Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Chapter 16 Trapped

Tony was tensed already in the interrogation room. Prior to his arrival at the police station, he had deleted all the messages and images linked to drugs from his Mexican boss, also removed all implicating content from his room. He had a clean cut and suited up, even when Kate and her mother ran into him they barely could recognized him. He was clean to the socks. Kate beamed with smile and wowed his tactics.

The door creaked open and Inspector Fred walked in to have the seat opposite Tony. He examined his specimen for a few seconds, “Tony Rightman,” he called and scribbled on his pad.

Tony’s heart raced like a ticking time bomb, as he struggled to keep a long face.

“You were with Kate on the night of the party,” he said and gave a responsive look.

“Yes I was favored to be selected by her in the game that came through,” he responded and tried not to lock eyes with him because each time he did his whole body jerked as egg in a steamy kettle. He fought to keep calm.

“You smoked and took some alcohol I know. Party is not fun without vibes.”

He blinked, “It was not a music fest or a club. It was a birthday party for the coolheaded.”

“Are you convincing me that the coolheaded don’t smoke or drink alcohol?”

“I was with her shortly before I headed home so if she had smoked or drank I wouldn’t have known.” He blinked and kept to his long face.

“Who is she to you?”

There was a brief silence before Tony answered coldly, “My school mate,”

“Nothing more,” said Fred.

He cut in, “Nothing less.” In his head he prayed Kate to forgive him.

Fred gazed upon his specimen for one bit before throwing the next question, “What if I show you a CCTV footage that caught you stealing the gold watch and tape that night would you be awed?”

Tony was tight-lipped at once. He held back his response to understand if it was a skim or not, “if you do I would ensure you kiss Queen Elizabeth on your death bed.”

“That would be a nice parting gift from a dirty boy,”

“Hell no, police. I am as clean as whistle. You are with the wrong guy.”

Fred snorted. In his career as a California Police Detective he had never been pulled into a case as challenging as this. He perceived his specimens had not told him something, starting from Brian to Tony. In other to harvest more fact for his investigation he greed within himself to appoint a detective to watch Brian closely over there in Miami and he was going to extend same expertise to Tony, Kate and Mrs. Fanny; he would watch them closely.

Next on the queue was Kate. As Tony walked out of the room, he threw his gaze away from Kate and Mrs. Fanny so as to avert the suspicion of having a thing with Kate.

Kate sat across the table as Inspector Fred started off his interrogation with a wide smile which Kate did not return. She held a long face, stroked her ponytail and grinned.

“The game that came through on your birthday gave you the veto power to pick a temporary companion.”

She shook her head in confirmation

“And when you picked it was Tony, did you stage it?”Fred asked.

“Why would I stage a name that was picked at random? What if I had chosen your son or you or any of your goddamn relative what would you have said?” She was apprehensive yet dared not to show it.

“Your dad said you wrote the names yourself. For all I care you could have written only Tony’s name since he is the hero that melts your ice; your lover.”

“That I am in love with Tony doesn’t make him the only subject of a game. Brian’s name and that of many guys were there too.” She replied, feeling to glance into whatever he was scribbling on his pad.

“In love?” asked Fred, “Who is he to you?”

“Tony is my F-factor,”

“What is F-factor sounds like the acronym for foolish factor.”

“My boyfriend,”

“Talking about Brian, who is he to you?”

“He is my schoolmate or better put a no body.” She winked and felt her shoulders rising into the sky; spiting Brian was enough reason to be grateful to hate.

Inspector Fred sensed it was only Tony that had denied his affair with Kate. Brian had confirmed to dating Kate likewise Kate confirming to dating Tony. He perceived a war in the love triangle. He gave a deep, inspective look at Kate and saw reasons to question Tony’s affair with Kate. All he saw was an affair of deceit and total submission between Tony and Kate. He had the urge to book a slot for Tony on second interrogation which would be conducted by a panel of detectives.

“You can go,” he told Kate.

“Feel free to call on me should there be a need for it,” Kate remarked and had a walk.

The door creaked open and Mrs. Fanny walked in majestically stood before Fred who then directed her to sit.

“You are not supposed to be here, Mrs. Fanny,” Fred mumbled, “But for the camera you discarded without the knowledge of your husband. Now tell me why a mother and a wife would discard a camera with sensitive footage, without the knowledge of her husband?”

She had been staring into the floor and when she raised her head; her eyes were already welled with tears as they trickled down her cheeks. She said in sobbing tone, “Trust me Fred, it has nothing to do with the stolen gold watch and tape. That very camera was not in good shape. It was damaged and not functional so I discarded it, hoping to replace it,” she responded.

“Where did you discard it?” asked Fred.

She sniffled, sighed and lied thoughtfully, “I – I,” she stuttered, rolled her eyes and muttered, “I disposed into the waste bin at home which was collected by the waste disposal agent.” She felt would have posed much an implication if she had mentioned she disposed it into the lake down their street. Inspector Fred, according to the news making the round could pin anyone down in ways least expected – and he could go into the lake to search out the camera.

Fred smiled cheek to cheek, shook his head and dug his hand into his suit, pulled out his phone and said, “Mrs. Fanny, your husband has a special gift for you.”

“What – what gift are you talking about? If he does he wouldn’t be passing through you. The last time I checked you were not Santa Claus.”

Fred turned on the video on his phone and showed her. She flinched in shock and gagged upon seeing the video. Shamefully, she bowed in shame; unknown to her Mr. Fanny had planted a secret camera in the bathroom, aside the camera she discarded.

“Now Mrs. Fanny can you tell me why you discarded camera footage of a naked boy washing your naked daughter in the shower?”

She started wailing uncontrollably. But then disaster was calling by the corner.