Cold Case

Chapter 29: Clues on the camera.

Lorente’s POV

I can see how he smirks because of my question. The aura he gives me right now is different from the previous ones.

“Why do you think I know something? Do you think if I know something about what is happening right now, I will not share it with you, Officer?” He stares at me and that makes me feel so uncomfortable.

“I don’t know, I am really not sure if I can even trust your every word and action towards us whenever we meet.” I said and started to walk and pass by him.

I heard his soft chuckles.

“Oh, so Mr. Officer, do you really trust me? Then let’s just make a deal between the two of us. Do you want to hear my information?” He said with a teasing tone.

“No, I have no interest in what information you have. Like you said, I don’t trust you, even your words, so how can I know you are telling the truth?” Again, I stopped walking and faced him. “Are you really sure that the thing you want to make a deal is so important to the case we are handling?”

He leans on the wall and puts his hands in his pockets.

“Of course, why would I make a deal with a police officer if my information I was holding is something will ignore?” The confidence in his voice made me wonder what they knew about what was going on.

“Then let me hear it first and I will think about what you want if I can give it to you.” I said but he just shakes his head.

“Nah-ah, I don’t think I can agree about that Mr. officer. Did you think I am a fool to say the information to you without a proper talk about anything? Mr. Officer I don’t think you understand what I am talking about.” He said.

“So, you really are serious to make a deal to me for the information you have? How much help it makes us to solve the case or are you really confident that it will be a help us at all?” I asked him while looking at his eyes.

“Yes, it will definitely lead you to the right track.” He smirked.

“Okay, let me think about it. First lead the way to the CCTV room.” I said and start to walk again.

We walk silently to the dark corridor, all I can hear are the sound step we make. Is this kind of sound Cornel heard from the call he received earlier?

I look at the back of the young student in front of me, I don’t know if I should let my guard down with him or if I should trust his words. If he is telling the truth then maybe the thing, he knows can be a big help to me and Cornel for this case but what he what to us?

What if he just playing with me and trying to know how we know about this case? What if he only did say that because he needs some access in police so he can help his friends doing the crimes?

“Don’t stare at me like that, I can feel it. As if you want to fierce my back using your eyes, and it is creepier like you are ready to kill me right now.” He said, “do you know, you already near for the answer you want but you always look back and abandon it.” He added.

“What do you mean? I am near to the answer I want but I always abandon it?” I confusedly ask him.

But he just keeps quiet until we arrive at the CCTV room, this my second time to be here and I am still hesitant because they maybe give me again the fake records this day.

“Hey good evening Mr. Leonard, one of the police officers needs something here. Could you give us some of your time?” The young man said.

“Oh, good evening to the both of you. What can I do for you guys?” The man in his late 30’s asked us. He is a different man from then. Will I trust him this time? Will he give me the real CCTV record this time?

“Officer, is there a problem. Why are you being silent?” The young man asked me but I just shook my head.

“No, I just remember something sorry about that. Can we see something on the CCTV footage on the parking lot?” I said to the man.

He shifts his glaze at the computers. “Well, okay I can let you see it but I don’t know if the camera can help.” He said and let us come inside of the room.  “Here, you can sit and I will organize and search it first. What time do you want to see?”

“Just 20 mins ago? No, maybe start at an hour ago so we can see what really happen. But can I ask why did you said that you don’t think it can help?” I curious to know what he means when he said it.

“Well, as you can see there are only three CCTV in the parking lot and the place is not good to see all the angle. I don’t even understand why they put CCTV when the angle is not even good in the first place.” He explains.

I look at the young man with me, but he just ignores me and look at the computer. I know, from the first moment I ask him from the beginning where the CCTV room is; he know that there is nothing to be seen here that can be help us in the case.

“But still, let me see all the videos from the three CCTV footage. There is nothing to lose if we try to watch it, right?” I said and sit down beside them.

“Okay, wait just a minute.” He answered and search the previous video from one hour ago. “Here, you can start to watch the CCTV footage from the entrance.”

I start to watch the video with them, but it’s almost 30 mins past but nothing really, I can see. There only cars go and out.

I don’t want to happened again what happened back then when I tried to rely on CCTV footage but I have two more videos to see, I really hope something in there to help me to this case.

I massage my forehead, again I can feel the dizziness I felt earlier.

“Are you okay?” Even though he asks like a rude young man earlier he still look worry about me, should I trust him?

“I am okay do not worry, it already done Sir can you now open the video from the CCTV on the right side?” I suggested.

“oh, sure. Here is it.” He clicks one of the videos, first I though I will not see anything again but to my surprise there is something strange in the video.

“D-did you see that!” I excitedly said with the young man beside me.

“I... I did not see anything what are you talking about?” He asks and click the video to re-watch it from the start.

For the second time, I see a man wearing a black mask walking upstairs on the second floor with a metal bat in his hand.

Yes, from the build of his body I am sure it was a man. But that the only thing we see, we can’t see what is going on in the second floor.

“Do you have any CCTV camera upstairs where he goes?” I immediately ask the man who handle all the computer in front of us.

“Only one.” He answers but make me feel satisfied.

“Please, let me see it!” I am so happy right now and I can’t hide it.

“Sure. Sure.” He said and click again another video from the folder.

“Thank you so much.” I said.

I feel my heart beating so fast from the excitement I have right now, I don’t want to expect too much and rely in this CCTV record at all but now, now I am praying please give me something clue what is really going on here.

“You look excited, but don’t expect to high in this video because they will not let their plan will be busted just like this, a simple video will not be helping your big time.” The young man said in whisper like he doesn’t want the man with us hear what he was saying.

“What do you mean?” I asked in a whisper too.

“I will tell you later. Let’s watch it first and let’s talk outside.” He whispered again.

I did what he said and watched the video, the dark part where the CCTV camera focuses. I can see the back of the man still holding his metal bat at the corner.

He looked like he was waiting for someone to arrive and, then, finally, someone arrived, but we couldn’t see them clearly or what they were talking about, but from what I can see, the last person was looking angry. No, they are both angry. I am lost right now.

“They are fighting.” The young man said, “they knew each other from what I saw.” He added.

“Yeah, I think so too. Look how the man acted, he knew who it was and he already knew his life was in danger, but the thing is, it’s already too late to escape.” I said.

We see how he tried to escape and also how the man in the mask smashed his head. I closed my eyes from the shock. I can imagine how hard the hit is from only watching it.