Chapter 80: 80

NOAH'S POV

When I got to the gym this morning, Kim was already there breaking a sweat on the treadmill, she had an ipod plugged into her ears. I started on my own set and I was midway into it, when Kim drew my attention by standing in front of me.

“How're you doing? Noah, are you okay?” she asked with a concerned look.

“Am not okay, but I'll be okay.” I replied to her.

*I know you're gonna be fine, I can't say I know how you feel, but I know that you'll be fine.” she said to me.

“I know that's why, I keep pushing.” I told her.

“I'll be going with you to see Anna's parents today, if that's okay with you.” she said to me.

“Am cool with it, you can come with us.” I replied to her.

“I'll go prepare breakfast and then we can all leave, but Noah you're gonna drive me to the mall, I wanna pick something for Anna's parents, it's not nice visiting them without buying anything for them.” she said to me.

I looked at her, amazed at the niceness of this woman, “You can do whatever, Kim welcome to the family from my heart.” I said to her and left the gym.

Kim prepared a big breakfast for everyone, Jimmy joined us to eat breakfast, Tyler and uncle Rafael left, after Kim kissed him goodbye. We left for the mall to buy something for Anna's parents. I drew attention to us. After a bunch of girls recognized me as Noah Wilder the model, I was forced to sign their autograph and I left to meet a laughing Jimmy and Kim.

I got a call from detective Rodriguez.

“Noah, can you see me in the station? It's important,” he said to me.

“Okay, I'll be there.” I replied to him.

“Noah, what's the problem?” Kim asked me as Jimmy looked at me intently.

“Is detective Rodriguez and he wants to see me, he says it's important.” I told them.

“Fine, we could just take a cab and see the detective, while Homer takes Mrs Wilder here to the hospital.” Jimmy said to me.

“Nonsense, Jimmy called me Kim okay, we can all go to the station together, I wanna hear what he has to say, and then we can all go to the hospital.” Kim suggested.

“Okay Kim,” Jimmy says and smiles. “That's a good plan, boss, do you mind?” Jimmy asked me.

“No, Kim, that's a good plan, we should do as she says, Homer take us to the station.” I said.

We got to the station, and in no time detective Rodriguez came into his office, his face a mix of professionalism and a hint of frustration. He motioned for us to follow him into a small conference room to talk better there.

“Thank you all for coming in,” Rodriguez began, once they were seated down. “I want to give you an update, about the suspect we apprehended yesterday.”

“Did he talk,” my voice was strained with impatience.

Detective Rodriguez sighed and shook his head. “Unfortunately, no. he's not cooperating, I had to show him the video, where he shot Felix, he's still maintaining his silence.” he told us.

I clenched my fist on the table. “You have him on video! and that bastard is still not talking, what more does he want? he should be fucking confessing by now!”

Kim glanced at me, her eyes soft with concern. “Noah, I know it's hard, but let's hear what the detective Rodriguez has to say.”

Jimmy leaned forward, his brows furrowed in anger, “Detective, can you tell us anything more about this guy?” Why won't he fucking talk?”

Rodriguez rubbed his temples, the stress of the case weighing on him. “This suspect is a tough and a hardened criminal. He has a long history of crime since he was a teenager. My sources from other stations say that he has a long history of keeping quiet under pressure. we're digging into his background, looking for any leverage we can use against him. but as of now I think he's stonewalling us.”

I couldn't contain my frustration and anger, I stood up and paced around, “It's not enough, he killed Felix, and I was blamed for it, he's fucking with us. he can't just get away with it.”

Kim reached out to me, trying to calm me down. “Hey Noah, I understand your anger and outburst. We want the same thing here. but we need to let the detective, Rodriguez, do his job here.”

Jimmy nodded in agreement with what she said, “She's right Noah. we need to be patient, these things take time.” Jimmy said to me in a serious tone.

Rodriguez looked at me, his voice was firm but stern, “I promise you, Noah, I'll do everything that I can. this suspect thinks he can play tricks on us, I've got time on my side. we'll keep pressing him.”

I stopped pacing and looked at Rodriguez, my eyes burning with extreme intensity, “ I need to know that, you're going to use every possible means to get the information we need from him, none of us deserves this.” I said to him,

Rodriguez met my gaze, his expression resolute. “You have my word. we'll get to the bottom of this. I'll put him under pressure, and sooner he's gonna slip up.” he assured me.

Kim stood up and placed a comforting arm around Noah, “We believe in you, detective. Please keep us updated. and Noah, let's try and be hopeful.”

Jimmy got up and shook hands with detective Rodriguez, “Thank you, detective. we know you're doing everything that you can, we just wanna see some progress." Jimmy said to him.

