his daily earnings data. Then there is his driver’s license, lease to this place, and his passport.”
Suddenly, something struck Kiara. She walked hastily to the box and almost pushed Jake aside.
“What are you doing?” the officer asked angrily.
“Wait a minute,” she said. She shuffled through the contents of the box and pulled out the passport. She glanced through all the stamps and finally stopped at a page. “Well, this makes our work easier.”
Jake looked at the officer, who had no clue about Kiara’s behavior.
“What’s happening?” Jake asked with confusion.
“We need to leave,” Kiara said and threw the passport back inside the box. “Let us know the autopsy results,” she told the officer and came out of the bedroom. Jake looked at the officer one more time and then rushed out.
“What did Carlson tell you that’s making your eyes gleam with excitement?” Jake asked as they came out of the house.
“Well, he gave me a theory, and I believe it’s given us another lead,” Kiara said while walking towards the car.
“What theory?” Jake asked.
Kiara stopped and looked at him.
“What if he died before the kidnapping?”
“I don’t understand.”
“The dead body looks old—maybe four days old,” Kiara explained. “If that’s right, then it means there was someone else who knew about the plan to kidnap Cynthia. They eliminated Rafael and kidnapped her themselves.”
Jake thought for a moment. “But, we know who is behind the kidnapping. The ransom call came from Lorenzo Oldani. It’s immaterial who his local contacts are. He’s the big fish.”
“That’s where it becomes interesting,” Kiara said while opening the car door. “I also felt the same way initially. But, then I thought if Lorenzo was not the original person behind the kidnap, then why did he take the trouble to make sure that Rafael’s number was being carried around while they were keeping an eye on the Hansens’ apartment?”
Jake understood what Kiara was pointing at, and he was equally stumped.
“Yeah. He was dead by that time,” he said softly. “Maybe, it was just there to mislead us, and maybe they carried it to Rome also for the same purpose.”
He was about to say something when Kiara interrupted. “I also thought that maybe he was the fall guy, and his phone was there to deceive us, but he actually made the trip to Rome.”
“That’s why you checked his passport,” Jake said, realizing Kiara’s intent and turned on the ignition. “We need to research it further.”
Kiara nodded and started typing a message on her phone.
“Whom are you texting?” Jake asked as they drove by the market.
“Bob. As you said, we need to research this point further,” Kiara said. “I want to know why Rafael took pains to go all the way to Italy. I want to know which places he visited there. I’m pretty sure he has something to do with Lorenzo, and his phone location will help us find that out.”
“That doesn’t make any sense,” Jake said. “If he worked for Lorenzo, they why would Lorenzo get him killed?”
“I have no idea either, but there is some link that we’re missing right now. It doesn’t look like a typical kidnapping anymore,” Kiara said.
“You understand that we’re assuming that Rafael was murdered and that too before the kidnapping,” Jake said as they came out of the main street.
“The timing and the manner in which he died may be an assumption, but the reason for which he traveled halfway around the world has to mean something,” Kiara said.
“Yeah… we have no other leads anyhow. So, let's chase this one,” Jake said.
Kiara nodded and looked out the window. The whole day had gone by, and they were still as far from securing Cynthia’s release as they were twelve hours ago. She just hoped that they were at least thinking in the right direction.
Karl Bennett was cursing his luck for agreeing to work for Shirley Campbell. What felt like a lottery initially had now become a trap, and there was no way out. He was dealing with a powerful client who knew his weakness: his finances were in dire straits, and his illness meant he didn’t have much time with him either. He knew whatever money he could collect in the next year or so was possibly the only money he could’ve for the rest of his days.
He had spent the whole afternoon with these thoughts while he waited for Amy Brook to leave her house.
He heard the front door opening at around five. He hid his face behind a newspaper and kept looking from the corners of his eyes as Amy stepped out of her house. She was carrying a small bag with her and was speaking on the phone with someone—maybe with Shawn Hansen, he thought. He just hoped that she’ll take her car and would be gone for a few hours, so that he would have enough time to screen her house thoroughly.
His hopes were dashed as she locked the door and then walked to the other end of the street. As soon as she disappeared at the corner, Karl jumped to his feet and crossed the road quickly. He kept looking around the street while fiddling with something in his pocket.
As he reached the steps leading to Amy’s house, he kneeled down and pretended to tie his shoelaces. He looked around the deserted street one more time. The only sounds came from the vehicles plying on the adjacent road. Once assured, he took out a Swiss knife from his pocket and raced up the steps to the door.
He knew he didn’t have much time, and his nervousness was further increased as he noticed that the lock was way more sophisticated than he had anticipated it to be. He tried, but the lock didn’t budge. He kept trying, but to no avail. Sweat drops glistened on his brow, and as he was about to give up, he finally heard the sound of a click. He thanked his stars and pushed the door gently.
He scanned the hallway while closing the door behind him.
