Chapter 31~ The real culprit âAnswer me! Why did you meet this man?!â
âIâve already told you he wasnât the one I was supposed to meet! That man only came to my table to ask for directions. I donât even know who he is!â
While Delilah and the officer went back and off with the same conversation, Tessa, Aaron and Inspector Michael observed the interrogation through the two-way mirror.
One side of the mirror could reflect, while the other side was transparent which enabled them to observe what was happening in the next room properly.
Tessa narrowed her eyes at Delilah through the glass. She could see her but Delilah couldnât see them.
1 Delilah seemed confused and frightened. She genuinely looked startled.
Several thoughts reeled through Tessaâs mind when she noticed this. Her eyebrows knitted together as though she was confused about something.
âTell us where the kids are! Do you want to be tortured?â The officerâs voice resonated through the 100m.
It was deep and menacing.
He then banged his hand on the table, making Delilah flinch.
âAnswer me!â The officer roared.
Thirty minutes passed and Delilah had stuck to the same story despite how horrified she looked. Tessa couldnât help but wonder if there was something that they were missing.
âIâve already told you. I know nothing! You got the wrong person. Why would I kidnap little children?â Delilah replied.
Tessaâs eyebrows knitted. She gave Aaron a sideways glance and remarked, âI donât think Delilah knows anything about the kidsâ
disappearance.â
Aaronâs eyes squinted at her words. She just spoke his mind! He had been observing Delilah and so far, she didnât look like she was guilty.
He affirmed and returned Tessaâs gaze, saying, âI think so too. It didnât make sense at first but I think I now know why she was in that video. Someone is trying to set her up.â
âIâm not speaking anymore! I want my lawyer,â Delilah screamed and the officer stopped -interrogating her.
Aaron looked in Inspector Michaelâs direction. His voice was low and dangerous as he requested.â How about interrogating her when the man in the video is found? For now, we canât know for sure until we find that man. Heâs the one who took the kids after all.â
Inspector Michael was a blonde man who was built like a tank. Average height with rough beards. He looked like he was ok but he was trembling inside.
Aaron oozed power that could force people to bow in submission to him. Inspector Michael was Chapter 31-The real culprit doing his best to find the missing kids of the most powerful man in the City, lest he lost his job.
âThe police are working together with the military. The man shall be found soon,â he said.
Aaron shoved his hands into his pockets and narrowed his eyes at the inspector, making him gulp.
His voice was dripping with iciness as he said, âHe better be. Or else Iâll bring this world to its knees if the triplets are not found. If the police canât even find a bunch of criminals then the system needs a reshuffle.â
It was two hours later when a man with a scar on his left cheek and short curly hair was dragged into the police station.
Inspector Michael immediately informed Aaron and Tessa who had been waiting in the chief inspectorâs office.
âThe man has been brought in-â
He couldnât finish his sentence as Tessa cut him off. Her heart was pounding erratically as she inquired anxiously, âand the kids?â
The moment the inspector shook his head, Tessaâs stomach twisted violently. A terrified gasp left her lips and she lost her balance, causing Aaron to catch her before she hit the ground.
âIâm sorry, Miss Hilton. The man was caught trying to leave the City via train. But the kids are not with him and he doesnât know where they are. He wonât say anything more,â Inspector Michael reported.
âHeâs the one who took the children. Why is this man still able to use his rights? He didnât think of the childrenâs rights when he used tricks and took them. Hand him over to me, Inspector, Iâll make him talk,â Aaron suggested.
Inspector Michael hesitated at his words. Such a thing was not allowed. But Aaron had influence. He was rich and rubbed shoulders with high officials, so he got special treatment.
âYou can interrogate him as you wish. Just donât kill him... or make him bleed.â
Aaron smirked and cracked his knuckles. He responded. âIâll make him regret the day he was born.â
Aaron and Enock were given access to the interrogation room. The monitoring camera was switched off to give them privacy.
Tessa stayed in the opposite dark room to watch what they were doing. She gasped when Aaron punched the suspectâs stomach viciously.
Bellows of pain could be heard resonating from the interrogation room as Aaron vented his anger on the suspect. He had just met his kids and they were kidnapped. It made him look like an incompetent father who couldnât protect his family. Hence, his frustration was released through the heavy blows he landed on the man while avoiding his face.
After a series of beatings in spots that wouldnât bleed, Aaron clutched the collar of his shirt and pulled him up, questioning, âWHERE THE FUCK ARE MY KIDS?!â
Despite his body being beaten black and blue, the man didnât say a word. This made anger flare 2â5 Chupp 31-The real culprit through Aaron.
