Chapter 33: chapter 33

"What...what do you mean?" My body lost its rest phase and became steady."He didn't come back after the wedding" he replied anxiously, "I'm trying his number, it's saying out of signal"."Okay, why are you asking me?""Because" he stopped for a second and sighed, "I was just inquiring about the people who were present at the wedding"."I came back home early, I don't know what happened. Maybe he got hungover and went to others place"."No, you know he won't sleep in other places no matter how drunk he was. I think something happened to him"."I'm sorry, Chuck. I can't help you, I didn't see anything"."Okay" he became irked, "Sorry for wasting your precious time" he hung up loudly.I stood up from the couch and stretched out my hands and legs. Is he really missing? Nah! He'll be somewhere around or maybe this is a stunt to sneak my attention. He'll do anything, nothing to be surprised about.I headed towards my room. Wait a sec! Let me check Dylan. I knocked on his room, no reply. I opened the door, he is not there. I searched the bathroom, no evidence of his presence. I checked the cupboards all his stuff are missing. What the fuck? Did he move away from here? Why the hell he didn't inform me?Then it struck me, oh my god! What if...what if...he did something to Chris? Shit! Whether he told about him was true? No...I should not be the reason for his disappearance. I dialled Dylan's number, he didn't answer. Noo! I swear if he did anything to him...I...I...I took a breath to relax. Don't be tensed! Think Ana! Think! What to do?I called Jamie's number, he didn't answer. Fuck! Maybe I should tell this to Chuck, no! You shouldn't panic him without confirmation.Jamie called me back, "What's up, honey?""Jam, Chris is missing and I think Dylan has something to do with it" I explained everything to him."I need to find Dylan, Jamie. Cause he may did something to him. What...what...what...should I do?" I asked him in tension."Ana! First, relax" he tried to confront me."I don't wanna be relaxed, you fucking moron!" I shouted, "Just tell me how can I find him. Every minute passes he may be in danger"."Why the fuck do you care?" He asked me suddenly.That made me realise how tense I was, "Ahem..." I cleared my throat, "Because...because...I don't wanna be the reason for his disappearance. Listen! This is not important. Are you in or out. If you are not, I'll do it by myself"."Hey! Calm down!" He let out a breath, "You remember, Gideon?""Yes, a police officer" It blinked at me, "Yeah...right...I...I'll ask him to help, send his number"."On the way. Listen, I'm out of town, I'll try to come back Asap. Call me if you need anything"."Okay, bye" I hung up.Message blinked with Gideon's number. He is a captain of a precinct in New york. He is in his mid-fifties. We met him for an interview, he was super friendly and requested to call us if we need some help.I dialled his number, he answered in three rings, "Captain, Gideon Boston here"."Umm...Hello, Mr Gideon, I'm Ana"."Ana?" He questioned."Ana Thomas, from New Era"."Oh..." His voice cheered up, "Ms Thomas, How are you?""I'm fine, Sir. How are you?""I'm good. So, may I know why you called this old man?""Umm...sir, here in my apartment a guy named Dylan resided here for three days. He is a lawyer. Until yesterday night, I don't know that he is here to meet a Mafia leader. My friend found out this and warned me. Now both of them are missing, can you help me to find them?"I sensed his keen eyes listening to this, he replied after a second, "Of course, I'll help"."Thanks...umm...Also, one thing, can you handle this unofficially?""May I know why?"I became hesitant, "Ms Thomas, if you need my help, you need to bed frank with me".I sighed softly, "Because the person missing is a big shot. His name is Christopher Rovan and also there is no certainty he is the reason for his disappearance...so...""Okay, I get it. Let me see, what can I do"."Thank you so much. Where do we start now?""Send their numbers, we'll trace it first"."Ok" I send their numbers to him fastly."I got it" he replied, "I'll call you as soon as I get any information"."I'll wait".We both hung up. I waited for his call roaming nervously around the room. Jesus! Nothing should happen to him. I waited with my fingers crossed. After five minutes, my phone rang, "Hello" I answered without even looking at the caller ID."Thomas" Gideon spoke, "We traced one number, Dylan's. He is in a motel named Troy. Another number Christopher's, we couldn't trace it. I'm heading to the Motel, if you come there we can find what's happening. I've sent you the location"."Sure, I'll be there in five minutes" I hurried up grabbing my car keys.I reached the location he sent me. He was there in his uniform leaning against the car window. When I came out of mine, he stood straight, "Thomas, this is where he is" he came to the point directly."Let's get inside".We enquired