“What did he tell?” he asked in a quavering tone.
“That I’ll share if you tell me your experience first,” Jake said firmly.
“I won’t. I have already put forth my conditions. First, you have to tell me everything, only then I’ll help you,” Donald replied.
“Okay, then we’re out of here,” Jake said and looked at Ryan, who put his journal inside his jacket pocket and got up. With that, they walked to the door.
“Wait,” Donald called out. Jake and Ryan turned to him. “Okay… I’ll tell everything,” he said while pointing at the chair. “But, I have one condition.”
“We will not have this discussion again,” Jake said and was about to turn again when Donald came forward.
“You don’t know what a stupid mistake you’ll make if you step out of my house without hearing me out,” Donald said. “I’ve been running from the world for seven years. I changed my address five times until I found this excuse for a house. I mean who would want to live here. But, it’s away from everybody’s prying eyes and that’s what I wanted. Still you found me so easily. How? You think I’m stupid enough to not notice that you have kept an eye on my movements since that fateful day. If I’m lunatic, then what’s the need to follow me? I’ll tell you why you have done that– so that my secret doesn’t come out in public. You think I’m a fool not to notice why you are here. It’s difficult for you to accept that there is life outside this planet. You were able to suppress one person like me, but now it’s happening at a regular basis, and God knows how fast it will spread like a disease. That’s why you are here. And, you are threatening me with walking out of my house. That’s a slippery slope. Isn’t it? Either you agree to my terms or I’m not going to tell anything that you need so desperately.”
On any other day, Jake would have laughed at Donald’s belief in extraterrestrial life, but he knew Donald was right about one thing. He had nothing to lose even if they walked out without telling him about the other cases. They, on the other hand, were the one who needed to co-operate if they wanted the information.
Jake looked at Ryan and then at Donald. “Okay. What do you want?”
“First… I want him to wait outside for you. I’ll share everything, but only with you. I don’t like him or his journal,” Donald said while staring at Ryan.
“Well, that feeling is mutual,” Jake whispered and turned to Ryan, who cringed at first but had no choice.
“Unbelievable. At least you should support me,” Ryan said and walked to the door.
Both kept looking at him until he stepped out. With that, Jake turned to Donald, “What next?”
“I have a few questions about this guy…. James Reed,” Donald said with a tense face. “What exactly did he say?”
“He said about the eight Suns…”
“That I know. Every victim says that. Anything else?”
Jake thought for a moment. “He said they are going to come back.”
Sweat drops glistened on Donald’s forehead hearing Jake’s words. He began to shake nervously.
“What happened?” Jake asked. Though, Donald was an odd man, this behavior of his had to do something with James’ last words and that made Jake interested. He waited for a few seconds for Donald to settle down and then pulled a chair opposite to him.
Donald looked at him. “How did the blood loss happen?”
“He had a big cut on his shoulder. It was pretty deep as per the autopsy,” Jake said while pointing at his left shoulder. Donald’s face turned pale at the mention of James Reed’s injury.
“Are you all right?” Jake asked and passed the glass of water to him. Donald lifted the glass with his right hand, but the shaking made it impossible for him to get hold of it. He held the glass with both the hands and gulped the entire water in one sip.
“Your words made the memories of that day come alive,” he said while placing the glass on the center table.
“About that,” Jake tried to steer the discussion in the direction he wanted. “Do you remember anything beyond the eight Suns?”
Donald looked at him. “I was crossing Sedona. I remember my car coming to a halt on its own. I tried, but it won’t start. The day was hot, and I knew I had to get help fast. I got out and saw the town skyline at some distance. I started walking and must have gone a few yards away from my car when everything went dark…”
“What do you mean everything went dark? Like night?” Jake asked.
“No... it was different. There was a large piece of barren land to my right. I could see the horizon clearly, from where I was standing. It was bright there and even on my left, I could see the town bathed in sunlight. But…. but the place surrounding me….. about hundred yards of it on the both sides was pitch black…. As if covered by a dark cloud on a night…”
“Whoa. Let’s back up a little,” Jake said with confusion. “You’re saying that all of this happened in the broad daylight, and no one else noticed it and that too on one of the busiest roads?”
“I don’t know how it happened and why it happened, but it happened all right,” Donald retorted. “Before I could’ve done anything, I lost consciousness. I remember being taken to the ground, some tests being conducted on me, and finally being blinded by the brightness of the eight Suns. I ran to my car with whatever energy I had left in me. I collapsed before I could’ve gotten inside. The next thing I remember is waking up in the hospital.”
Jake got up at once. “You wasted my time, just like you wasted everyone’s seven years back – the time I could’ve utilized in finding the actual people behind this.”
“Stop,” Donald said as Jake walked to the door.
Before Jake could’ve said anything, Donald leaned forward.
“Here. Was it something like this?” he said and removed his shirt from his shoulder. Jake looked at the cut with surprise. “This runs down to the middle of the chest. Isn’t that where his cut end?”
Jake was startled at the look of it. It indeed was similar to the cut he had seen in the pictures of James’ dead body.
“But...,” he said with confusion.
