Chapter 19 Nineteen
Benedict shook his head and exhaled.
“I am fed up with this woman.”
That is their problem.
The officer and I left the headquarters after I was sure Cassie was locked up.
When we arrived at the school, it was still in session.
And since the security at the gate said he saw the people who took the kid away, then there is no need to talk with the principal of the school.
“Detective Lizzy Mason,”
I showed him my ID card.
“What can I do for you, Detective Lizzy?”
I showed him Zara’s picture.
“Oh, she hasn't been found yet?”
“No, she hasn't.”
I returned the picture.
“As a security guard whose job is to see that nothing bad happens to the kids, you should know the drivers who come to pick the kids each day.”
He bobbed his head.
“So, has anyone ever picked up Zara from school apart from her driver?”
“No, Detective.”
“So, why did you let those guys take her away?”
He sighed deeply.
“I thought the person inside the car was her Dad, I didn't know they were kidnappers.”
“Has Mr. Benedict ever come to pick her up or has he ever dropped her?”
“No,”
“So why did you say you thought it was him?”
He furrowed his brows into a frown.
“Detective Lizzy, my job here isn't to look at everyone who comes to pick these kids up every day. Please do not turn the accusation on me, I have no hand in this.”
He turned to leave, but I fetched out the pistol and pointed it at him.
“You are under arrest for the negligence of your duty.”
He turned around, eyes widened in shock.
“Hands up!”
The officer commanded and he did that.
“But, Detective Lizzy, I swear, I have no hand in this. Trust me.”
Trust him?
In my work, I trust nobody.
Only investigation will depict if I should trust them or not.
“What is happening here?”
An average-looking man in a black suit asked, hurrying towards the gate.
“Thank goodness you are here. Please help me, Mr. Principal.”
Oh, he is the principal.
“Detective Lizzy? I hope my school is safe.”
He asked, wiping the beads of sweat on his head.
“A 5-year-old who attends school here was abducted in front of the school three days ago and I am here to investigate.”
He became confused.
“But I have no idea about it. No one told me.”
He said, fanning himself with the tissue in his hand.
“Really?”
He turned to the security guy.
“Why didn't you report to me?”
“I didn't know either, sir. I thought the person who came to pick her up two days ago was her Dad.”
“Gosh! This is serious. How can we handle this now, Detective Lizzy, I don't want it to get to the news, or else, my school will become a scary place. Worst, parents would withdraw their children,”
Is he kidding me?
Is the reputation of the school more significant than the life of a kid?
“Please mention anything you want, and it is yours.”
Whoa!
A bribe?
“I will be forced to shut down this school the next time you mention anything such as that. Haven't you done any research about me?”
He apologized.
“Do not be offended by my action, Detective Lizzy, I am just confused about the whole thing.”
A few minutes later, we returned to the headquarters, but with the security to carry out more investigation.
When this case is over and he returns to his duty, he will know how to handle the security of the kids.
“Detective Lizzy, please can you release my wife now? I think she has learnt her lesson.”
It is so difficult for that problematic lady to have realized her blunder.
People like her can never switch from their nasty behavior.
“I ain't done with my work, and she will keep distracting me. Until Zara is found, she remains there.
Now get ready, we are going to your house for an investigation.”
His eyes widened, and I could see his hands trembling even though he tried to hide them.
“But…why?”
He stuttered.
“Zara wasn't kidnapped from home, she was abducted in school. I… I think your investigation should focus on the school.”
Hmmm
This guy,
“You don't have the right to tell me what to do.”
He bobbed his head and stepped aside.
His phone kept on ringing as we spoke, but he never picked it up.
“What if it is the kidnappers calling you?”
I asked him, but he turned the phone off instead.
“No, it isn't them.”
Uhn?
How did he know it wasn't them?
“I mean, it can't be them…they haven't…hmmm,”
He excused himself and scurried away.
“Detain him and meet me outside.”
I quickened my pace to catch up with Benedict to see what he was up to.
And he was speaking on the phone in the parking lot.
The way he was gesticulating seemed to indicate that he was telling whoever it was on the phone to be fast.
“Mr. Benedict?”
The officer called, ruining my plan.
I'd wanted to tiptoe there, to hear what he was saying.
Nevertheless, I've understood what is going on.
“Let’s go.”
He returned the phone to his pocket and hurried to us.
“Why are you so nervous, Mr. Benedict? Is it because of your missing daughter?”
I asked him and he said yes.
“She is the only child I have, Detective Lizzy, and I love her so much. Cassie said she doesn't want to give birth anymore,
So if I lose Zara now, that is the end of my life.”
“But you can get married again, and have kids.”
“No, I love Cassie so much, and she loves me too. I don't think I can marry another wife, Detective Lizzy.”
Well, I don't blame him.
In this city, it will be so difficult for him to come across a lady who would shoulder his responsibility like Cassie.
What a stupid man.
Can't he just go look for a job to sustain himself?
Tsk tsk.
“Can you stop over there, please?”
He pointed at a mart.
“What do you want to do there?”
“I just want to buy an ice cream for…”
He went mute.
“For the kid who isn't home?”
Interesting.
“I am sorry for wasting your time.”
He said after a while.
As soon as we arrived at Cassie’s mansion, Mr. Benedict jumped down from the car when he saw a troop of officers in front of the mansion.