Magic Ball: the Billionaire in Ranch

65 An Entrapment of Lies

The police station was a room brimming with busy people either standing or running into their automobiles.

One officer, which Noah had the pleasure of talking decently after the incident, looked at him like he was a nut job that made lying a habit.

The pen of his fingers drummed on the wooden desk as Noah anxiously awaited their verdict. The woman who introduced herself as Karol, sat far away from them, her arms crossed over her chest. She had her hair gathered on the side, and she appeared to not look nervous at all.

Recalling the incident earlier, several police mobiles had stopped their car in the middle of the road. Of course, Noah’s first instinct was to ask what he had done violated that would cause such a fuss, while Fitch panicked beside him. His Italian friend almost squealed when the police dragged him out of the car, his hands pinned behind his back.

At that time, Noah was still processing the occurring event before him. But when he saw Karol heading to the police, the gut feeling he fought not to resurface welcomed him like big ocean waves. He had suppressed it—the feeling that something was wrong with the woman who hitched a ride with them inside the mall.

His eyes followed the woman as she faked her innocence in front of the officer. Noah heard how she told the officer that she was asked by Noah to wipe his windshield. And for that, Noah gave her money—which undoubtedly, wasn’t true at all. What she was saying were stories that weaved and lied about. He couldn’t believe that such a person was capable of making lies—believable lies that actually made the entire story a reality no one expects. And on top of that, this insufferable Karol had evidence of the said communication.

She brought out her phone and had someone spoke the things she had claimed.

And it was—odd as it may—his voice.

It was their conversation when they were at the gas station.

“You’re telling us that none of it happened?” One officer had his head looking straight at Noah. The neutrality of his expression made him uncomfortable. It’s like he’s being convicted for something he hadn’t done.

Fitch was calmer than he had been earlier. He sat straight beside Noah, his face turned toward the officer head-on.

“Yes,” Fitch began, “none of it. That woman is lying.”

The officer pressed to play the voice in the recording, and Noah furrowed his brows. He didn’t like the sound of it—mostly how accurate the tone of the voice sounded like his own. There was no doubt he was the person speaking at the other end of the line.

“Are you positive?” the police offer repeated. “Because we have solid evidence that it’s your voice that’s been recorded here.”

Noah wanted to roll his eyes, “I don’t deny the fact that it was me, okay? I just want you to hear my side.”

Gritting his teeth, the police officer stopped playing the recording. He typed something on his monitor, the tapping of his hand on the keyboard making Noah cringe. Every click synced with the beating of his heart. He couldn’t stop looking back at Karol who casually conversed with a female officer on the furthest corner. He overheard that she was assuring her that just would prevail. Further than that, Noah couldn’t comprehend their conversation anymore. So, he diverted his eyes back to the officer in front.

Noah’s mouth was in a straight line, his heart beating faster than before. He had his eyes fixed on Karol again. He couldn’t help it. Not that he is attracted to her in any way, but because he’s getting afraid of the things that will come out of her mouth. The burn in his chest was something he hadn’t felt in a long time. His fists braced and curled as he gritted his teeth. He couldn’t believe these people are siding with what she had said.

And then there was the fake evidence she made. Well, it wasn’t exactly fake. In fact, it was really his voice. Noah thinks she must have been skilled to possess such good skills of acting. She looked innocent, after all. It’s what made him fall for her trap in the first place.

“What should we do?” Fitch said while sighing.

In all honesty, Noah didn’t know. He hadn’t expected something like this would happen to him, let alone it was done by a person they helped out of charity.

“I am asking you one more time—”

“You will not,” Noah interjected as he jostled his hand. He reached inside his pocket, and from the corner of his eyes, he saw the officer groan at his stubbornness.

What was the point of him being stubborn? There wasn’t really a reason behind it. It’s just that, why would he admit to something he hadn’t done? Isn’t that abusing the authority of the professionals that had been tasked of keeping the peace and order around this place?

“We aren’t done yet, Mr. Martin,” the woman police officer walked behind the man that had been interviewing them for the past hour or so. She was also the woman police officer that had been talking with Karol when they were busy being interrogated on this side of the room.