receptionist. At first, he was reluctant, but when we threatened what gonna happen if he didn't cooperate, he gave the room number and a duplicate key.We walked through the hallway and stopped before the room number he mentioned. This is not a very clean motel, paint lost its shine and walls are cracked exposing the whitewash on it.He knocked on the door, "Police! Open up".No response.He looked at me and nodded. He unlocked it with a key and took his gun outside. We looked around, a dusty bed was in the centre of the room accompanied by an old TV and a trash lamp table. The room was dark with a small amount of sunlight passing through the dirty window. What the hell is he doing here?"Ana" I heard Dylan's voice behind me. We both became alert and turned around. Gideon pointed a gun at him.He was shocked and raised his arms above his head, "Woah! Woah! What's happening here?" He blinked.He was in a floral print shirt and pyjamas. Gideon spoke, "This is the police. If you have any weapon, keep it aside"."What? No!" He was confused, "No, I don't have any weapons"."Keep your hands up" Gideon went near him and checked all over his pockets. Gideon shook his head, indicating no weapon."Sit on the bed" he ordered.He sat, I went near him, "I'm sure there is a mistake, Ana. Why are you here?"Gideon checked around the room one more time, "Clear, no one is here" he assured keeping his guns back in his pocket."Where the fuck is Chris?" I asked him."What? How the hell I know?" He got more confused."Listen, if you are planning to do anything to him. I swear no matter how resourceful you are, I'll cut you deep and slow so that you'll enjoy real pain" My eyes boiled in anger.I don't know how that words came out of my mouth. I realised what I've said, I care about him? That's why it came out?He swallowed hard, "No...No...I didn't do anything, I promise" he lowered his hands."Then, why the fuck you left my house?"He hesitated, "Answer me, Dammit!" I roared and clutched his collar, "Before I can put a bullet through your head"."Wait! Wait! I'll say" he was shocked unexpecting this, "The reason I vacated is because of him" he replied."Huh...what?""After you left for the bar, he came to me and asked me to get out of your house. At first, I opposed it. But when he threatened to expose why am I here and kill me if anything happens to you because of me. He added further that I need to leave without informing you that's why...I...left"."How can you believe you are saying the truth?""Trust me, I don't have anything to do with what the hell you are talking about. Look, I left your house early morning and went to a three-star hotel. I was there until I came here. You can enquire the receptionist"."What the hell are you doing here?" Gideon asked."My...my client is coming here to meet me"."Is that Client is Mossimo, drug dealing Mafia head we've been searching for for years".He lowered his head, "I...I...Can't say it"."Ok then, I'll stay here until your client comes" Gideon crossed his arms.My intuition said that he is saying the truth. He was scared and sweating all the time. I think he didn't do it.Gideon signalled me, I went near him, "Thomas, I think he is speaking the truth"."Still, he don't have a proper alibi"."I know that" he hissed, "I call my people here. We are gonna arrest him and that Mossimo. If he is involved with Chris's disappearance, I have ways to make him spit out the truth"."Okay, I trust you"."Now, you want to get out of here. I'll call you if I have any information"."Okay, please hurry up" I wiped my mouth."I will" he assured.I came out of the motel sadly. I'm not responsible for his disappearance. So, I must be relieved, right?. But I couldn't. Now, I was really concerned about his whereabouts. What if he is stuck in any problem? Or what if...if...he...he...is...I closed my eyes scolding myself for thinking it. My stomach growled and formed a knot realising that he is missing. I felt my eyes blackening out. Chris, where are you? My eyes moistened. I dialled Chuck's number, he answered after several rings, "Yes, Ana?" He asked me."Umm...Did you find him?""Still, no. I am trying his phone, James is searching for him. If this continues, we need to inform his parents and probably the police. Excuse me...Why do you care? You never tried to forgive him" he flickered in anger, "All these months, he was thinking about you day and night. But you never even tried to see him once. You became his whole world, but you didn't give a damn about that. Why the fuck do you now act like that you care?" He hung up angrily.I felt guilty. Did I make a mistake? No, I didn't. He...he...he deserved it. But now it reached off the limits.When I was about to leave the place, I casually looked at my phone. That's when it struck me. Shit! This may be a chance. I dialled Chuck's number, he answered after a ring, "What do you want now?" His voice was desperate."Chuck! I think I know where he is".