Chapter Twenty Three: Investigation

Chapter Twenty Three: Investigation
Ari’s pov 

“I need you to be very careful honey, I will call you everyday.” Demien said for the hundredth time. He had an urgent trip to go to which he  insisted that I go with him but I had to decline. I had other plans which include solving the mystery behind the card I found in Mr Patrick Harris hospital room and I wanted to get to know my unborn child as well. . 

“Make sure you call me if you need anything.” He added. I sent him a small smile. I was tired of assuring him that I would be fine all alone. He is so caring and it’s cute. 

“Why don’t you invite Celeste over to stay with you.” He has been repeating the same thing for hours. 

“Or you can go stay at my mom's. You know that she  loves having you around.” I exhaled calmly. 

“I understand that you care for me and you worry about my well being and I really appreciate that.” I smiled gently. 

“I will visit your mom often even if I don’t get bored of staying alone. I will also visit and hangout with Celeste often. I assure you that you have nothing to worry about.” I said in my sweetest tone possible.

“But in the meantime I would love to bond with my little one on my own. Get closer with it. Do fun things with it. Just me and my little….” I didn’t have to complete my sentence before his lips landed softly in my forehead. I smiled gently. 

“Ok honey I trust you, have fun and do not forget to tell the little one about me.” He teased me. 

“Sure.” I chuckled. 

“Have a safe flight.” I added and kissed his hands. After hugging each other for what felt like minutes he decided to leave. We kissed each other again. It was hard to let go but we knew we had to at a point, he was getting late for his flight. 

Since today was my first time alone,  I was going to put it to good use. After having the breakfast Demien made for me I got dressed and headed out. Dressed in a totally different style from how I usually dress, I was going to the bank to request to see a private account. 

It was one of those banks you needed just a code to get access to a box. What is in the box is not even known to the bankers. 



It took me a lot of confidence to come out of my car. With my sunglasses on and my new hairstyle, I believe no one would recognize me. 

“Hi, good morning.” I said to the lady in the reception area. 

“Good morning ma welcome to AllPoint bank.” She sounded nice unlike how many receptionists would usually sound. 

“Thank you.” I sent her a small smile. 

“I would like to access the account of Mr Patrick Harris.” I said and brought out the card I found in his hospital room from my bag. I was able to make a duplicate from an app online and I had it delivered to me this morning. 

“Ok ma, I would need you to sign here, and hand the card over to me for confirmation before I can give you the key.” She explained in detail. 

“Ok here you go.” I tried to sound confident as I handed the card over to her. I have never tried something like this before. I just hope it works. She took out the card and swiped it on a machine there before handing it back to me. 

“Here you go ma.” She handed it back to me. 

“This is the key.” She added. I almost hurriedly walk away when she drags my attention back. 

“Oh I remember you, I think you have been the lady coming here trying to access this account. Good thing you have found the card.  You see how much earlier this was.” She seemed sure but not so sure. 

“You look different or I must be mistaken. She said under her breath. But she was definitely mistaken, this was my first time coming here and I wonder who might be the lady she claims has been trying to access the account. 

If this account belongs to Mr Patrick Harris that means the only lady that could be looking for access to it would be Camille. And if Camille could not access the account for god knows how long that means she knows nothing about the whereabouts of the card. She must have probably been looking for it in the wrong places while it was hidden in his hospital closet all this while. 

“No, I am not aware of any lady trying to access my husband’s account.” I sounded confident. I was not going to let her blow my cover. . . 

“Who is this lady you talked about?” I asked her and she adjusted a little as if my question made her uncomfortable. I know it is against the policy to give out client information but I know exactly how to get what I want from her. 

“Ma you know it’s against our policy to give out information like that.” She was still talking when I cut her short. 

“Yes it is but you already told me about her so might as well just tell me who she is.” I sounded really polite but with an aura. I was not the type to tip people off but I learnt a few things from my dad. 

“I don’t usually do this but since your husband is a big client of ours.” She said as she went through some papers. 

“Her name is Mrs Camille Prescott,” She added. I knew I wasn’t wrong, my guess was right. 

“I hope I don’t get into trouble because of this.”She murmured under her breath. 

“You won't, I promise.”I assured her with a small smile that eased her heart as I dropped her tip. With that I took the key and she led me to the safe box. 

“Please excuse me.” She said and with that she left. It was against their policy to be with clients when they access the safe deposit box. I wonder why Mr Patrick Harris would choose this type of bank away from all the digital once. He must have something very valuable in there. 

I took a deep breath before opening the box. There was no going back now. Whatever I might see in there might get me more involved in all of this or not. 

Am I ready for it? Sure I am 

But do I know why exactly I’m going through all of this for a stranger? That I am not sure about but I have a strong feeling about all of this and I do not turn away from my feelings. 

I opened up the box to find a flash drive and some documents. I didn't want to waste too much time there since I am unsure of what  would happen next so I took the flash with me and I snapped a clear picture of all the documents on my phone. I locked the box and put it in its place. I was careful not to get seen by  any camera. I only walk past when they turn the opposite way or slightly away from me. 