“Yes, I know. This one is not that deep. That’s why I survived,” Donald said and walked back to his chair. He knew he had piqued Jake’s interest. Jake followed him and sat down.
“I was lucky. Someone found me within minutes of losing consciousness. Thirty stitches and a week of monitoring at the hospital saved me. It took me six months to sleep without hurting myself, but at least I’m still alive.” Donald said and started laughing hysterically. “I’m alive, but this is not a life,” he said while looking around the house.
Jake noticed that Donald’s demeanor had changed completely. One moment he was shaking with nervousness and the other he was laughing uncontrollably.
Donald took another minute to settle down.
“You must think I am crazy. I’m not laughing because I’ve lost my mind. I’m laughing at mine… our helplessness,” he said with a smirk. “I’m helpless because no one listens to me even though I have ways to prove the attack that happened on me that night – this cut; clean medical reports; the same experience happening to other people. And, you are helpless because this is challenging your belief, and you don’t want to accept that.”
“What makes you think your medical reports were clean?” Jake asked with suspicion.
Donald leaned forward. “I haven’t had a single drop of alcohol in the last twenty years. Isn’t it implicit that my reports were doctored just to cover-up your department’s incapability in reaching the end of this case?”
Everything that Donald said was confusing Jake. He had come to Pine Hill seeking answers, but each passing moment was adding to the list of questions. Donald was right – many things supported his words, but even then, it was hard to believe it.
He knew if he stayed any longer, Donald would confuse him further.
“Mr. Coleman. I don’t know what the previous investigation team found about your case. But, I’ve just started
out and from what little I have gathered, I know there has to be a link between all the cases, and the link is not what you think it is,” he said just to keep a brave face and got up. “Thanks for your co-operation. I’ll let you know if anything else is needed from you.”
“You’re being a fool just like your predecessors,” Donald said as Jake walked to the door. “If they have said then they’ll come back.”
Jake stopped for a moment but didn’t turn around.
As soon as he stepped out, Donald shut the door forcibly. Jake could hear the sounds of multiple locks from the other side of the door. He shook his head in frustration and looked for Ryan, but he wasn’t around.
“Come on... don’t add to my troubles. RYAN,” he called out, but there was no response.
Jake was about to dial his number when he saw Ryan waving at him from the bridge. He gave a muffled grunt and walked to him.
“Where have you been?” he asked.
“I was looking around for clues,” Ryan said with a smile.
Jake looked at his face. “And, that smile means that you have found something.”
“Oh, plenty, actually,” Ryan said.
“What did you find?” Jake asked as they walked to their car.
“Well, for starters, there is a road on the other side of the factory that looks in a perfect condition,” he said.
“That’s why he has a van,” Jake mused.
“Right,” Ryan agreed as they crossed the bridge. “Also, I found this.” Ryan said and pulled out his phone. “This is the picture of the shed where he keeps the tools. I suppose he does some woodwork.”
“The equipment looks new,” Jake said while looking carefully at the pictures. “We should check what he does for a living.”
“Yeah,” Ryan said tersely. “The trip wasn’t a complete waste of time after all.”
Jake closed his eyes for a moment mustering some courage. “You were right about something else too,”
“Really. What?” Ryan asked with surprise.
“About the possibility of a link between the four victims. There are many similarities beyond the profiles of the victims. The injury marks on Donald’s body are similar to the one on other victims’ bodies. And, if he has seen things that they have seen, then we can get a lead by finding out about the victims’ activities around the time they were attacked. There has to be some commonality,” he said. “I need you to sit with Bob and try to get as much information as possible about Donald and the other three victims backgrounds. We have to find out whom they met or called during the past month.”
“Will do that,” Ryan replied and paused for a second. “Why did he speak to you privately?”
Jake looked at him. “The guy is a nutcase. Don’t bother about it. Besides, he said nothing new. He told the same story he narrated seven years back. You’ve read that in the report. Right?”
Ryan nodded and looked out the window. Jake, on the other hand, was confused about Donald’s story and the injury marks supporting it. Though, he had said nothing to Ryan, he was having several doubts about the nature of the attack after meeting Donald. He thought of giving it a rest for some time. It was better to do the research before reaching any conclusions.
Kiara had reached the division on time and had showed her face to Carlson to create an impression of following his orders dutifully. She had spent the whole morning reading news on her computer. After an hour of staring at the computer monitor, she thought of having coffee.
“So, what’s the plan for today?” Jason asked as she was about to leave her desk.
Kiara looked at her watch that was showing half past ten. Jason had no shame in coming office late even though they had been reprimanded for their work ethic just a few hours back.
However, she had decided not to have any argument with Jason today. She was in the office just to create an allusion and had to leave early without letting him know that she was going to investigate whether her cover was blown or not.
“Hey. I was waiting for you,” she said with a forced smile.
Jason looked at her with surprise. “You look pretty calm after what happened yesterday?”
“I was a bit agitated at first, but now I have decided not to think too much about it,” she said and paused for a moment, “In fact, I will utilize this break by forgetting everything about work. I’m planning to leave today early… may be after the lunch. Some peace and quiet will help me, and there is a great chance that by tomorrow Carlson will pull us out of the case. So, what’s the point in thinking too much about where we went wrong?”
