Chapter 51: Chapter 51

Kash Garza was helped by an officer into the interrogation room in a limp and was made to take a sit on the cold iron chair with a bandage wrapped around his right thigh.

“ Ughh!” Kash grunted as he rested his weight on the cold iron table. The heaviness in his eyelid conveyed he was still in pain even after the first aid he'd received.

Inspector Taylor and Detective Roosen came into the room right after. They stood side by side as the officer held one of Kash's hands and handcuffed it to one of the stands of the iron chair.

The officer made a casual salute to both Inspector Roosen and detective Taylor when he was done and left the interrogation room promptly.

" Thank you, Ronny!" Detective Taylor nodded at him while inspector Roosen headed towards one of the other two chairs by the table and took a seat.

Seeing this, the detective just folded his arms and stood behind, his hand brushing on his armpit gun holster at alert and notice. Heet inspector Roosen do her part as she was the expert in the field of interrogation. His expertise was out in the battlefield after all, not long threatening talks.

Detective Taylor had never been one to work using his mouth, he preferred using his authority, and gun.

“ Kash Garza, A.K.A the phantom. Let's not waste our time here yeah? I only have one question." Inspector Roosen went straight down to business.

" What do you know about the murder of Adam Mash?” Detective Roosens began the interrogation. Her voice demanding and her expression cold and aloof contrary to her previous flippant attitude.

However, she was only met with silence and a ragged breath coming from Kash. But in the expense of the vast experience she possessed in this field, she had already expected this and had prepared a counter measure. She casually switched her gaze to the bandage on his thigh and said,

“ You’re a big man, but I wouldn’t trust that wound wouldn’t get serious the more you delay a proper medical treatment. But if you wish to walk around the rest of your life in a limp, then be my guest…” Inspector Roosen rested her back on the chair as she said and folded her arms, awaiting the result of her actions.

“ Haah! Haah!”

She smirked knowing she had him right where she wanted when his breath became coarser and he raised his gaze to meet hers.

“ Who again?” Kash asked in a dry voice amidst hoarse breaths.

Inspector Roosen smirked hearing this, but quickly maintained her ruthless countenance.

Detective Taylor who stood behind watching all of this unfold fought back the urge to shake his head. He knew everything inspector Roosen had just stated was nothing but a bluff.

The man was bound to get treated within few moments from now and they were only waiting for the medics on their way to arrive. Meanwhile the first aid was enough to keep him talking for a while more.

“ Here... Adam Mash, the warden of Gog harbor corrections center” Inspector Roosen held out a picture of the Broadmoor murder victim. In the picture was Adam Mash, a middle aged tall framed man dressed in casual clothing with a kind smile on his slightly wrinkled face.

Kash slowly switched his gaze to the picture. He took the picture with his free hand and looked at it for a long while before pushing it on the table back to he Inspector. “ I don’t know this man, officer… I don’t even know what this is all about” He spread his palm in protest.

Detective Roosen creased her gaze and showed him another picture, this time its that of Bob Richardson. “ How about this person?”

" Never seen him." Kash answered almost instantly in a honest tone between painful grunts.

" You do realize we have evidence at hand. You should rather make things easy for yourself now or face more time in jail" Inspector Roosen threatened. Her face and tone was serious and without a hint of mockery in them.

" I swear officer. I don't know nothing about these guys! I ain't never seen 'em before" Kash Garza swore.

Inspector Roosen looked behind towards detective Taylor. He seemed just as perplexed as herself, even shaking his head and sighing. They weren't getting anywhere near solving the murder case with this.

Inspector Roosen returned her gaze to Kash and stared at him for long, as if trying to read his mind. Without anything more to question him about for now, she propped herself up using the table, causing the chair to shrill as she pushed it back. She nodded at detective Taylor as they made to the corner of the room.

" What now?" Detective Taylor asked. His hands placed on his waist in a dejected manner.

" We can't give up just yet. I don't think he's lying by the way. Those golden tooth are still intact and our best bet is the results from the forensics on his DNA. In the meantime, we should confirm if the neighbor who tipped us recognizes this guy." Inspector Roosens with her years of experience quickly came up with the next line of action to take. Of course, Kash could be lying.

Inspector Roosen had noticed that his golden tooth were still intact, though, he could have gotten a new one. There was no telling what was what for now.

" Right. I also think-" detective Taylor had to stop on his words when a forensic scientist of the department walked in the room.

" Inspector, detective, there's an update on the Adam Mash murder case. We've crossed check the DNA and found out it doesn't match with that of Kash Gar...za" The forensic officer said, looking between both officers. Seeing that the two had a knowing expression on their faces, he was confused and couldn't help but trail off his words. Sensing a third person in the room through his peripherals, he looked to see the man who leaned over on the table with a bald head. He'd seen that person before.

' Kash Garza!' Realizing who it was, Michael Darrell smiled wryly understanding the reason behind the detective and inspector's expression.

The inspector shared a glance with her partner, her gaze bewildered and with a tinge of embarrassment as if to say " We got the wrong guy, didn't we?"

Detective Taylor's expression wasn't any different, " So it seems. And we even got him shot" He actually lampooned with a bitter smile in his heart.

He looked towards Kash and couldn't help but feel guilty for having shot him in the leg. But if he'd just composed himself and allowed the arrest to proceed he wouldn't have gotten shot after all.

'By the way, why did he have to try to elope if he'd done nothing wrong then?' Inspector Roosen suspected.

" Kash Garza has actually been on the wanted list for series of crimes involving theft and armed robbery..." Michael informed, as if to relieve the embarrassment of both officers as to their mistakes. But the damage was already dealt, there was no helping it.

" So have you got anything on the true culprit?" Inspector Roosen first detective Taylor to ask. The latter could only swallow his words and force his mouth which he'd prior opened to speak close.

" Yes, we do. And we have found some details about him from the files we have on him." Michael confirmed with a determined nod. He handed out the file in his hands to inspector Roosen.

The inspector and detective exchanged glances and nodded their heads before looking in the file.

" Marquis Cortez?" Detective Taylor muttered out loud

" Did you say... Marquis Cortez?" Kash said out loud, shocking the three officers.

" You know him?" Inspector Roosen asked shooting a gaze towards Kash Garza who had sat up on the chair after hearing a seemingly familiar name.

Kash Garza didn't say anything, instead, he nodded his head in the affirmative.

Inspector Roosen, detective Taylor, and Micheal Darrell exchanged baffled glances.

" Get the damn medics here right now to fix him up!" Inspector Roosens ordered Michael.

...