by Shayne House
“Forget an evidence. I have an eye witness.” He finally told the chief and walked out.
Collins followed him outside. “You have an eye witness?”
“And I am going to get her.” He quickly got in the Impala. Collins had a slight idea of their destination but still felt surprised when Fox, after fifteen minutes of drive, stopped his car in front of the log cabin.
The person who opened the door was not what Collins could have imagined.
It was Ursula Bates.
“Miss Bates!” Fox said politely.
She nodded in return and let them enter. There were dark circles under her eyes and her face was full of fears and worries. She looked thinner than her pictures and older within span of few weeks.
“Mr. Fox. I heard about your success last night. Congratulations.”
“Thank you but that success is incomplete because of you.” Fox said dryly.
Ursula took a deep breath. “You already know everything then why ask me?”
“I want to hear it from you: the first-hand story.”
“I saw him-Alex with a girl I knew. She was my friend's daughter spending a lot of time here under the pretext of getting an internship. He knew me as an author, and he actually invited me to his room thinking I would appreciate his ‘art’ and became a part of his world. He wanted me to become his supplier to lure girls and bring them here. He had already had agents in the local schools. I did not know what to do, so I turned to Richard. Then the blackmail letters started and I became scared. One day, Tim told me as a joke that it was him sending those letters. I was so scared that I assumed he also worked for Alex. Later, Richard cleared that it was not him. Alex kept sending Peter to my place to coarse me in submission. I kept misleading him for months-giving him false information of the students. During those days, I wrote My Loathsome Liege where I gave a lot of clues in the hope that someday it will be read and people will get to the truth. Finally, Alexander gave me an ultimatum to either join their racket or get ready to be exposed. At that time, I applied for transfer but told Alexander that I was getting transferred by the administration in an effort to buy some more time. It was just sheer coincidence that I found Richard on the way and when we were having coffee at the motel, I said as a joke that what would happen if I get vanished right now. He instantly liked the idea as it would draw the federal police to Pitmedden. I could not afford to go through the toll plaza or would have got captured on a camera, so he asked his friend, Whittle, to bring his steamer to bring me here.”
“Where is he now?” Fox asked thoughtfully.
“I don't know.”
Fox observed her carefully. “I know you are afraid of Alex but we need an eyewitness. There is no case without it.”
Ursula looked at them with fearful eyes.
“What are you afraid of?” Fox asked politely.
“I will get sacked by the school if they know about my work.”
Fox assured her. “Your secret is safe with the police. You will also get the witness protection. You have nothing to worry about.”
◆◆◆
Collins was really in a bad mood on their way back home because he did not get a chance to catch Richard. Nancy silently listened to their conversation sitting in the back seat.
“I can't believe that guy is not a villain.”
“Remember your first observation about him? Dionysus and what he did to Pentheus. He drove his mother mad and made her kill her own son. While, Richard turned his daughter mad and turn against him.”
Collins startled. “He was the one drugging Rebecca?”
“It was her mother packing her medicines, mind it.”
“Ursula, Richard, Flora and Whittle; they all planned it together.” Collins said thoughtfully.
“Not Flora. I don’t think she knew what Richard wanted. She was just trying to please him. She would never go against Alex knowingly. Even now she had given a sob interview to a tabloid wishing him best of luck.”
“My Christmas has been ruined.”
“Mine too.” Fox agreed. “I hate these high-profile criminals. Arrest one and then answer a hundred calls explaining the clues and evidences. By the time, the accused reach the court, the entire country get to know every single detail of the crime and a thousand innocent explanations for it.”
“I want to go on a vacation to take out the taste of Dionysus from my mouth.”
Fox laughed heartily. “Where?”
“How about the RailCoast? I have heard stories about the legend of their local lighthouse.”
The End.
THE WORLD OF FOX
Imagine a metropolitan city with all its nuances, add some love of aesthetical interiors and green living. This is the world of David Fox.
He may be a hardcore detective with no sympathy for shrewd criminals, but he also had a sensitive side which appreciates nature and find comfort in warm friendships and interiors.
His relation with Collins Hemsworth may looklike of a standard hero and his loyal sidekick, but it is not true. If David Fox is an investigative machinery in himself then Collins give that machinery a sense of humor and a subtle recklessness. He is the much-needed spontaniety needed in the carefully crafted world of Fox. He is the sunlight that sneaks through the plush curtains covering the windows.
Let there be light!
Voila!
AUTHOR NOTE
Thank you for reading!
I hope you enjoyed reading the book as much as I enjoyed writing it. You can always ask me a question about the David Fox Series by sending me an email on [email protected].
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In gratitude,
Shayne House
BOOK # 2: HIS RESTLESS SOUL
AVAILABLE ON PRE-ORDER
The lighthouse of RailCoast was said to be haunted for centuries.
Inspector David Fox learned the backstory of the haunting firsthand after a fishing trip gone wrong with his police colleagues at the RailCoast. The old town of RailCoast hid many secrets within along a deadly trail of a treasure which was lost centuries ago.
When Lord Ryller who was an old friend of Fox offered his help and his palace to Fox and colleagues to unveil the mystery of the haunted lighthouse, Fox began his hunt.
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