“But mother, I hated her. You should be glad for me not boss me around!”
“You will keep quiet and do as you are told. Understand?”
“But mom...fine I’ll go.”
“That’s better. Now eat your breakfast.”
Time had passed by and John had finished interrogating Pete.
“Thank you for the help Mr.Trokan I’m sure we have a few helpful clues now. Sam, send in the maid!”
“Inspector John, remember, you promised to find the culprit. Don’t forget.”
“I never forget my promises.”
Four hours later, Sam entered the room. By this time, all the suspects were interrogated.
“Inspector, now how are we to figure out who is involved in the murder?”
“Sam, friend, I have not been put in charge of this case to beat about the bush. Why do you think I am an ‘inspector’?”
“What exactly do you have in mind sir?”
“Book the Grand Tutalla Hall for Saturday evening. Make it look like an elegant, formal party. Invite everyone we have interrogated today. I want to find out who seems the most fearful of me. They are the suspects. Set up cameras all around the hall. Include some in the washrooms too. You may begin immediately.”
“Wow sir! What an idea! I’ll get into it right away.”
The next evening, the Grand Tutalla Hall looked sensational.
“Sir, who seems the most suspicious to you in your verdict?”
“Sam, the fun has just begun. Just wait and watch.”
BAM! BAM! BAM!
“Sam! Give me more ammunition! You cover me I’ll get the shooter from the back!”
“Got it, sir!” John crept behind the tables and rolled across the floor. His black suit, shoes and hair merged with the ground, so he was hardly visible. He stood up and hid behind a pillar. Then he climbed up the stairs that led to the second floor. Next, he ran to the other side of the room, which led him to be right above the shooter. Then, he held on to the curtain, and used it as a rope to slide down, landing on the shooter. The shooter collapsed and fell down unconscious. Inspector John thought the case was solved until the shooter received a text message reading ‘Rick, Kill inspector John,’ and it was from a person called ‘Boss’.
They took the criminal to the USALAD headquarters. They seated Rick in Interrogation Room 2.
“Sir, what do we do? The interrogation is ineffectual. Rick isn’t talking. Any ideas?”
“Sam, does he have a wife?”
“Yes sir, he does. Why?”
“It’s what I call blackmail.”
“Sir! I am speechless. You are a true prodigy.”
“Yes, I am.”
Down the block on Judie Avenue, a man was talking on a pay phone.
“Meet me at Strailey’s Café. It’s important.”
“Sure.”
Back at the headquarters, Rick was terrified.
“No! Don’t harm her inspector. She’s innocent! Please, have mercy! I’ll do anything to make you let her go.”
“Tell me who sent you.”
“I can’t. Please understand….. No! Don’t shoot! Please…..Ok! I’ll tell you. It was…It was Pete Trokan. Now please let my wife go!”
“Let her go. Thank you my boy, good job. Sam, make sure he isn’t allowed to leave the building or call anyone. Pete shouldn’t know. Get to it right now.”
“I’m on my way. You heard him pal. Get up…..”
“Pete, Pete, Pete. You don’t know what you’ve gotten yourself into.”
An hour later, Pete was tracked down and arrested.
“You can’t do this to me. I’m irreproachable!”
“Pete, we’ve got enough evidence against you. We’ve also got legal permission to arrest you. There’s no going back now. But, why did you do it?” Pete hung his head down in shame.
“I wanted to murder Sierra so I would get all her money and then I would run away and marry Carla Sorrike. We planned everything at Strailey’s Café. But, I guess it’s all impossible now. What are you going to do with all the money?”
“Sierra signed a document saying that if she dies, all her money should go to charity. So even if you were never involved, you wouldn’t get a penny. Everything you did was such a big waste Pete. Guards, take him in. Put him into holding three.”
“This isn’t over yet John, it isn’t over yet!”
“Yell as much as you can, it isn’t going to help.”
Two weeks later, at California International Airport, a couple was hastening to catch their flight.
“Hurry up! We might miss the flight!”
“Give me a minute!”
“You should have seen the way you faked your death. It was splendid.”
“Why do you think I am an actor?”
“Poor Pete, no one knew I hired him. Sierra, hurry up!”
“Coming John, let’s go…..”
