There Ghost My Everything

Chapter 10

The next morning, Herdon got annoyed because Inspector was there and wanted to ask questions again. If it just not because for his wife, he had no plans to talk to Inspector Clay.

"I believe this is not all about questioning?" Herdon says as he sits in front of Inspector Clay. Beside him is Cassandra and there's a center table between them and Inspector Clay.

Inspector Clays smiled, "What does that mean?"

"What we mean is..." Cassandra coughs, "we hope that there is a development about our case. The accident," widening her smile.

"I'm assuring you that we are doing our best, Mrs. Facundo," Inspector Clay leaned back, "for now, I have something very important to talk about," he continued.

"Okay. I hope it is not to further indict me, Inspector," then Herdon holds Cassandra's hands.

" It will all depend on you, Mr. Facundo," Inspector Clay said, smirking while looking at Herdon's hands.

"Let's just start, Inspector," Cassandra in a serious face, pressing Herdon's hands as if telling him that she's there to back him up.

"Where were you yesterday, Mr. Facundo?" raising his question.

"He's with us, Inspector. We were in a—"

"With all due respect, Mrs l. Facundo, but he's supposed to answer me," the Inspector said cutting off Cassandra.

"We spend our whole day on a beach, Inspector. It's like a family day since it's the weekend. Are we not allowed to do that?" Herdon creased.

"You're not gonna ask me questions, I know you know that," giving Herdon a meaningful stare.

Herdon grinned, leaned back just like Inspector Clay did. He took off his hand onto Cassandra's.

"Now, I believe that you were on a beach yesterday because I went here and there's no one here. But, before I leave, I saw two cars. Someone went here and they look suspicious," he continues ignoring Herdon's reaction.

Herdon gulped. Looks like Inspector Clay made him nervous.

"Sounds interesting, Mr. Facundo?" he crossed his hands, looking at Cassandra.

"D-Did you talked to them?" Herdon asked, worrying.

"Who are they?" Cassandra asked, too.

"No, I did not talk to them. And I don't know them," he answered them, "the thing is, it's like they need something. But the real question, to whom? Is it you, Mrs. Facundo? Or you, Mr. Facundo?"

"She's in danger..." Herdon whispered.

"How did you know that?" he asked.

"Me?" Cassandra wondering, while looking at her husband.

"That night... They bumped on us and they took me... They wanted to use me..." Herdon says, in a whisper but enough for them to hear.

Inspector Clay didn't say a word. He expects that Herdon will say more.

"To use in a what? I don't understand!" exclaimed Cassandra.

Herdon looked at Cassandra, "I think... This is for ransom money," he grabbed his own hair, seems confused.

"Wait... Ransom money? What made you think of that?" Inspector Clay was confused too, they're all.

Herdon sighed. "When I was still there, with my blindfolds, I overheard them. They were planning to call Cassandra to demand money in exchange for me," stooping.

"Whoah! Wait, wait," Inspector Clay laughs as he raises his two hands, "and you didn't tell this to us?" shaking his head, stunned in disbelief.

Herdon didn't utter any word.

"Did you know that you're putting the life of your wife in danger here? Do you even realize that?" Inspector Clay raising his voice.

"Hon..." Cassandra trying to get Herdon's attention.

"I'm sorry... I thought it will be the best for you," Herdon said.

"You sorry? What made you think, again, that your wife will be safe without telling us that kind of information? You're misleading us, for Pete's sake!" Inspector Clay furiously stood up.

"So this is about me, again, right? You're trying to blame me, again..." Herdon smirked.

"You really don't understand, do you?" Inspector Clay sits again, trying to lower his voice this time, "if they need money from her, she's in danger. I've seen those guys yesterday. You need to cooperate fully, Mr. Facundo."

Cassandra was still there, in shock. She was shocked by what Herdon said. She fears her parents' life. Because if there were some bad guys, they might use her parents since they got nothing on Herdon when he was missing.

"I should be going. I need to report this. And I hope we have understanding, Mr. Facundo. When you see something suspicious, call me. And don't go anywhere until we figured it out," Inspector Clay then left already after saying those words.

"I'll be in the room..." Cassandra softly said before rolling her wheelchair.