The police officer looked behind him, “What are you doing here?” he asked, one eyebrow raised.

“To supervise you, of course. I heard from the chief that you have been doing a rather lazy job of interrogating these suspects.”

Noah didn’t like the sound of being accused as a suspect that enables prostitution.

The police officer had his jaw open slightly, “Me?” he sounded like he couldn’t believe what came out of the woman police officer’s mouth.

Sitting down straight to elevate his chest, he began speaking, “I graduated top of my class—”

The woman police officer waved her hand in dismissal, “And I… also graduated. Does that really make a difference?”

“Yes!” her colleague was now beat-red and cherry tomato, “that does make a difference.”

Sighing, the woman held onto the desk next to her. She leaned her body a bit, “Sorry. This guy is new to the job. Forgive him if he had asked several offending questions. He’s dense when it comes to such situations.”

“It’s not us,” Noah began.

Fitch looked at the police officer before him. His gaze moves up to her head, then down to her body.

“I’m Cora, by the way,” she smiled as she reached her hand.

Noah was the only one who took it. He was still speechless to what happened with the two of them.

Glancing at his watch, Noah noticed it was already that late. He didn’t know how he and Fitch would get out of this place.

“Uhm, we can’t go, can we?” he knew that answer, but he doubts it would be good.

Cora faced him as she was talking to another colleague at the other side of the divider, “No can do, mister.”

Sighing, Noah took the courage to ask, “What can we do to go home?”

“Answer honestly,” the police officer said straight like an arrow. They weren’t coated with any hint of remorse. 

Cora shot him a glare, “What did I say about situations like this?”

Mumbling, the police said something that made Cora nod her head, “Exactly. Now, run along. I will take it from here.”

The police officer mumbled something again. And before he left the room, he looked back at Noah and Fitch. His eyes squinted, and he had his mouth upturned into a scowl.

Turning the chair, Cora waved her hand again in dismissal, “Goodbye,” she called before the man closed the door with a loud bang.

“Come along now, Ms. Karol,” said Cora as she gestured at Karol to take a seat beside her instead of Noah and Fitch.

“Now, let’s start from the beginning, shall we?” she eyed all of them. Karol sat casually on the seat beside her, “Kindly tell us what happened before you encountered the two of them.”

“Really, Cora?” Karol spoke like they were familiar with each other.

Noah looked between the two of them.

What was happening, really? Why was the so-called victim casually talking to Cora like they were friends?

Cora fixed his eyes on Noah, “I am assuming the man earlier didn’t tell you anything about this?”

Fitch furrowed his eyebrows, a line appearing on his forehead, “About what exactly are you pertaining to?”

With the movement of her head, Cora’s short, sandy hair fell on her eyes. She quickly brushed it back to get a good look at the two of them.

“Karol here told me that she hadn’t expected that the both of you would force her into prostitution.” She let out her phone and played the recording.

Noah was sick of listening to it—the only part that he can here was him saying his gratitude for the service Karol had offered. And it wasn’t the service she was talking about.

“You got it all wrong again!” he burst out. He couldn’t take it anymore. “What I meant was the windshield! I thanked her for wiping the windshield and helping me fill my tank with gas.”

“Are you saying we are among the people whom you accused that are accepting these offers?!” Fitch yelled, his muscles tensed.

Noah stood and slammed his fist on the table, his nostrils flaring, “What the hell? Is this some sort of trap to get money from us?”

Of course, Cora didn’t back down, “This isn’t anything like that,” she kept calm as she explained the situation. “Karol here is the key to us uncovering those perpetrators. And the evidence she collected points at the two of you.”

“On what basis? The recording?”

“Possibly. Also, the circumstances at hand.”

Noah couldn’t take it anymore. His hand touched his head as the other one held on the desk for support, “This is making my head hurt.” And it indeed was, the throbbing was making him nauseous. 

“We have all the time to explain why you’re here and what we would do to the both of you,” said Cora as she confidently nodded beside a sneering Karol.

Noah thinks that there must have been a grave mistake about the situation they were in.