Chereads / Shadows Of Deceit / Chapter 33 - CURIOSITY KILLS THE CAT

Chapter 33 - CURIOSITY KILLS THE CAT

The crescent moon cast its gentle glow through the veil of dark clouds, accompanied by a handful of stars that shimmered above.

In the ambient ambience of Elvis's chamber, Felix and Elvis found themselves nestled on a tastefully adorned bed, having just concluded an intimate moment. As the two men embraced, Elvis directed his gaze towards Felix's bare chest, lost in his thoughts.

"How do you amass such wealth, considering your role as a mere police?" Elvis inquired, his index fingers gracefully tracing a path across Felix's chest.

"I've mentioned before—I have supplementary ventures," Felix responded with simplicity, enfolding Elvis even closer in their shared embrace.

"What pursuits occupy your time, then?" Elvis inquired, his eyes brimming with curiosity, as his index finger continued its delicate exploration.

"Curiosity kills the cat, Elvis," Felix responded cryptically, rising gracefully. He stretched languidly, revealing a glimpse of his well-toned physique. "I shall freshen up and take my leave," he declared, towards the bathroom.

As he reached the bathroom, Felix, immersed in the ritual of preparing to depart, failed to discern the subtle melody of his ringing phone, drowned out by the cascading flow of the shower he had initiated.

*************************************

Detective Philip was jolted awake by the loud ringtone of his iPhone, disrupting his peaceful slumber. Glancing at the clock, he noted it was 30 minutes past 5 in the morning. With a deep breath, he answered the phone, placing it close to his ear to discern who had interrupted his sleep.

"Detective Philip, it's Officer Tod," came the urgent voice on the other end. Philip, still groggy, listened intently.

"We've been monitoring some suspicious conversations between Thomas and his mother and we've discerned peculiar exchanges between the mother and son concerning Rexford's demise". Tod explained. "They're planning something, and it looks like Thomas is sneaking off to meet someone. Our CCTV picked up some concerning details."

Philip, now fully awake, questioned, "What did the conversations reveal?"

Tod continued, "Well, there's a myriad of topics they delved into, and I'll dispatch the audio files to you shortly. As for the immediate course of action, what do you propose?"

" What did you say was happening now," Detective Philip asked.

"Given their hushed tones, we couldn't capture every detail, but from what we've gathered, it's apparent that the young man is entangled in something suspicious.

He mentioned meeting someone secretly but we're considering following him. What's your take on this?" Officer Tod asked

"Are you still at the residence with the police?" Detective Philip inquired.

"Yes, we are," Officer Tod promptly responded.

Detective Philip, focused and alert, replied, " Good, follow him discreetly, Tod. Let me know if anything seems off, and keep me updated on the situation." The call ended, leaving Philip with a sense of anticipation and concern.

Detective Philip, now fully awakened by the urgency of the situation, decided to immerse himself in a refreshing bath, attempting to shake off the remnants of interrupted sleep. His mind, however, remained consumed by the recent call, entangling him in a web of suspicions regarding Thomas and his mother.

As the warm water cascaded over him, he contemplated the intricate connections within the case. Thomas's involvement seemed increasingly likely, and suspicions extended to his mother. Yet, perplexing questions lingered regarding the superintendent's deceit about the regional officer's visit, not to mention his right-hand man, Elvis.

Jesse's previous visit flashed in Detective Philip's mind, a memory he tried to suppress. He didn't even want to think of it. He tried to think of the conspiracies in his case.

Detective Philip found himself entangled in a web of conspiracies beyond the drug-related aspects of the case. The haunting parallel with Detective William's investigations, where the organs of two inmates were mysteriously missing, raised unsettling questions. Could there be an illicit trade in these missing organs, and was there a sinister motive to harvest Rexford's organs, suggested by the deep, horizontal incision on his lifeless form?

Contemplating the intricate puzzle, Detective Philip couldn't dismiss the possibility that Thomas might be involved in organ trafficking. The nagging suspicion lingered: did Thomas orchestrate a plan to extract and sell organs, explaining the gruesome fate that befell Rexford? The notion danced at the fringes of plausibility.

