Chapter 4 :
Lorence's house
8 hours missing
After ending the call with Vivian, Jack arrived in front of the Lorences' house. He knocked on the door, and Mrs.Lorence soon opened the door.
-Oh Agent Malone. Have something new? Mrs.Lorence asked.
-No, but I'd like to ask you some more questions.
-Of course, come in.
They went to the living room and sat on a sofa.
-Have you saw anybody walking near the house a man with a beard, about 40 years old?
-Huh... no... Why?
-Because the school bus driver saw a man looking at Celia very attentively.
-Wait a minute, you said a man with a beard and about 40.
-Huh... yes... Jack answered with a confused look.
-He looks like the postman who gave us a parcel for Celia.
-When was that?
-The day before she disappears.
-Do you know where the parcel is?
-It must be in Celia's room.
-Okay, I'm gonna see.
Jack stood up and walked towards Celia's bedroom. He opened the door and started to search it. And he found it behind her bed. He opened it and found a teddy bear and a letter next to it. Then he took the letter and read it.
FBI, missing person unit
Jack entered in the office a box in the hand, Martin and Vivian were already in the office and were talking.
-Our bearded man gave to Celia a parcel, he was disguised as a post-office employee.
-Did you find the parcel?
-Yeah, it was under Celia's bed.
-She must have a good reason to hide it.
-Yes, and guess what there were in the box?
-Which box? a voice asked behind them, it was Danny.
-The school bus driver said us that he saw a man with a beard, about 40 years, looking at Celia attentively, answered Martin.
-And Mrs.Lorence said me that the same man gave a parcel to Celia, he was disguised as a post-office employee, Jack added.
-Oh and you find the box, Danny concluded. And what there were in the box?
-A teddy bear and a letter.
-A teddy bear? Samantha asked with a surprise look.
-And what was written on the letter? Danny asked.
Jack took the letter and gave it to Danny, who read it and stayed quiet.
-So? Vivian asked with a curious look.
But Danny still stayed quiet, and then Martin took it and read it aloud.
-Have you forgotten me? Mommy and Daddy aren't there for protect you any more... You won't escape me once again, Martin read.
-Either she ran away or they found her and kidnapped her, Vivian said.
-Or they killed her, Samantha added.
-They wrote: "Have you forgotten me?", so she knows them, Danny said.
-Okay, search if you can find anything in her past, I'm going to send that to the forensic to see if they can find any fingerprint, Jack said walking towards the door.
Everybody nodded, went to their desk and started searching.
30 minutes later
Danny stood up and went towards the table that was in the middle of their desks.
-Okay guys I've got something, Danny said while giving a piece of paper to everybody. When she was 9, someone tried to kidnap her, but her father was there, the man took Celia, but the father caught him before he could run away.
-Does he's still in prison?
-In a way yes, he was killed a month later in prison.
-So he worked for someone, and if we find who is it we may find Celia. Search what you can on this man.
Then an agent came and gave to Jack a paper. He thanked the young agent and read the paper.
-Okay, they found eight different fingerprints on the box. Danny, Samantha, you continue on the man who tried to kidnap Celia, Viv, Martin, you try to find to whom correspond the fingerprints. I'm going to look for the report done by the policemen who caught him.
Everybody nodded and went back to work.
10 minutes later
Samantha stood up and went to Danny's desk.
-Okay so his name was Eric Walters, he was 28, he was unemployed but he always paid his debts. So where did he found enough money for paid his debts? Samantha said with a smile.
-He was arrest for detention of drug and driving in state of drunkenness, Danny added, he was at the end of one's tether, and somebody proposes to him worked for him, he doesn't hesitate and take the job.
-Yeah, but we don't know who is he, so it don't really help us.
-Maybe we can find something in his last phone records and financial information, Danny proposed.
-Yeah, maybe.
Then she went back to her desk. During this time Martin stood up and went to see Vivian.
-I found nothing and you? Martin asked to Vivian.
-Wait a minute..., Vivian said while printing a paper. So we've got William Andrews, 33, he is unemployed, he was accused of murder but there wasn't enough proof so they released him.
-Have you got a photo of him?
-Yeah, Vivian said while printing the photo. That's him.
-Oh, our bearded man, Martin said with a smile, what a coincidence. Do you have his address?
