CHAPTER 3
TRUTH, DARE, DOUBLE DARE
«Here we are» Dean said, parking his car with a very extreme manoeuvre that made several pedestrians on the sidewalks startle and run for safety.
Sam lift his eyes, without saying a word, clearly resigned to the idea that the brother would never change his driving style. But after seeing where they had parked, he frowned.
«At the police station?» he ansked, surprised. «Why don't we take a look at that house, first?»
«There's enough time for everything» answered Dean calmly. «First we'll ask for a little information. Better safe than sorry, right?» he asked amused.
«And what's your plan for getting this informations?» Sam asked cautiously. «It will be absolutely illegal like always, I'm guessing»
«You guess right» said his brother. From his pocket he took out two of his many fake ID cards, and threw one at Sam.
Sam caught it with both hands and looking at it he said: «So I will become this mister Dodge?» he asked as he raised his eyebrowns. «You don't lack imagination, I see»
«Inventiveness is necessary for two new policemen like us» Dean said with a pleased smile. «Come on, let's go»
Not quite two minutes later, they found themself in the office of a captain Redstone who, sat confortably on a cushioned seat behind a desk, was examinating their credentials doubtfully.
«So you are agents Jason Turles and William Dodge?» he asked, eying them up and down. «And you come from...?»
«From the district of Winconsin» Dean answered inmediately. It seems that he studied well for his part. «They sent us to investigate about... the disappearance of Albert Dalloway, Charles and Tina Wocks, since your research hasn't achieved any results yet».
Dean's tone was too much intimidating, at least to Sam. So much that he felt duty bound to stomp Dean's foot to remind him to be more kind. He saw Dean scrunch his eyes to keep him from swearing. Sam stopped himself from smiling.
«Well, we didn't find them if that's wgat your asking» said the captain. Luckily he was too busy reading some documents to notice what had transpired between the brothers. «However, you can say to Winconsin's district that we're perfectly able to manage the situation alone»
«It doesn't seem like that to our superiors» said Dean in a veiled threat. «They think...»
«They think that maybe you would like some help, that is why they asked us to come» Sam interrupted the brother, before the situations could worsen.
«Ironwood is not even in your jurisdiction» said the captain, quite annoyed. «We are in the Michigan!»
«Oh... ahem... but we are very close» Sam said giving Dean a dirty look. Geography, he though, was not a matter of opinion. «Listen, we are really interested in help you. we...»
«We were friends of one of the pepole missing. Albert Dalloway» improvised his brother, with a look of suffering. He was really convincing. «So we asked to run this case, but if you don't want...»
«Oh, well, that changes everything!» replied Redstone astonished, changing his entire attitude. «If there's a friendly tie... I can't deny you... you should say it early»
«I was sure you would understand us» said Dean. «Now, if you can tell us something more about the disappareances...»
«Of course... of course... make yourself at home» said the captain pointing to two seats. «So, what do you want to know?»
«Something about the building, if possible» answered Sam hastily. «Who does it belong to? Were there any links between the house and the people missing?»
«Well, alright... the house» Redstone said nervously. «It belonged to a married couple, William and Katherine Everlyne. They had been living there for about ten years, with their daughter Jane. They never seemed to have any problems... Their house was away from the city, but they used to come into Ironwood to shop. They got along well with everyone. Then a year ago, they died».
«How?» Dean asked immediately.
«An awful accident» explained Redstone shaking his head. «They were in their home, when one of the beams gave way, and they were buried in the rubble»
The captain heaved a sigh. «The house was unsafe... your friend Albert, as you surely know...» hes stopped himself for a second, and the two brothers nodded with an air of knowdledge. «He was a engineer, and he was sent to inspect the property, but... it seems that he never reached the house. I'm sorry» he said, and Dean looked down so sadly that Sam started wondering if this Albert Dalloway had really been his friend.
«As far as the Wocks are concerned, they were William's relatives, and within a month of his death they were to move into the house and adopt Jane, but we have not been able to find them. That is until just this morning, when there were some new developments»
«Really? What?» Sam asked.
Captain Redstone handed the boys the photos of a middle aged couple. The woman, Dean noticed with a grimace, wore too much make-up.
«Bill and Susanne Ottar» stated the policeman. «She was the late Katherine's sister, and when they found out what had happened, they want to make sure that Jane was cared for. They left their home yesterday evening, to reach the house, but I'm afraid they have disappeared too».
«But... this daughter, Jane» started Sam, confused «where is she? I mean, after her parents' death...?»
«She's missing, too» Redstone answered curt. «Nobody had seen her since. And to think that she's the legitimate owner of the house now...» he said in a low voice.
«Really?» asked Dean amazed.
«The Everlyne's will» answered the captain «said that, in case of their death, the house would go to their first-born... or to his guardian».