Chapter Forty

"What did you say your name was?"

"Anthony Evans, and yes, I witnessed the kidnapping of Clarissa Isaiah on the on the 19th of November 2015." Gabriel nodded for him to go on and so, he continued.

"I was on my way back from the cemetery. I never visited my son and that is because he wasn't dead. I visited my wife instead. I told my son not to walk too fast, he was the one that really witnessed what went on that day. Before I could get to my son, one of them was already taking her inside their own car."

"One of them? You said it was only one person that was involved in the kidnapping." Gabriel said to him.

"I said it because that was what he wanted me to say. The other one threatened the life of my son with a neck to his neck. He was the one that told me to lie so I can save the life of my son."

"It could be possible that he was frightened by your presence, do you have any idea why he would be?" Gabriel asked.

"Probably because they didn't wear a mask. I don't think I was supposed to be there. The area was very lonely and the day was very sunny." Tony said.

Gabriel sighed. "You say you were threatened with the life of your eight-year-old son. That must have been devastating. I guess you should hold onto him tightly. Have you retrieved him? Where is he now?"

"That man," he paused finding courage. "He told me to meet him up last night. When I went to where he said we should meet up, he wasn't there. It was night and I was so confused as to what to do after that day."

"What are you trying to say Mr. Evans?"

"He's dead, he killed him, that monster killed my son!" Gabriel allowed the man to express his agony for only a short while before continuing.

"I'm really sorry for your loss Mr. Evans." he paused choosing his next words wisely. "You came to us to help you catch the man who murdered your son, isn't that right?" Tony nodded. "So, can you give us a detailed description of this man you saw?" Gabriel requested "Yes...yes. I remember his face."

***

"Hello,"

"Who am I speaking with?" Daniel waited.

"I can say that I am proud of you." A chill went through his spine as he heard the voice make that statement.

"The love of your life and your mother are in harm's way and you are still confident."

"I'm not going to beat around the bush. The paper in the envelope, bring it to me, signed. The venue is written on the envelope."

"Where's she?" Daniel asked with a frown.

"Which of them?" He definitely found amusement in this encounter.

"You know who I'm talking about!"

"But I don't," he laughed when Daniel wouldn't say a word.

"If you want her alive, you'll bring me the papers I left in the envelope signed and keep everyone away when you arrive else, the woman dies." Then he hung up.

Daniel sighed and looked at Darius who was focused on the location app on his computer.

"Did you get him?" Daniel asked hoping for a positive response at least.

Their only affirmation was a sly smile and a gentle nod.

Finally, something.

***

"Mom," Clarissa called. "When are you going to tell me what is really going on?" Kara leaned upright on the wall.

"Why does he want papers? How do you even know this man?" When Kara didn't answer, Clarissa sighed.

"Mom, what is really going on?" Clarissa tried. "You can't—"

"Do you really want to know the truth, Clarissa?" Kara turned to look at her for the first time since she started talking.

"Yes, I want to know what he was talking about." Clarissa told her and Kara sighed.

"I never knew what I was getting myself into when I started this whole issue." Kara started.

"It is very traumatizing to know almost everything and yet cannot think of the proper solution to the problems you might face. That was exactly my problem. I knew everything but I didn't know what to do." Kara said.

"Jack is someone I use for my many jobs. He used to be trust worthy until the lost his girlfriend, Angelina Marcelo."

***

"Darius, it's Gabriel. I had an artist draw out the man's face and when I looked him up. The face matches the one of Jack Roberto. He's unemployed."

"That's great! I knew he knew something. Why did he hide the truth then?"

"Jack had his son Darius. He did what he had to do to ensure his son's safety."

Darius sighed. "That's by the way. Jack made a phone call from somewhere inside the city. I'll send you the location and you see if you can find anything else with that information."

"Ok."

***

"And she died of that fire incident." Kara continued. "He blamed me because I caused it. I mean, I literally was the cause." Clarissa frowned.

"How do you mean that?"

"I ordered him to do it in exchange for a large sum of money," Kara finished.

"I don't understand, that fire...that was your doing?!" Clarissa's eyes widened in realization. Clarissa scoffed saying nothing else. All these problems started from her?!

The arranged marriage, Clara running away and her getting married to Daniel.

Did she know that things would turn out this way? That Clara was going to run away? Clarissa's mind was filled with many thoughts.

"Jack didn't know that his girlfriend had returned from Mexico. Only God knows what she was doing there, maybe to meet with a friend or something. Maybe she was supposed to be working but she was inside when it caught fire."

"Was it necessary to burn it down?" Clarissa spoke after a while. "I'm still wondering why on earth would you decide to ruin the lives of so many people."

It wasn't until now when she listened to someone call out her deed that she realized that her deed was not only selfish but wicked as well. In just one night, she ruined the lives of so many people.

"I can't believe it, mom that you'd do such a thing just for your selfish motives."

"Of course I didn't do it for no just cause, I did it for my son!" Kara told her. "So many times I had to watch her go on a date behind Daniel's back. Do you think I was one to smile about that?"

Clarissa frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Clara was cheating on my son and it wasn't till after the wedding was planned that I discovered. If the wedding got called off, I wouldn't be able to give a perfect explanation why, if I told anyone then the family will hate her, I was just so confused!"

"That's almost impossible, Clara was literally in love with Daniel."

"You would think that till you saw what I saw. That week I saw them was also the week I found out that he was in a relationship with you." This time Clarissa looked away from her curious stare.

"You can tell me you know, you don't have to be so secretive about it anymore."

How she supposed to say that she was in love with her son ever since?

"I never loved him and when I told him, he got mad."

Kara only nodded in understanding. "Who wouldn't get mad?" She forced a smile. "You entered a relationship to get distracted, that is something I can believe." Kara told her but something else was missing out and she didn't need to be told. "You were in love with my son then?"

Clarissa's eyes darted to hers immediately and She scoffed. "What? I don't know what you mean."

"You went into a platonic relationship with Nicholas. You didn't give him so much attention so the minute he finds someone that does, he runs away with her. That means a lot of things don't you think?"

"Fine! I was in love with your son. He always hung out with me whenever Clara stood him up. I—" Clarissa stopped when the woman gave her a smile.

"Believe me when I say that I understand. That's why I told you from the beginning, I knew everything."