Chapter 132: Chapter 132
Jason called all the car rental companies around Lake District with the plate number of the abandoned car but it was not till the last one did he find the company that hired out the car to one Mr. Smith Stonewall.
Jason knew that the name was fictitious. He went through his documents and files to see if he could get a picture of Richmond so as to show it to the man and find out if he was the one who rented the car. That would be a damning evidence against him.
When he couldn't find any including newspaper clippings, he called the company again and asked for a description of the man Stonewall.
The description the manager gave him was not of Richmond. Jason knew instantly that he must have sent someone so as to cover his tracks.
He was determined to go there though and find out who it was by going through their documents and CCTV footage.
But he wanted to go to the airport o see if he could find anything familiar.
He stayed at the airport till both flight to London left.
He went to the car company and the picture of the man he was shown was nothing like Rodney but it didn't mean that Rodney couldn't have sent him because no other person had any motives to kidnap Nancy.
Of course he had seen Alfred at the airport and they had both pretended not to know each other just in case they were being watched. But they gave each other a sign that they would be in touch.
Jason had had such high hopes that he was going to find them today. He felt discouraged and useless.
He decided to follow his advice of the night before and think.
If they had not gone, then they definitely would be lodging somewhere.
Where could he conveniently hide an unwilling captive?
Hotel? Nancy was not the type to keep quiet, she would have made a racus and the hotel management would have had no choice but to bring in the authorities.Except of course she had been threatened or permanently inniberated.
The thought made him sweet because he knew what he could do to her in that state. He would just keep going in and out of her and his goons knowing that she wouldn't know what was going on would also take advantage of the situation if Rodney was not in.
If not a hotel, then it couldn't be a motel.What of a private lodge? Where no one can hear nor suspect anything?
Jason felt sure that that the place Rodney will have kept Nancy.
He didn't know the lodging he should look for and if they got wind of it, then they would run and he would have to start his search afresh.
Before he did anything further, he decided to go to the police and report the case.
He did not know why he had not thought of it before now but maybe it was because he thought that he could easily find them.
He went to the police station and asked to speak with the inspector directly and not to the constable who was there.
His position in the society gave him the privilege to see the inspector.
'Yes, what is your complaint, Mr Campbell?'
'I want to report a case of abduction!'
'Abduction? Of a child?'
'No. Of a young lady'.
'Well, you had better tell us all you know about it, Mr. Campbell'.
Jason realised why he had not wanted to go to the police. He did not want the issue blown out of proportion in the event that the situation could be salvaged without much publicity especially since he was a public figure. But if this was the only way to get Nancy back, then to hell with the publicity, the most important thing was that she was back safe and sound.
'A young lady who was in my care went out on a date with a young man last night and I happened to be there with them but as they were going home, the young man was attacked and the young lady abducted. The young man and I tried to follow the car, the perpetrator was fleeing in but we lost it'.
'How is the young lady related to you?'
'She is my.. eh my personal secretary and she lives in my house as well'.
'Do you have any intimate relationship with her?'
'Inspector, with all due respect, where is this line of questioning going? I already told you we have a professional relationship and she went out on a date with a young man and you are asking if I have a personal relationship with her? That is the only time you will do your job?'
'Okay if you do not feel comfortable answering the question.
I asked because it is odd for you to go out on a date with your secretary and her boyfriend. But since you would rather not answer the question, can you give us a description or a photo of the young lady in question? We would also want to ask the young man a few questions as well. This would help us in our investigation.
But remember that you will not be helping the investigation if you with hold any information from us because it may hamper the progress of our search and investigation'.
Jason knew that he spoke the truth and decided to come out plain. Afterall, he had decided to go to the authorities, so he had to do all he could to make the investigation a success. Though he would still carry out his in the background as well.
He told the inspector about Richmond's visit and all that transpired.
He told him of Alfred coming to take Nancy out on a date and how he was skeptical about it because he was scared that such a thing could happen and that was why he had tailed along.
He did not tell him the efforts he and Alfred had made a d the moves he was still making.
They should carry out theirs while he also carried his out secretly.
He told them where Richmond lived and where his office was and also told them that he felt that they had not left for London yet because he believed that he knew that they were on his trail and might be lodging somewhere.
He decided to divulge this particular information because he felt that the police had the resources that he did not have to search the hotels and lodgings in Lake District.
It would be faster with them and the hotel management and lodgings would easily give the police access than an individual like him no matter how popular he might be.