David sat across from Atlas in the luxurious living room, the tension palpable. He leaned forward, his eyes fixed on Atlas, who maintained a calm demeanor.
"Mr. Hawk, we're here to gather some information regarding your wife's disappearance," David began, his voice steady but firm. "When was the last time you saw Beatrice?"
Atlas leaned back in his chair, his expression composed. "The last time I saw Beatrice was the day she was discharged from the hospital. I transferred her to a sanatorium for her recovery."
David nodded, jotting down notes. "And can you tell us the location of this sanatorium?"
"It's a private facility," Atlas replied smoothly. "For Beatrice's safety and privacy, I can't disclose its location. Only family knows where it is."
David's eyes narrowed slightly. "Mr. Hawk, your sister-in-law, Victoria, has reported Beatrice missing. She believes there's something suspicious about her disappearance. Do you have any idea where she might be?"
Atlas shook his head, a look of genuine concern crossing his face. "I have no idea where Beatrice could be. I've been worried sick ever since I found out she was missing. I've been cooperating with the authorities, and I hope we find her soon."
David leaned in, his tone more insistent. "Mr. Hawk, all the CCTV footage from the day she was discharged is missing. That seems more than just a coincidence. Do you know anything about that?"
Atlas's expression hardened slightly. "I assure you, Detective, I had nothing to do with the missing footage. My priority has always been Beatrice's safety and well-being. If someone tampered with the footage, it wasn't under my orders."
David didn't back down. "And what about the reports that you prevented anyone, including close friends like myself, from visiting Beatrice during her coma? Why was that necessary?"
Atlas's gaze was steady. "Beatrice needed a controlled environment to recover. The doctors advised minimal visitors to avoid any potential stress. It wasn't personal, Detective."
David took a deep breath, sensing the walls Atlas had built around himself. "Mr. Hawk, if there's anything you're not telling us, now is the time to come clean. The more information we have, the better our chances of finding Beatrice."
Atlas leaned forward, his tone almost pleading. "Detective Ramirez, I swear to you, I have nothing to hide. I want Beatrice found just as much as you do. Whoever is behind this is a threat to her safety, and I will do whatever it takes to bring her back."
David sat back down, his gaze sharpening as he decided to change his approach. He knew he needed to dig deeper.
"So we are in the same page. Mr. Hawk, let's talk about the Carter Empire. Beatrice was the head of the company, correct?" David began, his tone casual but his eyes keen.
Atlas's expression didn't waver. "Yes, Beatrice was running the company."
David nodded, leaning forward slightly. "With Beatrice being incapacitated—first due to the accident, then the coma, the transfer to a sanatorium, and now her disappearance—who has been managing Carter Empire in her absence?"
Atlas's jaw tightened just a fraction, but he maintained his calm demeanor. "Victoria and I've taken over the responsibilities temporarily. It's important to keep the company stable during this difficult time."
"Interesting," David remarked, jotting down more notes. "So, you've been managing the day-to-day operations, making all the executive decisions?"
"With Victoria Carter, yes, that's correct," Atlas replied smoothly.
David tapped his pen on the notebook, his gaze piercing. "Was this arrangement something Beatrice agreed to, or did it happen after she became incapacitated?"
Atlas's eyes flickered, just for a moment. "It was necessary for the continuity of the business. Beatrice and I had discussed contingencies for emergencies."
"There are reports that she was considering divorce. Can you provide any insights into this?"
Atlas scoffed, his lips curling into a smirk. "Divorce? That's ridiculous. Beatrice and I are fine. We have a solid marriage."
"Some close to her have mentioned otherwise," Ramirez replied, his tone unwavering. "They say Beatrice had talked about wanting to end the marriage."
Atlas leaned back, revealing a luxurious watch on his wrist. He held it up, the gold catching the light. "Do you see this watch? It's a gift from Beatrice for our first wedding anniversary, which was just a month ago. Does that sound like someone planning a divorce to you?"
Ramirez nodded, acknowledging the impressive timepiece. "That's quite a watch. So, what did you give Beatrice for your anniversary?"
For a moment, Atlas hesitated, his confident demeanor faltering. "Well, I had planned a surprise trip for us to Bali. Unfortunately, before we could go, Beatrice had a series of unfortunate events."
"Unfortunate events, you say. You mean her accident and disappearance? And you believe these events have nothing to do with the state of your marriage?" Ramirez pressed, his gaze unwavering.
Atlas's eyes hardened, his voice firm. "No, Detective. Our marriage is solid. Beatrice is just going through a rough patch."
David raised an eyebrow. "Convenient, isn't it? The timing of everything. The accident, her coma, her transfer to a remote sanatorium, and now her disappearance. All these events conveniently put you in charge of the Carter Empire."
Atlas's expression darkened. "Are you implying something, Detective?"
"I'm just stating the facts, Mr. Hawk," David replied coolly. "It raises questions. For instance, with all these unusual events happening to Beatrice, wouldn't it make sense for someone to ensure that she stays out of the way, making it easier for them to control the company?"
Atlas leaned forward, his voice low and menacing. "I had nothing to do with Beatrice's accident or her disappearance. I'm doing everything I can to find her and ensure her safety. If you're suggesting otherwise, you're wasting precious time that could be used to find my wife."
"Such as?" David asked.
"I've deployed a search team to find Beatrice."
"Why didn't you report this to the police?"
"Because I was confident we would find Beatrice," Atlas replied.
"But you haven't found her yet."
*