The File
588 Words
Chapter Four
The investigator folded his hands on the table: "What do you think now, after what you’ve read, Mr. Emad?"
Emad, holding back his anger: "I have nothing to say. I can’t believe you dragged me here over some stupid article in a newspaper!"
The investigator raised his eyebrows angrily: "But it’s our duty to investigate and help anyone who needs help. And you, of all people, know that."
Emad put out his cigarette and leaned toward the investigator firmly: "And I know you’re the most knowledgeable about the law. Isn’t it in your law that the accused is innocent until proven guilty?!
And to prove anyone guilty, you need strong evidence! Not just an article in a newspaper written by anyone, and about his personal opinion too.
Tell me, if I wrote that the president had killed and stolen, would you arrest him based on what I wrote in a newspaper?!"
Then Emad straightened in his seat and adjusted his suit: "Call your chief for me, please."
The investigator, spitefully: "And why do you need my chief?"
Emad: "I’m a free citizen, and bringing me here and detaining me without evidence is a violation of my personal rights. I can sue you and get you fired from your job."
Emad: "Now please... bring me your chief... Don’t worry, I just want to talk to him."
The investigator: "Fine, fine. I’ll call him for you."
The Chief of Police walked in: "Mr. Emad! Welcome. What brings you here this time? A new case?"
Emad: "You know me, I’m always swamped with cases. But I’d like to ask you for a small favor."
The Chief of Police: "Of course, ask for whatever you want. With your help we’ve solved many cases. How can I help you?"
Emad smiled: "Perfect... I want the file for the Abdullah Al-...... house fire case."
The Chief of Police: "I’m afraid I can’t do that. You know all case files are highly confidential and nothing about them should be disclosed. But..."
He paused, then continued: "I’ll consider you a special case. On one condition: this stays between me and you!"
Emad smiled and shook his hand: "Absolutely, sir. Rest assured. And I know that if you didn’t trust my integrity, you wouldn’t have entrusted me with those files. Thank you."
......
An hour later, Emad was driving his car, thinking about the contents of the file:
_(A fire whose cause is still unknown to this day. That’s why it hasn’t been classified as either an accident or an arson case yet.
The victims were only four people: a man and a woman in their thirties or forties, and a boy and a girl in their teens.
And there was only one survivor... and that survivor is the kitchen worker. But...
But who were the ones who died in the fire?
From what I remember, Lara had her parents and two sisters in that house.
But where is the other sister? And who is the boy who was found dead in the fire?
It seems the forensic results haven’t come out yet.
I think the name of the hospital where the worker is being treated is Al-...... Hospital.
Alright, I’ll go there as a first step. But before that...)_
Emad took out his phone. When the other side answered, he said: "File a lawsuit for me against the press and the journalist who wrote the article about me. Charge him with defamation."
Emad hung up the phone and headed toward the hospital.
--
---
- Writer