Rodriguez nodded with a determined look on his face, “I understand, we'll keep pushing. I'll contact you with any updates as soon as we have them.” he said.

As we all left the police station, my anger had not fully subsided, but Kim's and Jimmy's support gave me a small measure of comfort. I know that the road ahead will be challenging, but I'll get through it with the right people around me.

As we entered Anna's room, Mrs Lima looked up and saw us and smiled, “ Hello everyone, thanks for coming.” she said to us.

“Mrs Lima, this is Kim, my uncle's wife.” I introduced Kim to her.

“Welcome dear, you're so beautiful.” she said to Kim.

“You're so nice, Mrs Lima thanks, I am just happy to be here. I heard about Anna, don't worry she'll get well soon.” Kim said to her.

Mr Lima, stood up from where he was sitting down and came close to me, “Good to see you Noah, any news from the police?” he asked as he shook my hand.

I shook my head, anger evident in my expression, “Not much, Detective Rodriguez said, the suspect isn't talking despite all his efforts.” I told him.

Mrs Lima sighed, her hands gently caressing Anna's face. “I was afraid of that. how can someone be so heartless.”

Kim moved to Mrs Lima’s side, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. “They'll get him to talk eventually, Mrs Lima, these things take time.”

Jimmy nodded in agreement. “Detective Rodriguez, assured us that they're not letting up. they're putting the pressure on him. He'll crack eventually.”

Mr Bill, who was sitting by the window, looked over with a serious look on his face. “What else can they do, Noah? do they have any other leads on the case?”

I leaned against the wall, looking at Anna. “they're still analyzing the phone they found in Anna's room and they're digging into his background, looking for anything they can use against him. but right now he's stonewalling.”

Mr Lima clenched his fists, his frustration was evident. “It's not fair. Anna's, lying down here in a coma, he's refusing to give us answers.”

Mrs Lima's eyes were misty, as he looked at her daughter. “We just want justice for Anna. she doesn't deserve this at all.”

Kim squeezed her shoulders. “And she'll get it, we just have to believe that okay, the police are doing everything that they can. the baby won't want this alright.”

Mrs Lima nodded at what kim said, the room was filled with silence, everyone was lost in thoughts. Despite the tension, there was a sense of unity among us. We all wanted the same thing.

I walked over to Anna's bedside, looking down at her beautiful and peaceful face, I caressed her face. “Wake up Anna, we all want to see you badly.”

Mrs Lima, looked at me and smiled. “Thanks Noah, it means a lot to have you all here.”

Mr Bill leaned forward with his eyes seriously. “We've got to stick together through this, that's the only way we can get through it. but I'll be seeing Rodriguez later today.”

Mr Lima nodded, his expression resolute. “Definitely, we're a team here. and am sure we'll find a way to make that monster talk.”

“Yes, we sure will.” I replied to him, my mind working out so many options.

At this point a nurse walked in, with drugs and injections for Anna, “I'll be needing privacy to give the patient her medication.” she said in a professional and nice way.

“Alright then.” I said we all left the room.

We all went to the waiting room, until the nurse said we could go inside, we stayed for a bit, we talked, Anna's friends came over too, and Kim was nice to them. Jimmy was happy to see Latoye, my friend is whipped for her. We left after some time, we got home kim, went to her room with uncle Rafael, and I told Jimmy, to follow me to my room we have to talk.

“Hey, Noah, what's up?” Jimmy asked with a calm but worried tone.

“Jim, I need you to do something for me,” I began my voice tense. “I want you to find some guys, right there in prison to beat up that bastard suspect in prison, I guess if he's roughed up a bit, he's gonna start talking.”

There was a long pause from Jimmy, “Are you serious? you can't be thinking straight. that's not the right way to handle this boss.”

I was looking at the window this whole time, “I'm serous Jimmy, we're getting nowhere with him. he's sitting there, not saying a fucking word. we need answers, I need answers and fast.”

“Noah, this isn't you, listen to yourself. you can't take laws into your hands, you know that. if we go down this road, we're no better than the people we are trying to stop.”

I took a deep breath, calming my racing thoughts, “You're right, you're right but it's fucking frustrating to wait, I'll just for a while, if he's not talking he's gonna get it from me.”

“I know it's hard, Noah,” Jimmy said gently. “But we'll get through this. we'll find a way to get answers without crossing lines. I promise you that.”

I took a deep breath, I felt a sense of calmness slowly returning to me, “Thanks Jimmy, I needed to hear that.”

“That's what I'm here for,” Jimmy replied. “Now get some rest. we've got a long road ahead of us, we need to be our best, good night Noah, remember we are in this together you and me.”

“Good night Jimmy, don't be weird.” I said to him, smiling.

“Alright good night, I'll be leaving now.”

“Homer, will drop you off.”