Investigations

10am

Shane walked out of the interrogation room. He made his way down to his office and instructed the investigator working with him to dig out information on Esther Zealot.

Thereafter, he made his way down to the chief's office.

"Have you got her testimony? That was fast" The chief said as soon as Shane walked in.

"I heard there is not going to be an autopsy," Shane said with his hand in his pockets.

"Yes…the deceased father did not approve of it… it's not like we can force it," the chief responded.

"Here is the deal sir. If you want me to wrap this up within 48 hours, I need the autopsy report on my table in the next 24 hours!" Shane said evenly and made his way towards the exit.

"You asshole! Is that a threat?" The chief questioned.

Shane turned around and walked towards the chief, "I'm aware of your dealings with Daniel Sawyer…it's not all clean you know… You should make sure you convince him," Shane said and banged the table.

"What!? You must be crazy!" The chief stuttered.

"Yes," Shane said. He smirked and made his way out.

"What a crazy bastard!" The chief yelled and picked up his phone.

Shane walked into the interrogation room and Esther fidgeted.

"Esther Zealot, who made the call to the police?" Shane questioned.

"I…" Esther stuttered.

"I was the one who received the call. The person I spoke with was not a stammer. So Esther, were you the one who called the police?" Shane repeated. 

Esther's eyes shone as realization dawned on her. She fidgeted but remained quiet.

"Your fingerprint was found on the knife that was used to stab Trevor," Shane said and Esther remained mute.

"I understand that you hated Trevor but why did you try to kill Nicole?... You were scared when you saw her. You realized that she is not dead and she would probably remember all that you did. Spill it out! You're caught!" Shane yelled.

"It's not me! I didn't do it! Yes I hated Trevor. He treated Nicole like she's trash but I did not do that to them… I.." Esther yelled hysterically but Shane interrupted.

"Then who did!?" He yelled

"I don't know!" Esther yelled.

"Someone was definitely with you that night! You are trying to protect that person. Do you think you will be safe?" Shane questioned.

"No one was with me and I am not protecting anyone," Esther said calmly.

"When you walked into the house, who did you see!?" Shane yelled.

"It was dark and the rain had started to pour. When I walked into the bedroom, Nicole and her husband were dead already," Esther responded calmly.

 "You are wrong about one thing, Nicole isn't dead," Shane said and continued.

 "You ain't dumb. Why did you pretend to be dumb for a good six years?" Shane asked and Esther looked away.

"What did that have to do with your investigation?" Esther asked bluntly. Suddenly, she bursted into a talking spree.

"I witnessed it all. Nicole killed her husband, she implored me not to report to the police. When she realized that I had called the police, she slit her wrist open. My fingerprint was on the knife because I tried to get the knife from her. Moreover, I am her maid. All the knives in the house would surely bear my fingerprints," she ended and laughed sarcastically.

Shane banged the table hard and Esther flinched.

"What the hell are you doing!?" Shane yelled.

"You wanted to know the truth. I gave a wrong testimony before. That was because I wanted to protect Nicole to the end but I think I should spill the truth for the sake of the dead," Esther said.

Shane kicked the table out of his way and grabbed Esther by the neck.

"Tell me what did you do in that house!?" He yelled.

Esther laughed like a manic while the other officials rushed forward and held Shane in place.

Shane returned into his office angrily. "Anything on Esther Zealot?" He asked investigator Jang.

"Just a few things. Nothing unusual," Jang said and submitted some documents.

Shane flipped through the documents and rose to his feet abruptly.

"I need a detailed analysis of her call history on my table," he said to Jang and Jang nodded.

"Roy, get ready, we are going to the suburbs. We're going to visit Esther's mother," Shane said and Roy's eyes shone in disbelief.

 "What!?" Roy yelled as Shane led the way.

Roy manned the wheel while Shane was deep in thought. He wondered who was behind Esther.

After about an hour's drive they arrived at their destination.

They located Mrs Zealot and Shane wasted no time.

"Ma'am, did you know Esther Zealot?" Roy asked.

The woman looked up abruptly, "Yes she is my daughter. What is it about her?" She asked.

"I am detective Shane. Your daughter was involved in a murder. She is right in our custody," Shane said.

"Murder!?" The old woman fidgeted and shook her head slowly.

"No way. Esther can't even kill a rat. She was around until yesterday. She left here around noon," she said.

"Do you know what she does in the city? Do you know where she works?" Shane asked.

"Not really but she bragged that she was working as a maid in a rich man's house… she left for the city when she started working there. It was about six years ago," the woman reasoned.

"Do you know how she got the job?" Shane asked.

"She said it was through one of her friends but I don't know her," the woman responded.

Shane brought up his phone and showed the woman Trevor's picture. 

"Do you know him?" He asked.

"No," the woman said as she stared at the picture.

"Esther worked for this man and she pretended to be dumb for a good six years until she killed the man and almost killed his wife," Shane said.

"What!? Esther will never do that… I have to see her," Mrs Zealot said and prepared to leave for the city.