Cold Case

Chapter 24: Talks

People inside where all become silent, even Lorente can’t know what words he will utter. The boy has point of what he said, but the thing is there is a reason why they always conduct a interview for all the primary suspects.

“We have reasons, like you we all have reason on what we always do so just please cooperate.” That the only thing he can say, he can’t argue with the person they investigate.

“Are you done? That all you will ask them?” The woman asks him, “If yes I will tell them to go home now.” She said but Lorente shake his head.

“No, I still have something to ask them, I only ask one question but I still have plenty to.” Lorente sign Cornel to come closer to him and whisper something, Cornel just nodded.

“We will conduct now a one on one interview, who want to interview first?” He asks.

“I will, please interview me first so I can go home to my daughter and son.” The man who says packing the foods for deliver answered.

“Then please, the four of you guys come with me outside.” Cornel command the other four primary suspects to come out first in the room, first they are hesitant but still walk outside.

“So are you going to still here to hear the interview?” Lorente can’t help but to sneer at the woman, reason for her to giggled.

“Yeah, like I said I should know what going on because the name of my restaurant will be ruined once the news comes out that someone died from the foods here. I also have rights to know who the real culprit is so I can know who I need to kick in my territory.” She smiled but the atmosphere gives it all what she meant to kick.

“Tsk, okay if that what you want but you can be the primary suspect to, you know.” The blatantly of his words make the woman laughed. “Can I start now to ask you?” Now, his voice become serious, he stares at the man sitting in front of him.

“Yes, sure ask me as much as you want and I will answer it with honesty.” The confident of the man make Lorente smiled.

“Well, I don’t have much to ask you to be honest because I know you are not the culprit.” He taps the shoulder of the man, “I check your personal information and I can’t see any reason why you will do that, you don’t have any cellular phone to contract them.” Raising two children and have a nice job with big salary is enough, right?”

The man look shock but Lorente can feel how relieve the he is to what he heard from the officer, “yes, I have anything I need and I love my children so why would I do something will ruin my whole family.”

“I know, so the only question I have for you is did you really not know who did it?”

The room become silent again, only the sound of the air-con can hear.

“I-I really don’t know, we all works for almost 8 years and the only I am not familiar with is the delivery boy but I can’t say he’s the one who did it because I talk to him 2 times and he’s so polite and working student.”

“So you really have no Idea and you are not pointing your finger to the young boy also.” Lorente said and take note it.

“Yes, I will not pointing my finger to him because for me it’s impossible.” He sigh, “he said he work to graduate, for him and for his grandmother.”

Lorente nodded and glance at the woman; she just shrugged her shoulder as if she was telling him that she was right about the young boy.

“Okay, you can go outside now and tell one of them to enter and oh! Don’t tell anyone what I ask you okay?” the man just bows and goes outside.

The second one who enters the room is woman who appointed to slice and chop the vegetables.

She looks calm like the first one, but she can’t hide to Lorente how her hand trembled.

“Hey, are you okay you look tense.”Lorente trying to calm her but it didn’t help, her eyes can’t focus. “Why are you so nervous did you do something bad?”

“N-no! I did not do anything bad, I just chop the vegetables why do I have to be interview by police officer and become primary suspect,” now she finally break down, not like earlier when she with her co-workers.

“Don’t worry, I did this individual interview because I want to talk to you because I know you are telling the truth, you are innocent.” Again, he smiled to her.

“R-really! I am glad you trust my words,” She looks happy with teary eyes looking at Lorente.

“Of course, but can I ask you one question? Do you have any idea who can do it?” Lorente, asks the same question.

He can see how the eyes of the woman lost again in focus, “I-I can’t think who can do something like that, we’ve been here for 8 years and I can think one of them can do such thing. The only person I’m not sure is the delivery man.”

“So are you saying you have a doubt to him?” Lorente ask, the woman nodded her head.

“W-well, he’s new at the restaurant and something bad happen, if we all not the one who did it then it must be him. As human is easy to doubt people so if I am wrong, I’m sorry.”

“Okay, you can go outside now and tell to enter who is ready to be interviewed.”

“Thank you.” The woman bow to them and walk outside the room.

“So, this is your plan? Talk to them like you really believe them that they are innocent and use some psychological technique to use it as bait?” The woman look amused.

“Yes, that is my reason why I do this kind of interview. Now tell me, did I do it right like what you expect?” Lorente can’t help but to sound sarcastic.

“I can’t say no, you did well but do you really know you can catch the culprit by doing this?”

“Of course I can, I am confident.” He said and smile to the person who just enter the room.

The delivery boy…

“Hello Mr. Officer.” He greeted.