"Officer Connor, it's a pleasure to have you here." Clara said as she welcomed Connor in her abode. "Thank you Miss Clara. I was wondering whether Andrew was here, I have his phone to give back." In his hand Andrew's phone gleaming. "Of course, I'll just get him."
It wasn't long before Andrew came into the scene, his eyes locking with Connor's. "Andrew, your phone. I knew that it was a hassle for you but we're done with it." Connor turned to face Clara and from her face, he could conclude that she was in the dark. "Miss Clara, are you aware of what happened to your daughter?"
Clara's face turned grim before shaking her head. "No, I do hope that you are making progress with your work." Connor glanced back at Andrew. 'Looks like he really didn't tell her what happened.' He let out a deep breathe before looking back at Clara.
"I'm a bit unsure of how to present this to you but we have managed to make contact with Lara and her kidnappers." The news lighting up Clara's face for a second before the pause in Connor's words washed away any excitement. "Oh, that's good to hear. So when will the case be over then?" Andrew hadn't left, his neutral face something Connor would steal glances at from time to time.
"Well her kidnappers are demanding a staggering amount of money and from Andrew's testament earlier, it seemed that they've began on torturing her. Going as far as plucking her fingernails and cutting off some of her fingers." Clara fell silent and her shift was palpable. "I was unsure of how to tell you this but I had to Miss Clara, don't worry. We're working to ensure that Lara doesn't have to endure another second of torture ever again."
Clara was still speechless, her lips dry as a look of disbelief was now etched on her face. "My dear daughter… I can't believe that this is real…" Clara looked at her shaking palms, wishing that what she was hearing was nothing more than a bad dream. "It's bit sudden to tell you this and I wanted to wait so that we could tell you some uplifting news."
Connor looked at Andrew, his presence felt distant to the conversation that unfolded. "I thought that Andrew would have told you already after his testament at the precinct." Andrew looked at Connor before looking at Clara who had now slumped to the ground, her figure crumpling into a figure. "Please tell me that all of this is a bad dream."
Her murmurs met with gazes of concern from Connor and apathy from Andrew. "I'll take my leave Miss Clara. I promise you that we will find Lara and make sure that the people behind this pay for what they've done." His departure was slow before shutting the door.
Clara was still sprawled on the floor, Andrew still seated. "I'm sure that all of this will get better aunt Clara." Clara didn't react to his words, still processing what she was told by Connor. "I can't believe that she's going through such a hellish experience. I wish I had been more fierce when she ran away but I gave up. Andrew…" Clara turned to face Andrew who was casually seated.
"...I abandoned my own daughter. I failed my duty as a mother. I don't even know whether I'll see her again." She covered her face with her hands as tears began to cascade down her cheeks. Andrew sat in the sombre atmosphere, his gaze scanning Clara's figure, similar to how he was looking at Claire when it was revealed that Pauline was dead. "I'm sure that she'll be fine. A bit bruised but fine overall."
His words doing nothing to ease Clara and he didn't bother any further as he made his way back to his room. "I can't believe that I failed….I'm a terrible mother.. What kind of mother am I to let my own daughter suffer such a fate. I should have been stricter with her. Dear…please forgive me…" Her confides and teary snuffles only she could hear.
"Mom!" Kevin who had his usual haggard face quickly turned into concern when he saw his mother tearing on the floor. "Mom, what happened?!" His hands wrapping around her figure. "Lara… She's-" Kevin could barely make out what Clara was saying with her tears. He looked around, the neatness of the house confirming Andrew was around. "Where's Andrew?!"
His tone laced with fury, her mother in distress pointed at his room. Kevin rose and rushed to confront Andrew who was busy absorbed in her books. "What are you doing studying when my mother's crying? Could you show a bit more heart?!"
Andrew didn't put his books down, his half lid eyes not even glancing at his intruder. "She's crying and I'm giving her space to do so. She'll grow tired eventually." Kevin heard his tone, unhurried and calm. "Even as something as being there, I'm not asking much from you. All you had to do was be there for her."
Andrew placed his book down, his focus now shifting outside. "I can't connect to her the same way you can so go back and comfort your mother. Besides, other than torture, they won't actually kill Lara so quickly." Kevin was dumb founded, staggered with how Andrew was so nonchalant with the whole ordeal. "How can you be so dismissive of Lara being tortured, treating it as no big deal?" Andrew didn't give his response, his eyes dropping back to his book.
"Sometimes I wonder why you came if you would be so distant with us." Kevin said before going back to his mother. Andrew didn't look back, absorbed in his book.
. . .
