chapter 2 The Culprit

"This is hard to believe. Are you sure you brought the check to this bank? I don't even know what to believe anymore. None of this ever makes sense to me.”

Connard questioned Josh's claims about the missing check. For months, Alvin has been making massive transactions with Ozone Bank, and not once was there a case of a missing check.

"What the fuck are you talking about? I'm no kid.

My boss personally gave me that envelope containing the check. There was no way I was going to misplace the check like a toddler. Before I stepped into this bank, I felt it in my pocket. But now, I just don't know. Gosh! My boss is going to kill me. What am I going to do now?”

Josh cried and placed his hands on the desk in frustration.

20 minutes had gone by, and they were still glued trying to figure out a better solution when Alvin called Josh on the phone.

He stared at Connard and whispered. “Now he's calling. I'm doomed! What am I going to tell him? He should be expecting me to be done cashing the check.”

Josh bemoaned as he sweats profusely despite the air conditioner being turned on.

Countless times Alvin kept calling, but not once did Josh respond. He would rather ignore the calls until he finds the check rather than give flimsy excuses, which his boss is strongly against.

"Now you need to take a chill pill. What was the last thing you recall when your boss gave you the check? Please think! That would aid our investigation.”

Connard suggested and implored Josh.

His head's spinning right now after the roller coaster. He just wishes the ground would simply open and swallow him. The situation is too heavy for him to handle.

"Okay, here's how it happened.”

Josh shut his eyes and attempted to rack his head to recall his previous moments.

"Yes, now I have a clue.”

Josh exclaimed. It took him a few minutes to finally reminisce about the event that unfolded before the check went missing mysteriously.

"Yes, let's hear it. It could provide the answer we need.

Take it slow. Put your mind at ease, and you'll surely recall everything." He tried to ease his mind in the best possible way.

"Approaching your office, some middle-aged woman bumped into me and threw my briefcase to the ground. Remember I said the check was still in my pocket before I stepped into the bank? I don't know if my assertion is wrong, but I don't think the woman would have stolen that check. How would she even think of that?”

"Now we have the information we require. You speak so well of someone you don't even know. It's hard trusting people these days, let alone strangers. Here's what we are going to do. Can you recognize this woman for the second time? I'm just going to call the security department to play the CCTV footage for the last 30 minutes. How about that?”

The manager suggested.

"Yes, of course. That will be brilliant if that's going to get us a clue.”

Josh agreed in a soft tone. The situation suddenly made him lose his voice and drained him completely. He can tell how his boss would be feeling right now. With just one call, the manager made the security department play the CCTV footage. In the video, the same janitor could be seen keeping an eye on Josh and deliberately bumping into him on purpose.

"Hold on a sec! Is that the woman who bumped into you?”

Connard asked, pointing to the bank's janitor.

"Yes, she's the one. We need to find her. This video has enough evidence needed to show that she had an ulterior motive. How do we find her?”

Josh asked in curiosity. He was hoping that the strange woman would be the answer to their problem.

"I'll just ask the security guard to bring her to my office immediately. She's our longest-serving janitor. It's weird to think she'll be capable of such,” the manager admitted as he made a few calls to bring the janitor to his office, but to his surprise, she was nowhere to be found. Someone saw her going home after she reportedly called in sick. It's all starting to make sense now. It's quite strange that someone who didn't exhibit any symptoms of sickness has suddenly gone home.

"Doesn't this mean something to you? She's going home after stealing the check. Of course, no one would be so foolish as to still be mopping dirty floors after stealing a check for $1 million. I am calling on the cops immediately to get her arrested. She's the prime suspect now.”

The manager made his assertion and called the cops. In a blink of an eye, some cops walked inside the office.

“We got a case of theft, and the prime suspect is on the run. I know her residence.

Let's go after her before she escapes without a trace,” the manager narrated after explaining to the cops alongside the CCTV footage.

Without hesitation, they all drove off to the janitor's apartment and surrounded her building. Fortunately for them, she was already planning her escape. It was too late to hide or play smart. Voluntarily, she stepped outside with her hands above her head. Seeing the manager in her house stunned her.

Out of shame, she faced the ground and couldn't stare him in the eyes. “I'm sorry. I just had to do it,” she apologizes as tears drop in her eyes.

"Fuck your apology. Where's the god-damned check?”

Josh shunned her tears. He only cares about the check.

"Here it is.”

She dipped her hand inside the purse and brought out the check.

"Take her with you. This is a criminal offense. She needs to be dealt with. A few years behind bars would do. Call whomever you know. Oops, don't forget to get a good lawyer, too. We are charging you to court.”

Josh instructed and ordered her arrest despite retrieving the check. He wanted her to suffer for putting him through pain. Now he's got plenty of questions to answer for Alvin Alejandro.

Arriving at the station, Megan was taken into custody after she was permitted to call a few people while Josh filed a lawsuit against her, the janitor. He wants to ensure she faces the full wrath of the law. During his conversation with the cops, a familiar face strolled inside the station. Jenny, the secretary of Royal Gold Mine.

"Shocked to see her?” Josh asked. “Hey, there. What are you doing here? You're supposed to be at work.”

"I should be asking that question. Well, I came to see my mom. She just called to say that she was arrested,” Jenny responded, smiling like a toddler.

"Oh, I see. Can we go see her?”

He requested.

"Yeah, sure,” Jenny responded as they walked to where her mother was arrested. Arriving there, Josh discovered a shocking bombshell.

“Is this your mom?”

Josh asked, pointing at Megan.

“Yes, you got a problem with that?” Bewildered, Jenny responded as anxiety spread on her face.

“This is unbelievable. I can't believe this is happening. What am I going to do now?” Josh cried and hit his hands against the wall to create more fear and suspense for Jenny. She was lost for words as thousands of questions plagued her mind.

“Can someone explain to me what the hell is going on here?”

She wailed in anguish.