There was a bedroom on his right and a small living room at the opposite end. He thought of going through the living room first. A small study table at one of the corners drew his attention. He opened all the drawers, but besides some books and stationary there was nothing in it. A laptop on the middle of table attracted him, but it seemed to mock him for being a computer illiterate. If only he had learned some hacking, he wouldn’t have to break into people’s house. He gave a muffled grunt and walked to the other end of the room. A small cabinet in the corner behind the couch looked promising to him. He opened the cabinet and took out a journal lying behind the music system. He shuffled through the pages, but besides some phone numbers he couldn’t find anything else in it. As he kept it back, he noticed some envelopes stacked on one of the corners. He grabbed them and scanned all of them immediately. Besides the bills and receipts, nothing significant was there.
He was disappointed, and he thought of going through the bedroom. As he was about to close the cabinet door, something struck him. He pulled out the envelopes one more time and looked for Amy’s phone bill. He scanned the bill for a moment, and that gave him an idea. He kept it inside his jacket pocket and closed the cabinet.
As he walked to the bedroom, he heard footsteps from the other side of the main door. He waited for a moment, but as soon as he heard the sound of a keychain, he rushed to the back door. He stepped out into the backyard at the same moment as Amy entered the house. It took her a moment before she realized that the back door was open.
She looked at it for a moment and
then walked to the living room. She placed her groceries on the table and walked to the door. She looked out the door towards the backyard and then towards the street, but besides an old man with a blue jacket walking to the other side of the street, she couldn’t see anything else.
She shrugged, returning her attention to the door. “Must have forgotten to close it,” she mumbled and bolted it from inside.
Karl looked back and saw her closing the door. He knew she had seen him, but he was sure that she wouldn’t have possibly noticed that he broke into the house. At any other time, he would have informed his employer about getting spotted by his target, but with Shirley Campbell, the less said about his slip, the better. He pressed the phone bill from outside the jacket and took out his cell phone reluctantly.
He scrolled down to Shirley’s number and took a moment to plan what he was going to tell her. He just hoped that the phone bill was enough of a proof against Shawn Hansen, and his ordeal would end with this call.
“What took you so long?” Shirley asked.
“She … she wouldn’t leave the house,” he replied in a frail voice.
“Don’t give me excuses,” Shirley retorted. “What did you get?”
“Her phone bill,” Karl said in a low voice.
“What would I do with her phone bill?”
“There are three numbers that she frequently called last month,” he explained. “Maybe, one of these numbers is Shawn’s.”
“Of course it will be his number. She’s his secretary,” Shirley said in a berating tone. “You’re more stupid than I expected you to be.”
“But … I thought—” Karl tried to say something but was cut short by Shirley.
“Leave the thinking part to me,” she said before going silent. Karl hoped that she would fire him for his incompetence, and he will be out of his misery, but he was wrong.
“You may be a lousy detective, but you’ve given me a great idea,” Shirley said.
“What … what idea?” Karl asked with fear in his eyes.
“Shawn’s phone number in her phone bill may be a weak proof, but Shawn’s account number in her bank statement would bring him down,” Shirley said. “You get me her bank statement, by today.”
“I … I can’t do that,” Karl said at once. “That is not part of my job. If you want, I’ll give your money back.”
“You’re not in a position to negotiate, Karl,” Shirley said firmly. “I know you need money. If you get me what I need, I will pay you five times the agreed amount.”
Karl’s face turned pale with fear. He knew what she wanted was illegal, but it was also true that he desperately needed the money. Still, he wasn’t sure how he was going to do what she wanted from him.
“How will I get her bank statement? She’s inside the house,” he said.
“I don’t know how you will do it, and I don’t even care. You bribe the security guard … the manager or if required the CEO of the bank, but I need the bank statement by today!” Shirley shouted. “Just pray that you find his account number in her bank statement, or I’ll make you hold a gun to her head and make her confess her affair with Shawn. I don’t have the time and the patience to deal with your ineptitude for long.”
Before Karl could’ve said anything, Shirley hung up. Karl’s whole body shook with fear. Shirley had acted like a chameleon, keeping her true color hidden in the background and now slowly she was displaying them one by one. But, she was right about one thing. There was only one way to end his ordeal; by bringing the proof she needed.
CHAPTER 5
While Karl was struggling with his job, Kiara and Jake were waiting for the information on Rafael’s visit to Italy.
Carlson was still in his office, and Kiara knew he wouldn’t leave without making any headway in the case. To add to their woes, the news of the ransom demand and the identity of the kidnapper had been leaked to the media by an unknown source. It was being speculated that Michael Campbell had used his contacts to build pressure on the Italian government. It was also being broadcasted that Lorenzo had gone into hiding after the news of the kidnap had become public. Carlson was trying to alleviate his boss’s concern for the last two hours on the phone. Jake and Kiara, on the other hand, were playing a waiting game. Bob had already told them not to disturb him till he was satisfied with his research.