He grabbed his neck and slammed him against the wall. âYou better speak if you wish to live. I donât care about the consequences as long as I get rid of scum like you. Where did you take my kids when you took them and what did you want with them?â
The man still kept mum. A flash of irritation flitted through Aaronâs eyes. He glanced at Enock and instructed, âFind out everything about this manâ
âYes, Sir.â
Aaron left and monit glass.
the interrogation room and went into the dark room where they could see the suspect his actions. The room was dark to make it easier to see the next room through the He looked at Tessa apologetically. She looked pale and exhausted but she had refused to rest until the children were found.
âI canât be in comfort when I donât know what the kids are going throughâ She had said when he suggested she rest.
She had refused to eat too. How could she stomach any food when it was not known whether the kids were safe or not?
âWhat are you planning to do with information about the suspect?â Tessa asked, her voice hoarse.
âI need to find ou anything suspicious that could give us clues. Itâs clear that this man and Delilah were just used. The real culprit is out there but we will catch him soon.â
Tessa nodded. Her throat was so dry, she couldnât talk anymore. They stood in silence as the officer in charge went in to interrogate the suspect after switching on the monitoring cameras.
âIâm sorry for blaming you for the kidâs kidnapping. The first thought that came to my mind was that it was one of your enemies or the woman whoâs obsessed with you. Either way, I shouldnât have reacted that way,â Tessa suddenly said.
They shared a look and Aaron remembered how she had been about to say something when they received the shocking news.
He was sure she was about to agree to give him a chance. Regardless, he couldnât bring it up at that moment. He hoped she would still have the same answer when he asked her again after they found the kids.
Shaking his head, he gave her a small smile. âDonât apologise because you were right. As a man, itâs really embarrassing that I let such a thing happen. I havenât even told my Dad because I know he will be on me. The first thing I should have done was ensure you and the childrenâs safety.â
Silence befell them once more and a few minutes later, Enock returned to the room.
âSir, Iâve found something But first, I want to report something else. The men you had instructed to keep their eyes on Harry said he always knows they are following him and they end up losing him. So itâs hard to track his movements.â
Aaronâs eyebrows creased but he dismissed the report, âOk. Tell me about what youâve found about the suspect.â
âThereâs nothing much. But his family was in a lot of debt and then suddenly, the debt was Chapp) 31 The teal culcre cleared. The loan sharks were threatening to get his sister until a few days ago, they received a lump sum of money and the sender indicated it was to clear the suspectâs debt. I traced the address of the sender even if it was tempered with and Iâve finally found someone. A drug lord, called Cobra. For now, Iâve only found his base-â
âCall Graham for me and tell him to instruct his team to deal with the drug lord. I want the kids to be found today, by crook or by hook,â Aaron said through gritted teeth.
An hour had passed and yet, it felt like a hundred years. To everyoneâs horror, the sun had began to set and the Wentworth kids had not yet been found.
Tessa was on the verge of losing it. Her eyes were swollen like globes. And her stomach constantly churned.
With each passing minute, she was starting to lose hope and thought of the worst. A stone-like hand kept squeezing her heart.
The more the kids stayed missing, the higher the possibility of something happening to them.
She was worried sick.
So when they received word that they had found Cobra and his car was heading towards the port, her heart sank deeper and deeper into the pits of her stomach.
Aaron grabbed her hand and led her out. She didnât shake his hand off because the warmth his hand was emitting was soothing her.
âWhy do you think heâs heading to the port? Is he selling our triplets?â Tessa asked Aaron this question for the umpteenth time.
Nevertheless, he didnât dare complain or tell her she had asked him so many times. He understood her fear because her feelings mirrored his He glanced at her briefly before steering the car with one hand and stretched his free hand to hold hers.
He gave her a gentle squeeze, assuring her, âWhatever the reason is, he wonât manage to take them anywhere. We shall find him before he leavesâ
The police were the first to arrive at the Port. They quickly found a container that looked suspicious. Three men were carrying three sleeping children to that container in haste.
The three men were Cobra and some gang members, while the three kids were none other than Aaron and Tessaâs triplets.
âFreeze!â
The three men stopped when they were suddenly surrounded by the police who were pointing guns at them Tessa saw the kids and her heart almost burst out of her chest.
âThe kids! Aaron, weâve found the kids!â She squeaked and opened the car before it could stop, making Aaron slam his foot on the brake.
By the time they both rushed to the scene, the officers had retrieved the children from the kidnappers and cuffed the criminals.
Clapp 31-The real culpot âOh my god! My babies!â Tessa grabbed Willa from an officer, and then Reagan.
She then went for Nia but Aaron grabbed her and got Reagan from her. He said, âLet me carry the two of them. Youâre exhausted.â
Tessa shook her head as tears stung her eyes. She replied, âI can never be too tired for our kids.â
However, she didnât take Reagan back and held Willa tightly, knowing the other two were safe in their fatherâs arms.
Suddenly, just when the police were about to drag the criminals away, three deafening gunshot sounds reverberated around the area.