-He lives on Springs Street in Soho, Vivian said while reading the information on the paper.
-Well, let's give M.Andrews a little visit.
Springs Street, Soho
11 hours missing
Martin and Vivian arrived in front of a typical building of Soho. They climbed the stairs to the 3rd floor and stopped in front of the 3H flat. Then Vivian knocked on the door and the door was opened by an old woman, who was about 70, what surprised Martin and Vivian.
-Yes, what do you want? the old woman asked.
-Huh... we're with the FBI, Martin said showing his FBI id. Can we speak to William Andrews?
-Honey! The FBI is here, they wanna talk with you! the old woman shouted through the apartment.
-I'm coming! a grave voice said.
They had been able to heard footsteps approaching. Then a rather imposing man with a beard appeared in front of them.
-Huh... William Andrews? Martin said, looking at the man.
-Yes, what do you want?
-Can you come with us, to the FBI building? Vivian asked.
-Okay.
Then he turned to face his mother, like asking her permission.
-Don't be late for the dinner, okay?
-Okay, mommy.
-Take your coat, it's very cold outside, the mother said with a stern look while tightening his coat.
Then he took it, put it on and followed the two agents.
During this time
FBI, missing persons unit
-Aha, I find something! Danny said while going to Samantha's desk.
-And what do you find?
Danny sat on Samantha's desk, holding several papers in the hand.
-A man name Charlie Smith, he often called Eric Walters before he went in prison, he's 37, he own a restaurant name Fish Smith. He was arrest for detention of drugs and he was accused of the murder of a family, but there wasn't enough proof to arrest him.
-Where does he lives?
-In East Village, he lives above his restaurant.
-How about giving him a visit? Samantha said with a smile.
They took their coat and walked towards the elevator when they saw Martin and Vivian coming back with an imposing man.
-Hey, a new friend? Danny asked to Martin with a grin.
-This is William Andrews, our bearded man, he lives with his mother, Martin said with a smile and looking Vivian bringing William in a room of interrogation.
-No kidding, Danny said, half laughing.
-I'm sure that he always obeys his mother, Samantha added while smiling.
-Where are you going? Martin said becoming again serious.
-To the last person who Eric Walters called before going to prison.
Martin nodded and joined Vivian in the room of interrogation. Danny and Samantha went towards the elevator, quitted the building and drove to Charlie Smith's restaurant.
East 11 Street, East Village
Danny and Samantha arrived in front of a quite big restaurant.
-Oh not bad for an ex-prisoner, Samantha observed.
-For someone who sells drugs...
-Yeah maybe.
They entered in the restaurant and challenged a waiter.
-We're with the FBI, Danny said showing his FBI id, can we speak to Charlie Smith.
Then they heard something break and a door slammed. Danny and Samantha took their guns, and precipitated in the kitchens. Then they got out in the alley behind the restaurant, the alley was empty.
-Shit... Danny exclaimed.
Then they put their guns back in their holsters, Samantha heaved a sigh and they continued to observe the alley.
During this time
FBI, missing persons unit
Martin and Vivian were interrogating Williams Andrews.
-So, where is Celia Wilson? Martin asked, looking William in the eyes.
-I never heard about a Celia Wilson, William answered, perfectly calm.
-Someone saw you near the school when Celia disappeared, and we know that you had given a parcel to Celia, the day before she disappears, Vivian said.
-What are you talking about? I don't know who this Celia Wilson is.
But behind the one way window, there were Mrs.Lorence, the driver and Jack.
-Is it him? Jack asked while looking at William.
-Yeah, it's him, Mrs.Lorence answered while nodding.
The driver nodded too. Then Jack took the phone and called Martin.
-Hello?
-They confirmed. It's him.
-Okay, thanks.
Then he hung up. And Martin went back to sit in front of William.
-They confirmed that it was you who gave the parcel and that it was you near the school.
-Okay, even if it was me I won't tell you anything.
-Are you sure? Mommy will be angry, Martin said with a smile.
-Try what you want, I won't tell you.
Then Martin started to be irritated.
-Will you talk! Where is Celia Wilson?
-I've already told you, I won't speak. And I want a lawyer, William answered, still calm.
Martin stood up, got out of the room and slammed the door. Then Vivian got out of the room too.