“We’re looking into the well-being of your daughter. We have a few questions for her,” Kate said simply.
“This is outrageous. I’m calling my lawyer.”
“You absolutely may call your lawyer, and, if that’s your preference, we’ll see you down at the station bright and early tomorrow morning, with your daughter in tow, please,” she said.
He stopped. “Did you hear me say I was calling my lawyer?”
“Did you hear me say that that was totally fine? You’re certainly allowed to do that. It doesn’t quite make sense, since we’re merely looking into the condition of your daughter. But, hey, if you feel you need to have legal representation for something like that, it’s your prerogative. However, you will show up at the station with your lawyer, your wife, and your daughter, tomorrow morning at nine. Understood?”
“I have no intention of showing up.”
“In that case, we’ll be issuing a warrant for your arrest,” she stated in a steady tone.
He took a deep breath. “How did it get to this?” he asked, obviously trying for a much more genial approach.
“It came about because you refused to even discuss why we’re here.”
“I have this thing against the cops.” He waved his hand in front of her, as if able to swat her away. “Seeing you set me off.”
“I’m not concerned about what set you off,” Kate replied in a harsh voice. “I want to speak with your daughter.”
“You can’t do that,” he said.
“And why is that?”
“My daughter’s not here,” he said.
Kate looked over at the wife and witnessed her bottom lip trembling. “I see. Where is she?”
“She’s off with her friends. I don’t even know where she is these days. She is an adult, Detective.”
“She is, indeed, an adult, and yet we have a strong suspicion that she is not free to come and go. As a matter of fact, we have reason to believe that she is essentially your prisoner.”
He looked at her in shock, and she watched his lips firm up, where there had been a little bit of a nervous tic in the corner of his mouth. She nodded. “So we’re here to get proof of life and assurance that she is free and clear to move around on her own.”
“Good Lord. What do you think this is, a prison?”
“You know, for some people, that might be a prison they are completely happy in, but we’ll hear it from her, thank you very much.”
“And, as I said, she’s not here,” he replied, his voice harsh.
“So you say, and, since we have a suspicion regarding the welfare of your daughter and find you wholly uncooperative, we’ll get a warrant and return. In the meantime, we’ll still see you and your entire family down at the station in the morning for questioning. Thank you for your time. Now we’ll need to speak with your maid.”
“You can’t.”
“Obstruction of justice.” She beamed. “I love it. At this rate we’ll arrest you and take you down to the station in handcuffs. I’m sure the neighbors will love to see that show.”
“Oh, Gerard,” his wife whispered.
“They’re bluffing,” he snapped.
“We’re not bluffing. Produce your daughter so that we may speak with her, and all of this can blow over.”
“And if we don’t?”
“I just told you.” Kate’s voice remained equally firm. “Absolutely no way will we walk away now,untilwe can speak to your daughter and can ascertain that she’s not come to harm.”
“Why didn’t anybody give a shit about my daughter when she was in that accident?”