“This sucks,” Jake said while shaking his head. “It feels as if the whole department is working on one case and the other cases have taken a backseat.”
“You have the option to make their lives easier by solving this before Cynthia goes missing forever,” Kiara said while staring at the screen of her computer. “She seemed to be enjoying her life, though. And, surprisingly, she was happy about the fact that they were spending only a few hours together every day. According to her, it was making them want each other’s company even more.” With that, she looked at Jake. “These are her words, not mine.”
“What are you reading?” Jake asked and walked to her desk.
“Her blog,” Kiara said and turned the computer screen toward him. “Apparently, her blog was more than just a way to pass the time. She used to give relationship advice and had a decent following too. She has even mentioned about her Euro-trip and how she thinks that a change of scenery is a nice way to spice things up in an old relationship … again her words, not mine.”
Jake took the mouse from her. He clicked on the Archive tab and scrolled down. “This is strange. There’s no entry on the day she got kidnapped.”
Kiara understood what Jake meant and was equally surprised. “Shawn said that when he texted her the last time, she told him that she would be working late that night on her blog.”
“Here are the details of the locations where Rafael’s phone was carried,” Bob said, bringing them out of their thoughts.
“What?” Kiara asked and took a moment to snap out of her thoughts. Jake, on the other hand, turned around immediately and snatched the folder from him.
“Any clues?” Kiara asked Bob while Jake opened the folder.
“I didn’t get time to analyze anything. It’s late. I need to leave. Besides, I haven’t eaten anything for the last two hours,” Bob said and left before they could’ve asked anything else.
Jake kept looking at his 250-pound frame with disbelief. Kiara, on the other hand, had glanced through the first page, and her face lit up as she finished the last paragraph.
“Our suspicion was right,” she beamed. “It’s Shawn Hansen.”
“You understand that this is going to change the whole course of our investigation,” Carlson said in exhilaration as he went through Bob’s report. “Anyway, it will make my life easier and that’ what matters.”
Kiara was equally ecstatic, but Jake wasn’t convinced yet.
“So, Rafael met Shawn Hansen in Rome. What else do we have? We can’t take him into custody based on just that,” he argued. His words made the victorious smile evaporate from Carlson and Kiara’s face.
“This is good enough to bring him in for interrogation. Instead of question him in his apartment, he’ll be with us. Once here, we can grill him to our liking and maybe he’ll confess without much effort,” Carlson replied sternly. Kiara hoped Jake had taken the clue and would stop challenging Carlson’s viewpoint. But, Jake was not that great at taking hints, and no one knew it better than Kiara.
“We should start the interrogation immediately,” she tried to steer the discussion in the relevant direction, but it riled Jake even more.
“Or, maybe, we get some more concrete evidence before questioning him. There are still a lot of things that don’t make any sense,” he said firmly.
“They will make sense once you start interrogating Shawn. Don’t undermine my authority, and do what I just told you to do,” Carlson retorted and looked at Kiara, who nodded in return.
“But…” Jake tried one more time before Carlson interjected.
“Get him away from me,” Carlson shouted and looked at Kiara.
Kiara held Jake by his arm, but he pushed her hand away and stormed out of the office. She looked at Carlson one more time who was shaking his head and left.
“What were you doing?” she asked as she reached her desk.
Jake gave a broad grin. Kiara looked at him with disbelief and then shook her head.
“You behaved like that just to make Carlson uncomfortable?” she asked.
Jake nodded. “I still think he’s an ass for making us work like a personal army of these rich people.”
“But, now he’s ordered us to go after one of them. Doesn’t that make you feel that he isn’t scared of them?” Kiara reasoned.
“He ordered us to go after the weakest guy among the Hansen and the Campbell families. By now, he would’ve given a detailed report to Michael Campbell and gotten a pat on his back like a lapdog,” Jake said.
“That’s harsh. Carlson is a man of integrity and won’t bow down to any pressure.”
“We’ll see,” Jake said and got up. “Let’s get the hot shot investment banker to our abode first.”
By the time Shawn Hansen was brought in for questioning, it was already half past nine in the evening.
“He doesn’t look too disturbed,” Carlson asked while looking through the observation mirror.
“He’s quite a confident guy. We may have a long night ahead of us,” Kiara replied. “His lawyer may be arriving here anytime.”
“Or, maybe he knows that we don’t have anything to support our charges,” Jake said, making Kiara cringe.
“What’s your problem?” Carlson asked looking into Jake’s eyes.
“Nothing … I … I’m just saying that Michael Campbell is a very powerful guy. He’ll put an army of lawyers to protect his son-in-law,” Jake said and moved closer to notice Carlson’s expressions.
“No, he won’t,” Carlson said blankly and looked at Kiara. “Let’s get started.”
Kiara nodded and looked at Jake. With that, they walked to the interrogation room.
Davenport Mysteries 03-Perfect Crime Page 5