Herdon tapped his forehead because of dismay. He doesn't know if Inspector Clay was to blame or it was him not telling everything. But he was just trying to protect Cassandra. He thinks that since he escaped, the abductors will just leave them alone if he doesn't say anything. Seems he was wrong. And he's really worried when Inspector Clay told them that there were two cars in front of their house yesterday.

Meanwhile, Inspector Clay hurriedly went back to the headquarters and reported to their chief about Herdon's confession.

"I want you to look carefully on this, Inspector. This might not be just about kidnapping," the chief said.

Inspector Clay and Yuno had a conversation too after the police chief.

"I don't believe him, Yuno," exhales Inspector Clay.

"Oh, yeah. Did you tell that to Chief Shore too?" Yuno folds the newspaper he's reading and looked straight to Inspector Clay.

Inspector Clay didn't say a thing but he gave Yuno a "back-off-stare" and Yuno can't help but laugh. He knows that his partner is trying to get him to agree with him. It's just that he's still wondering about Inspector Clay's new attitude. It's like it's not him because in the last cases they're into before, Inspector Clay was not too personal. Not like this time.

"Don't give me that look," Yuno opened the newspaper and started looking into it again.

Inspector Clay sighed. Yuno sighed too after him. Then Inspector Clay gave a sharp stare.

"Okay," Yuno puts down the newspaper since he can't concentrate anymore, "just tell me why, again," he's on Inspector Clay's not believing Herdon's latest confession.

"Okay. Since I need to share this thought, and you're the only one I trust. Because for now, I don't want to tell this to Chief Shore as long as I don't have evidence yet," started Inspector Clay.

Inspector Clay looked around making sure no one's listening to them.

"I'll just sit there," Yuno said before going to Inspector Clay's desk. He's at his desk and their distance won't work in whispers.

When Yuno finally get near, Inspector Clay continued talking, "He said that the abductors bumped into their car that night and they took him, right?" Yuno nodded, "and he also said that he overheard them talking about ransom money in exchange for him. According to him, they will ask her wife, Cassandra Facundo about the money. You know what I'm thinking?"

"Spill it out, partner," Yuno crossed his arms.

"Here's my thoughts... If these abductors according to him, will ask for ransom money from Cassandra Facundo, why would they leave Cassandra Facundo near to death that night? Why put the wife in that situation if they need her for the money? They could just take Cassandra if they really want money. Her parents can ransom her," Inspector Clay stated.

"But you're not one of the abductors. You are maybe right, but these abductors have different thinking. We really don't know what they're into," Yuno explained, not agreeing.

"You don't believe me..." sighed Inspector Clay as leaned on to his swivel chair.

"Look, you need to prove it. For now, it's just you and your speculations. I'm afraid Chief Shore will question you a lot if he found out that you're not asking for his thoughts about your thoughts," Yuno said, warning him.

"I already told you... I don't want to give him speculations only. I need to prove it. And that's what I'm gonna do..." Inspector Clay said closing the argument.

***********

That night, Herdon told Cassandra not to tell her parents about his confession. They're already in their room preparing to sleep.

"But why? They need to know about it so they'll be able to know that there might be a threat outside," Cassandra not agreeing to him.

"Yes, hon, I know. But I'm afraid they'll freak out. And it's not good for them. Don't get me wrong, but they're too old to worry," Herdon explained.

"So what do we do now?" Cassandra asked, worrying about their situation, "should we ask Inspector Clay to give us security here?"

"No. It's not a good decision, hon," Herdon sits beside Cassandra on the bed, "the bad guys might get angry. And I think, they're capable to hurt us even if we have security with us here. They'll be able to know that I said something about them. And it's easy for them to get to us," Herdon trying to convince Cassandra.

"So what do we do? Do you think we're safe without security?" Cassandra was getting more nervous.

"Listen, we are in danger. Especially you. They want money and they know that your family is one of the richest here. I know this sounds crazy, but... I think... If we just give them the money we'll be safe already," declares Herdon.

"What?" Cassandra's eyes got bigger. She's trying to absorb Herdon's words.

"I know, honey... This sounds crazy, but this is our only chance not to get hurt. We don't involve police or Inspector Clay, you saw what happened to us that night. You knew what happened to me," Herdon looked to his cut-off fingers.

Cassandra felt pity for Herdon.

"B-but how we'll going to give the money to them or how we will be able to know the amount they wanted?" asks Cassandra.

"I'll figure it out..." he hugged Cassandra.