There Ghost My Everything

Chapter 3

Clay is stomping his feet while waiting for Mrs. Lourdes's answer. He has this feeling that there is something about Herdon's mother and that's what he wants to know.

"On their first wedding anniversary," a simple answer from Mrs. Lourdes while showing them her calm face.

"When? Where? What time?" there was a grin plastered upon Clay's face while giving Mrs. Lourdes consecutive questions.

"O-of course, we evn talked to each other last night at the hotel where they celebrated their first wedding anniversary," she immediately responded with hand gestures.

"What was the exact time you talked to each other, Mrs. Lourdes?" Clay quickly added while looking directly at the old woman's eyes.

"I-I don't exactly remember! I-I'm not a-always looking at the t-time..." Mrs. Lourdes's voice started to get raspy.

Clay and Yuno stared at each other after they witnessed her reaction.

"According to the hotel organizers, it was twelve in the midnight when the celebration was over. Are you not aware of this, Mrs. Lourdes?" Clay started giving more questions just to catch her telling a false statement.

"I told you! I'm not always looking at the time! I don't know that it was until midnight only!" Mrs. Lourdes stood up in annoyance.

"Have you not received an invitation card from the Facundo's?" He remained on his chair even if his vision showed that she walked a few steps away from them.

"I don't think I have to answer all of your questions, Inspector. Let me get an attorney to answer your other nonsense queries," Mrs. Lourdes stated without giving them a single glance. She was standing still while looking outside the glass window.

"Oh, don't get me wrong, Mrs. Lourdes..." Clay snapped his fingers. "But how can you get an attorney?"

Mrs. Lourdes quickly faced him with anger visible all over her face. "What exactly are you trying to imply, Inspector?" She stepped a little closer towards him. "You don't know anything about me..." she whispered.

"We are leaving, Mrs. Lourdes. Thank you for—" she cut him there.

"That's what I'm about to say, Inspector. You two may leave now," she said while breathing heavily.

Clay and Yuno both gave her a friendly smile as they stepped out of the house. Mrs. Lourdes quickly closed the door.

"What do you think?" Yuno asked Clay.

Clay started walking before answering Yuno, "Mrs. Lourdes has no other relatives or family other than her son, Herdon... And same with Herdon."

"Herdon has Cassandra," Yuno reminded him.

Clay opened his car's door and quickly hopped in and Yuno did the same.

"That's what I'm trying to figure out. Mrs. Lourdes said that she'll get an attorney to defend her. We both know that it involves money in getting your lawyer even if it will be provided by the government," he started the engine as he spoke.

"You are trying to say that—" Yuno did not continue what was running on his head. The thoughts were making him crazy.

"Exactly. How can she be so sure that she can provide one? Especially when Cassandra's parents told me that Herdon and Cassandra had a prenup agreement?" Clay stated.

Yuno just kept on listening while looking outside the car's window.

"Cassandra's parents told me that they were the ones who insisted on the prenup agreement. Herdon agreed to it just to assure them," Clay continued.

"Assure them? Of what?" Yuno asked as if that matter piqued his interest.

"Assurance that Herdon is not into Cassandra's money, assets, and everything you name it," Clay explained.

Clay stopped his car after driving for twenty minutes.

"Where are we?" Yuno asked as he roomed his eyes around.

"At the crime scene," answered Clay before stepping out of the car.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. I was expecting you to answer me with, 'how can you be a detective in the future if you are not familiar with the places we've been to,'" he mumbled while laughing.

When Clay remained silent, Yuno just shrugged his shoulders. Clay did not mind him because he was busy looking at something on the road.

"What are you looking at?" Yuno questioned again.

"I just want to make sure if there was a gunshot during their so-called accident. There was no bullet found here, right?" Clay whispered.

"Nothing," answered Yuno.

"Do you think Cassandra Facundo is lying about her statement that she heard a gunshot that night?" Clay wondered as he continue to look around.

"To defend her husband? To make her husband a victim, too?" Yuno got in the car.

"Gotcha!" Clay smiled before getting in, too.

************

Mrs. Elaine was about to open the door of her daughter's room in the hospital when she heard her daughter talking.

"I'm so sorry, Mom. I didn't know. I will talk to them," Cassandra's voice muttered.

"Is that your mother-in-law?" Mrs. Elaine asked as she entered the room.

"Please stop harassing her!" shouted Cassandra.

Mrs. Elaine wants to castigate her daughter for shouting at her but she considered her daughter's situation. She knows that Cassandra is in distress so she did let it pass.

"It's not in my control. They are trying to figure out about—"

"Stop it! I told you it was an accident!" Cassandra shouted again, ,cutting her mother's words.

"If it was an accident, where is the other car that you said bumped into yours? And where is your husband? Tell me, enlighten me!" Mrs. Elaine started to shout, too.

"And I told you before that if that's the case, then my husband is in danger." Cassandra then started to calm down, trying to get to her mother's side.

"Just let the police do their job, Cassandra. They are trying their best to find your husband. Let's just cooperate[. W]ho knows, if we cooperate, it will be easy for them to track him," her words were trying to convince Cassandra.

"But, Mom, Mommy Lourdes has nothing to do about it. She's also worried about Herdon. If they continue suspecting her son, she might break down. She's a good mom just like you," Cassandra explained.

Mrs. Elaine sighed. She was moved by Cassandra's last words. But it cannot change the fact that Herdon is still a suspect.

**************

After a week, Cassandra's finally getting out of the hospital. Her family is very thankful that she did not get an injury from her head. But her wounds on her face are still there, it can still be seen including the bruises on her arms and legs.

Mrs. Elaine is the one who's pushing Cassandra's wheelchair when Cassandra saw Clay and Yuno outside the hospital. Cassandra is using a wheelchair for a short time only until her legs are in the best condition. Her right leg is still weak and cannot stand alone because it was stuck in the car during the accident.

"What are they doing here?" Cassandra angrily turned to her parents.

"They just want to secure your safety," Mr. Robin answered, her dad.

"I'm safe, okay? My husband, it is who they should be focusing on. It's already one week but there are no reports from them," Cassandra's tears are starting to fall from her eyes.

Her parents chose not to speak anymore. Mrs. Elaine continued pushing Cassandra's wheelchair from the back. They passed to Clay and Yuno but only Cassandra's parents greeted them.

As they reached the black van where they will ride, the driver immediately opened the door for them.

"It's okay, Tim, leave it to us," Mr. Robin said when their driver tried to help them carry the wheelchair.

But before they could get Cassandra inside the van, they were all shocked when someone shouted Cassandra's name.

"Cassandra!"

All of them are in shock looking at the person who shouted Cassandra's name.

"H-Herdon..." Cassandra's tears fell as she saw her husband.

And Clay couldn't hide his worried face. He believes that Cassandra is really now in danger...