A Visit To Prison

A Visit To Prison
"I don't know why you brought me here. You could have come alone." I folded my arms, staring with a displeased expression at the entrance of the police station.
"You need this." Jared said, turning off the engine and unbuckling his seatbelt. "Aren't you getting out?"
"I told you I'm not ready. I don't know what to tell her. I'm not even sure I want to talk to her, I can't forget the fact that she had a hand in my father's death."
"Fine. Then don't talk, let me do the talking. I just want you to be available so you can hear the information she has. You want Philip and Derek to pay for what they have done to you, don't you?" He shifted to face me.
"I guess." My tone was reluctant.
"Good, because I want Philip to pay for killing my father." His jaw tightened.
I frowned a little. "You've never been this upset ever since...I don't know, he was your father-in-law."
"A big mistake. My father's death ruined my family with my mother as an accomplice." His words were bitter to the ears.
I placed a hand atop his and rubbed affectionately. "Alright, let's do this. For justice's sake."
We stepped out of the vehicle and proceeded to the station. We didn't need much introduction, within seconds, I was sitting opposite Denise.
There was a different look about her. Gone was the sassy, manipulative, mean-spirited bitch I was accustomed to. This lady before me was more drawn in, defeated and quiet.
Her eyes had lit up the moment she spotted us, particularly me. But they had returned to their dull light when I hadn't paid her attention.
Even her cheerful greetings had been put out by my stiff, dispassionate response.
"How are you faring, Denise?" Jared asked conversationally.
"I'm good. As good as I can be." Her smile seemed to me like it was forced.
She stole a glance at me. I continued observing her coldly.
"I was given twelve years." She said, another stolen glance at me. "I think that's a fair deal."
"You'll be out in no time. So what have you got for us? I received your message."
"Yes. Firstly, I know you'll be wondering how I am still able to help from inside."
"That crossed my mind." Jared shrugged.
"Well, I was able to get close to one of Jerome's bodyguards when I was together with Jerome, turns out the guy is good with getting information. He comes visiting once every while." She explained.
"So this time he told you where to find Philip and Derek?" Jared questioned, interested in whatever she had to say.
"Yes. It was difficult but he was finally able to get them at a remote bar far from here, specifically the remote side of town."
"How does he know them? This bodyguard I mean." Jared probed further.
"I already told him about them before that day at the party, showed him pictures but he wasn't able to get me anything until now." She replied. "If your eyes were lasers, Hailey, I'd be dead by now."
"I wish they were." I threw spitefully at her.
"Okay." She nodded and shifted her gaze back to Jared. "This guy, according to what he reported, said he heard them arguing about something. One argued he had an unfinished business, the second one wants them to leave as soon as possible."
"Unfinished business?" Jared's brows was raised.
"Yes. The guy said the man sounded as though it was really an important business. The other strongly argued that both their women were dead and they were responsible. Said it was only a matter of time before the cops begin to investigate the death of the other's wife."
"Their women?" Jared was surprised as I was. "Catherine was Derek's ex. I thought you had her arrested." He directed to me.
"Yes, she is in custody."
"Well, I knew of Catherine and asked around if anyone had seen her. They said no. Said a police officer came in one night and released her from cell, that's the last time they ever saw her." Denise provided usefully.
That piece of information had my heart beating faster than it should. "What do you mean she was released? Who was the police officer that released her? No one told me anything."
"Derek has connections, even with the police force." Denise responded, making eye contact.
I averted my gaze, settling them on Jared. "We need to find out if this is true and if it is, why no one told me."
"We'll do that as soon as we leave here. So do you have their location?" He asked Denise.
"Yes, I do." She produced a piece of paper from her orange jumpsuit and handed it to Jared. "But I'll warn you, tread carefully. Derek is a dangerous man."
"Thank you, Denise. I'll come visiting sometime soon." Jared rose to leave.
Her eyes lit up a bit again. "You promise?"
He looked at me, noted my displeased expression but replied her nonetheless. "Yes, I do promise."
"Alright. I hope you get him." She bade us goodbye, only Jared retuned it.
I left and didn't even look back.
"Why did you promise to come visiting? Do you have plans to do so?" I asked him the moment we were out of there.
"I know you're mad at her but can you not see how happy she was we came to visit?"
"No, I can not." I harrumphed and walked away from him.
"Catherine, remember?" He called after me.
I heaved a sigh and went back, followed him to make enquiry about Catherine.
By the time we were done, I was fuming. "How could they not notice she was missing all these while?! What incompetence!"
"Relax, babe. Recent events have been overwhelming, you really can't blame them."
"Jared, she has been missing long before these dramas started." I countered, buckling my seatbelt.
"At least, we have what we came for. It's possible Catherine is dead and Derek is responsible for it. There's motive enough for him to kill her."
I pondered on that. "Yeah, you're right. She exposed him, that is enough to make a man like Derek get mad. Now, we just have to find these men and put them behind bars for life."
"You know, Denise told me about Phillip's company before now. With her help, I have siphoned all of his cash into a private offshore account. I think we deserve it after what that man has put us through."
"You're right." I agreed, my brain already coming up with ideas on how to apprehend two smart crooks.