“Exactly my thoughts,” Jason said in exhilaration. “Let’s do one thing. Why don’t you go home early, take some rest and then at night we go out to my favorite bar downtown for a drink?”
“Thanks, but I’ll take a rain check on that,” Kiara said with a fake smile. Jason’s company was the last thing on her mind. However, she didn’t want to make him feel unwanted too. “I’m not too sure about anything, right now. I just want to go home and take some rest to clear my mind before meeting Carlson again tomorrow,” she replied diplomatically.
“Yeah, take your time,” Jason agreed reluctantly, “Can I also leave early?”
“No…” Kiara replied at once before realizing the urgency in her voice, “I mean, if both of us are not here, then Carlson will notice that, and it’ll create a new set of issues. Do one thing…. wait for a few hours after I’m gone and then leave… say around five. How does that work out for you?”
“That works out perfectly fine. What am I going to do by leaving before that, anyway,” he said with a faint smile.
“Well, I don’t know what you can do after five. But, I can tell you what you can do here while I’m gone,” Kiara said and rose from her chair. “Come with me.”
“Where are we going?” he asked with confusion.
“In case Carlson creates a new team for this case, we’ll have to share our findings with them,” Kiara said, “But, we haven’t filed anything yet. We know a few things, but we haven’t done much research. So, I want you to sit with Bob and find some information that we can give to the new team.”
“That’s boring,” Jason said ruefully.
Kiara stopped and looked at him. “It’s not as much work as you think it is. You’ve just to tell Bob what we want, and he’ll gather all the information. Once he gives us the data, I’ll file it. You don’t have to do anything after that.”
Jason nodded. “Got it. But, I’ll leave by five?”
“That’s the deal,” Kiara said with a smile.
As they reached Bob’s desk, they found him lost in his work. Kiara feigned a cough drawing his attention.
“Well, well. Look who is here,” Bob said with a smirk.
Kiara forced a smile, “Bob, need your immediate help.”
“I am super busy right now,” Bob said and pointed at the computer screen, “Your loser partner Jake called a few minutes back. He has given a list of people and needs thorough information about their backgrounds. It will take at least half day for me to do that. So, don’t disturb me till then.”
“Okay, what if you work on our assignment after finishing Jake’s work?” Kiara proposed.
“What will I get in return?” Bob asked.
“Every time. Seriously?” Kiara asked and closed her eyes for a moment in exasperation. “What if I buy you a round of drinks sometime?”
“No, Jake already promised that.”
“Okay. Then you tell me what you want?”
Bob looked at her and then tried to get up from his chair. He took a few seconds to get his 250-pound frame out of it. He gestured Jason to step back who reluctantly obliged. With that, he came closer to Kiara, who was bracing herself for some weird demand of his.
“I’m the best man at my cousin’s wedding,” he whispered, “Can you help me write the wedding toast?”
Kiara looked at him with surprise, “Seriously? Couldn’t you have asked Jake for that?”
“I d
id. But, he said that he wasn’t good at writing such things, and he also said that you would vouch for that. He suggested taking your help. He said the toast needs a feminine touch and people love that.”
“He is right. I still get restless thinking about the toast he made at my cousin’s wedding,” Kiara said and shook her head, “Let’s not go there. I’ll help you, but only if you get me the information by this evening.”
“You got a deal,” Bob said and held his hand out. Kiara shook it reluctantly and looked at Jason, who came forward.
“We have been chasing a guy named Niklas Abele. He is a German serial entrepreneur whose last three business ventures failed miserably, putting him under severe debt. He lost his house, his car, and the little piece of his ancestral land near Munich.
Last year, he opened a chain of restaurants in Munich. But, more than his business venture, the arrangement of the funding made a bigger news. It was a profit-sharing deal between Berkel Holdings, who financed the business and Niklas. It created ripples within the government agencies for two reasons – one, it was Berkel Holdings who approached Niklas with the funds, who as I said wasn’t competent enough to run the business and second, they agreed to settle all of his liabilities from his earlier businesses as part of the whole arrangement. In a nutshell, Niklas had no bargaining power, still every part of the deal went in his favor. ”
“That’s too good to be true,” Bob mused.
“Everyone felt the same way, and a team was set up by the German government to check all aspects of the deal. However, everything was done legally – all documents were in place, and as far as Berkel Holdings showing confidence in Niklas’s ability goes, it’s totally their call. It can’t be questioned on legal grounds. If the business fails, they will lose their investment. It’s as simple as that,” Kiara said.
“But, we’re still pursuing it. That means there is more to it,” Bob said.
Kiara nodded. “Berkel Holdings has a shady past. Around ten years back, one of their major shareholders, Jannik Fischer was convicted of running a Multi-Level Marketing Scheme that was essentially a Ponzi scheme in disguise. Jannik hired a large number of people and made them partners in his business. These people were given very less salary but were promised huge amounts of commission if they brought a large number of customers to him.
Davenport Mysteries 04-Loose Ends Page 4