THE BEAUTIFUL MINDS

CHAPTER 12

David Downey Louis had a beautiful mind.

He was travelling down to Ronny's precinct in his own posh Louis car. They'd persuaded him to cancel an important meet in Canberra just because a guy he seldom knew had died.

Okay, perhaps, he knew him pretty well to remember that he was the same guy who broke his daughter's heart.

David held an austere figure and a hostile face. His eyes emanated severity on all sides like he were the most daunting tyrant that ever walked the face of the earth. His voice was hoarse and antagonistic, adding up to the sober personality he'd already got.

At least, that's what the world perceived of him. They presumed he was an emotionless, rock hearted man whose focus was always on building his empire.

But, in reality, he had a mind that had a penchant for love. He loved and cared for every person he knew. He'd always sympathised people and never been too harsh on anyone.

And that is only until his temper is at bay.

If anyone or anything hitches up his temper, they'd have to witness a wild Mr. Downey.

David had brutal love for his daughter. She was the reason for his pulse and breath. She'd been his only source of exhilaration in his otherwise monotonous life.

Every hardship and stress he'd been enduring was for her. He'd wanted her to lead a life void of wants. A life at the lap of luxury.

His life with his wife was complicated. He'd loved her but it seemed impossible to satisfy her. She kept grumbling over things that she didn't have and complained over things that she already possessed. She blew up minute faults and magnified the negatives of anything and everything she came across.

That's when Veronica crossed his life. At first, it was just friendship but then it intensified into something that he couldn't elude from.

And soon, they were in a relationship.

The day Mrs. Louis died was the same day she discovered this.

He didn't intend to cheat on her. He'd never wanted her dead but as always fate brought up the most unexpected chain of events.

He loved Angela too.

The girl had broken his heart at his sister's and brother-in-law's funeral. She was sat alone not knowing that her parents would never come back, not knowing that she had nothing but an uncertain future ahead of her and that if she weren't shrewd enough the world would destroy her.

David didn't have the heart to leave her alone. She was his blood and he knew it was his responsibility to fill up the vacuum his sister had left.

But, the thing is, he didn't know how to express the love he had for others. He'd provided Rachel and Angela with everything they needed. He ensured that they never lacked anything but didn't know that love can be felt only when he spent some time with them.

And that's why the world thought he was heartless.

That's why the world couldn't comprehend the beauty of his mind.

David strode to Ronny's office who welcomed him with a warm hand shake. Then he took him to the gloomy enquiry room.

They took a seat across each other and David prepared his mind to confront any unexpected question.

"You'd like to have a chewing gum?"

This sudden irrelevant question startled David.

Ronny shrugged. "Just to keep you relaxed"

"Well thank you and I'm relaxed" David replied, politely.

Ronny withdrew the gum after a brief thought.

"It's good that you are relaxed Mr Louis but I feel guilty to question a man of such great esteem without due hospitality. Please accept a cup of coffee"

David never really felt like drinking coffee but Ronny seemed to be a man hard to convince.

Just like his wife.

"Alright" he assented, with a brief nod.

Ronny showed two fingers and mimed coffee through someone over the glass enclosure. And David knew there was someone or more than one watching over him from the other side.

"So, Mr Louis, do you know Richard Anderson?"

David's mind instructed him.

Answer to the point, David.

"Yes"

"How?"

"My daughter was in a relationship with him"

Ronny itched his stubble. "Have you seen him?"

David bit his lip. "No"

Ronny smirked. "Don't lie to me, Mr Louis"

David shot a grave stare.

"We have evidence to prove that you've met up with him just a couple hours before the murder"

Okay, stay calm. Don't give in.

David cleared his throat. "Well yes. My daughter was heartbroken and I couldn't bear to see her crying all the time. So, I asked him to patch up with her. I did it for my daughter though I knew it was way out of my etiquette"

Just then two cups of coffee were brought in.

Both took a sip.

"What did he say?"

"He said he won't"

"Why?"

"He refused to tell the reason"

Ronny nodded, taking in the information he'd obtained. "So why did you lie to me at the first place?"

"I have no reason to lie, Chief Jones. It's just that I didn't remember"

"Okay" assented Ronny taking another sip. "So, if you've really wanted Richard and Rachel to stay together, why did you threaten his parents a few weeks before the murder?"

David sighed. "To be honest, I wasn't happy when I was first learnt that they were in love. I thought my daughter deserved better. But, later, when I saw how much she'd loved him, I thought I should try and give her all the happiness I could"

Ronny closed his eyes and scratched the sensitive part behind his ear.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes and shot out a question that David seldom expected. "Were you with your wife when she encountered the accident?"

David stared out daggers. "Excuse me?"

"Didn't you really hear it, Mr Louis or are you pretending as if you didn't?"

David suppressed an outburst. "I thought I was here to aid the Richard Anderson murder case"

"I just wanted to ensure that your wife wasn't murdered"

David stood up, impatiently.

"Is this how you agitate a grieving widower?"

"I didn't know you were grieving. Considering the fact that you were in an extra marital relationship with an actress"

David glared at him, shocked. He stood petrified for a couple of minutes. Then, strode away muttering curses under his breath.

Ronny heaved a long breath and looked at the half empty coffee cup in front of him.

David indeed was suspicious.

What made him more suspicious was the fact that he avoided talking about his deceased wife and Veronica.

What made him most suspicious was the brutal love for his daughter.