However, as Detective Philip delved deeper into the complexities of the case, he mulled over an alternative theory. Perhaps Thomas's motive wasn't rooted in the sale of organs but rather in silencing his father, Rexford, to safeguard the drug-related secrets. The idea that the heinous act was a desperate measure to eliminate a potential informant gained traction in his contemplation.

Amidst the intricacies and uncertainties, Detective Philip grappled with the multifaceted nature of the case, weaving together the threads of drug trafficking, organ harvesting, and familial vendettas. The looming question remained: what dark forces were truly at play in this complex tapestry of crime?

In his quest for answers, Detective Philip felt compelled to scrutinize the details of Jesse's friend's case – the individual named Josh. The urgency to uncover the truth led him to ponder whether there were signs of a missing organ or evidence of deep incisions that could suggest a sinister intent to harvest organs.

If the examination revealed a pattern mirroring the ominous occurrences surrounding Rexford, with indications of organ extraction, it would raise unsettling implications. The specter of organ trafficking would loom larger, casting a dark shadow over the investigation.

However, the perplexing element remained Jesse's enigmatic connection to two of these cases. Detective Philip grappled with the puzzle of Jesse's presence and potential involvement, recognizing that the unfolding narrative hinted at a deeper and more intricate web of conspiracies yet to be unraveled.

The question lingered: was Jesse somehow implicated, or did his close friend Josh harbor connections to the late regional officer's demise?

Determined to unravel the intricacies, Detective Philip resolved to question Jesse about any associations his friend might have had with the police or regional officers. He sensed that Jesse, being privy to their shared experiences, could potentially offer crucial insights, even if those insights happened to be linked to his deceased friend Josh.

If indeed there were similar deep cuts on the body of Jesse's friend which highlighted possible organ trafficking then all the murder cases would be connected which would make Jesse the only person he could cooperate with to learn about the death of his friend which in return might give hints on the other murder cases.

To verify this theory, he resolved to contact Elena and examine Josh's body for similar incisions. The recent accusation against Jesse, where the dead inmate heart's was claimed to be missing, fueled Detective Philip's confusion.

The recurrent connection with Jesse left him questioning: was he involved in these cases, or was he, for some reason, wrongly accused of murder? Detective Philip hesitated to accept the notion that Jesse could be a murderer.

The looming question remained – who orchestrated these heinous acts, and could the perpetrator be hiding within the prison?

Despite the weight of these thoughts, fatigue washed over Detective Philip. He concluded his bath, donned casual attire, and emerged to find Yaw, who had prepared a tempting morning breakfast of rice puddings and toasted bread.

Detective Philip settled into a chair, his gaze drawn to the delectable breakfast spread before him. The aroma wafting from the table heightened his anticipation.

"I thought we had a cook," Detective Philip remarked, his curiosity piqued by the mouth-watering display.

Yaw, however, stammered in response, "I, um, wanted to cook for you today, sir." His tone carried a subtle mix of shyness and embarrassment, evident in his reluctance to meet his master's eyes.

Detective Philip, engrossed in his hunger, scarcely noticed Yaw's shyness. He eagerly delved into the food, savouring the flavours that adorned the morning feast. The culinary effort, though unexpected, added a touch of warmth to the otherwise tense morning, momentarily distracting Detective Philip from the labyrinth of mysteries encircling him.

Unbeknownst to him, his trusted aide's hesitation hinted at an unspoken concern.

Detective Philip, observing Yaw's reluctance to partake in the morning meal, gently suggested, "We have somewhere to be, Yaw; you should finish up."

Curiosity etched on Yaw's face, he questioned, "This early?"

Detective Philip responded with a knowing smile, "In our line of work, there's no fixed schedule, Yaw." Taking a bite of the perfectly toasted bread, he demonstrated a calm reassurance.

As he indulged in his breakfast, the distinct sound of notifications chimed on Detective Philip's phone. Retrieving it, he discovered the awaited audio file from Officer Tod. Intrigued, he played the file, immersing himself in the details of the captured conversations.

Upon concluding the playback, a sly smile subtly adorned Detective Philip's face. He shared his revelation with an air of confidence, "We must apprehend the mother and son today. We possess the evidence needed for their arrest." The declaration, delivered in a sing-song manner, hinted at the imminent closure of a crucial chapter in the ongoing investigation.

Yaw who was confused decided not to ask any questions but rather concentrate on his food.