I was successfully done with everything I came for and it was time to break down every information I was able to gather,  but I paused when I attempted to open up my car door. The sound from my stomach was so loud I had to wrap my hands on my stomach hoping others wouldn’t hear. It was my little one, it must be hungry already. I smiled at the thought. 

It’s my first priority regardless of whatever mission I am on, so I took out time to stop by at a restaurant. A familiar one where my little one will feel close to the people it has spent time with before. I booked the exact same table as the last time when I was here with Mrs Laurent Celeste and Damien. At the thought of Demien I felt a little sad I miss him already. 

While I waited for my order I decided to text him but he somehow managed to reach out to me first. Maybe he must have felt I was thinking about him. I picked up his call on the first ring almost as if I had been waiting to talk to him. I didn't mind looking desperate, I just really wanted to hear his voice. 

“Hey sugar.” He teased. 

“Hi..” my voice was a little low and out of energy. 

“What’s wrong sweetheart, are you sick?” He threw questions at me, the seriousness in his voice was evident. The sudden change in his voice. There was silence between us. He was eager to hear me speak, to hear my voice. 

“I’m good honey.” I finally said something after a few seconds.

“I just really miss you.”  The sadness in my voice is evident. 

“And your little one misses you too.” I added. 

“Oh darling I really miss guys as well, I’ll come back soon, cheer up Ok?” His words were very comforting. 

“Ok.” I spoke softly as I nodded my head in agreement. I could tell he was in a meeting from the background noise. 

“I’ll take care of myself, you don’t have to worry.” I assured him with a gentle smile on my face. 

“Ok honey I trust you to do that, I’ll talk to you later.” He seemed more calm than before. 

My food arrived and I explained to my little one about the dishes on the table and how they taste as I eat from my plate.

Pregnancy is more tasking than I thought. I get tired easily, I get hungry all the time and I don’t even know how to prepare myself a meal. I have decided to take it upon myself to learn how to cook once I am done solving this misery. I want my little one to grow healthy. My lunch was fast,  I was done eating and paying my bills so I left. 

The evening breeze was so cool that it blew  memories to me when I saw Lucians name pop up on the headlines of the new notification on my phone screen. I still do not know how he has that effect on me with or without his presence. He has an effect on me. I sighed heavily and proceeded with what I was doing. 

The documents I snapped at the bank show evidence of fraud and embezzlement from Mr Patrick Harris company and all evidence points to Camille as the criminal. This makes sense why she must have been after the papers she was planning to destroy these documents. I was shocked to see how much she has extracted from him; so many millions of Dollars. 

I took out the flash and decided to open the files in them. I was sure I would get something more tangible from it, something I can use to destroy Camille for good. 

I anticipated and I was eager to see what was on the file but all my energy drained down when I realized I needed a passcode to access the file. I wasn’t sure what to try out so I used Mr Patrick last name as my first trial and it didn’t work. Instead I got a notification that I only have two trials left. 

“Two trails!” I said out loud without realizing it. I was getting frustrated already. I need to think deep and think fast. I took out time to go through every document again this time around. I was very careful but I couldn't really get anything that was close to what looks like a passcode.  I thought Mr Patrick's last name would be the key to unlocking the file since his last name is six alphabets and the empty boxes  on the screen were also six. I was wrong. I guess I should have taken my time to think about it more carefully. Things like this aren’t so easy to access. I learnt that from Lucian and my step father victor.

Lucian would tell me to lock my phone with a passcode I think no one would know, and after doing that he would try to unlock my phone to see how well I was able to come up with a passcode. On several attempts he would unlock my phone immediately just on the first trial and other times he would unlock my phone in the second or third trial. I used to adore how smart he was, but he would tell me that there's nothing smart about it and I was just very predictable. 

I decided to do some background check on Mr Patrick on the internet. To try and find out if he has any children or step wife or ex wife or siblings just anything to help me just get close to knowing him more. The more I know things about him the closer I would get to unlocking his file. 

Unfortunately for me there was nothing about his personal life on the internet. There was literally nothing about him other than being the founder of his company and career success as well. 

“How do I get information on Mr Patrick?” I said to myself. I began to wonder. I took a walk around the garden in my deepest thoughts trying to figure out what my next step to unlocking that file would be. When an idea popped up in my head. 

I decided to do research on Camille instead. I know a few things about her already, but that was years ago and now the internet might have some information that I am not aware about. 

I quickly typed her name on my keyboard and in less than a second everything about her pooped up. I carefully read the write up about her until I saw something eye catchy. 

Camille Prescott, wife of Mr Patrick Harris since his divorce to his ex wife Amanda Ray. 

This information made my heart rise in excitement. Now all I have to do is to find this Amanda Ray. 

I did a quick background check on her and I got her address. It made things so easy for me. 

“I am going to get to the root of all this.” I clenched my fist in determination.