"What did you find in his phone before giving it back?" Maya inquired as the two were in Freddie's Diner, already done with their order. "Surprisingly nothing other than what we already know. He and Charles haven't talked with each other after the five hundred million deposit." Maya narrowed her eyes, her fingers rhythmically tapping on the wooden counter. "Are you sure with what you're saying?"
Connor caught off guard with her suspicion. "Of course I' sure or do you not believe me?" Maya gave a shrug as the waiter took their empty crockery back. "I mean you were the only one who has seen Charles in person, what's to say that you haven't been bought off and kept on running this case just to give the illusion of justice? After all I find it hard that you would risk your niece back then if there were actual stakes involved."
Her words eliciting a groan from Connor. "I don't have the time to convince you. Whether you believe me or not is up to you. Though I do have a question, you wouldn't happen to know anything about Lara's kidnapping, would you?" The question making Maya raise a brow. "No, why?" Her tone certain as she leaned forwards, adjusting the strand of hair that obstructed her vision.
"Well with what we are doing, I thought that her kidnapping would be another way of inflicting pressure on Andrew but I guess I was just overthinking it." Maya let out a short laugh. "Please Connor, I'm not a monster to do something as inhumane like that." Her words making Connor show a deep frown.
"But using barely legal college students as proxy to identify something we don't fully grasp isn't inhumane?" His sarcastic words killing Maya's easy going air. "What we're doing is for the greater good Connor. You know that with such cases lives of some bystanders usually tend to be ruined. We don't wish for that but it happens whether we like it or not. Or do you have a better plan that I'm unaware of we could use."
Connor looked away, taking in the diner which was now more full than before. "That's what I thought. I'm sure you did what's necessary with his phone." Connor slid a flash stick that Maya didn't hesitate on picking up. "I'll catch you later then." Connor watched Maya get in her car and drive off.
He too planned on leaving before something that popped up in an earlier conversation came to mind. "Hey, Olivia, with such changes happening to the diner and with a slow business, I hope you don't mind explaining how you managed to get the money." Olivia sunk her head which attracted Connor's interest. "What? Don't tell me that something's off goes on here. If you come clean I'm sure that I could-" Olivia cut him off, her tone uncertain.
"The money was from a client who was rather rude and overbearing! I really don't want to talk about it!" Connor now with more questions than answers pressed on. "What kind of client hands over money after being rude? Especially if it can change the diner like this I take it that it was a very rich one, no?" His mind began to race. 'Could it be Andrew? But so far he hasn't presented himself as being overbearing in any way.'
Olivia stayed silent, her eyes darted all over before one of the waiters shook her out of her state. "Olivia, we have other people to end to." Connor however cut her off, clear that he wanted answers. "Tell me who was it or I have this diner shut down for investigation." Olivia let out a short sigh, the waiter quickly fell silent as he rushed over. "I'm sorry for offending you officer but we have a business to run here. This is our means of income and shutting down could severely hurt some of us.
Connor kept his fierce face, his tone adamant. "You people got money out of the blue from one of your clients and the basis for it are a bit sketchy. Can you blame me for being suspicious?" The man understanding turned to face Olivia. "Just tell him already of that guy who was hitting on you." Olivia paused before her lips parted.
"It was some rich guy, blonde and red eyes who came here. Loaded with a nice car. He harassed me and gave me money, said that it was his form of apology before telling me that if I came to regret my decision of not taking his offer of leaving my life and going with him that I should…end my life." Connor showed a look of concern.
"Did you report this to the station? What was his name? His looks?" Olivia was fidgeting with her fingers, unsure of whether to confide or not. "His name was…I think Charles. He had golden hair, bold crimson eyes and dressed rather lavishly. At the time he had another person with him. I can't remember the other person's name but he barely talked." Connor was stunned, feeling that it was unlikely the two he had pictured in his mind would be at a place like this.
"The name of the other wouldn't happen to be Andrew, would it?" Olivia brightened up, her tone certain. "That was his name. The two were very odd, especially that Andrew person. Charles gave him a lot of money and left." The stream of information made Connor subconsciously take a few steps back, his grip on Olivia loosening.
'So it was them.' He concluded in his mind before looking back at Olivia. "What did the two talk about?" Olivia shook her head, citing she couldn't quite remember. "Well thanks a lot. If any of the two happen to come here, make sure to give me a call." His words followed with a card slid to Olivia. "They've never came back here after that but I'll call you if they do."
Connor rushed to his car before driving off. "Looks like the two have something sketchy going on with them then." The male waiter from back then chimed in. "I guess it was good that I didn't take his offer then." Olivia sighed before going back to her job.
'If the two were really there then they must have talked a lot way before I grew suspicious of Andrew and before I got in touch with Kevin. No wonder their chat logs were empty other than the deposits. By now it would be a waste in trying to figure out where they would meet.' Connor mused as he sped back to the precinct.