“We have received the results of the examination from the hospital. Is it true that you only suffer a blow to the back of the head, while your wife has injuries almost all over her body?”
Max’s heart fluttered at the question of the man wearing the police badge. With tightly clenched fists, he nodded. “Right.”
“And you suspect that Mrs. Gabriella was more seriously injured because of trying to protect your head?”
Once again, Max cleared his throat, overcoming the burning sensation in it. “Yes.”
The man in front of him spontaneously narrowed the eyes and straightened his back. “Is there a logical reason why the perpetrator didn’t hit your body like he did to Mrs. Gabriella?”
At such a question, Max’s face suddenly stiffened. A thought had crossed his mind. “Apparently, that person knows about my head injury. I had a concussion and the doctor advised me not to get hit again.”
“It’s a little confusing. Why did the perpetrator attack your weak point? If he really wanted to kill, he would have done it some other way,” the man sighed, tilting his head while looking for a motive for the attack. “Do you have the names of people to look up?”
After taking a quick breath, Max shook his head. “I have too many enemies. It will be difficult if you investigate them one by one.”
The questioner nodded. A second later, his index finger lifted briefly. “Based on the information from witnesses, the perpetrator is not local resident. He could be from abroad, just like you. Therefore, we are currently collecting data on tourists whose characteristics are close.”
Before the conversation continued, the man’s cell phone rang. Without moving from the chair, he received the call. His brows furrowed for a moment as he listened to the information from the other end of the phone.
“So, the guy’s on a flight?” he asked with a serious look.
After a moment, the man with police badge sighed and clenched his jaw. “Okay, thank you.”
Max instinctively tilted his head, waiting for an explanation that made his heart beat fast.
“A few days ago, there was a tourist who came from your city. But, this afternoon, he flew back.”
“That person came from where I came from? Is he the culprit?” Max asked with eyes shaking violently.
“There is no solid evidence yet that he is the culprit. Our officer has just collected tourist data, and his attention is on this person. They will immediately seek confirmation from the witnesses.”
The air in Max’s lungs suddenly grew heavier. After swallowing hard, he asked, “What can you do if that person is the culprit?”
“Sorry, Sir. If he has already left this country, then his arrest is beyond our jurisdiction.”
Disappointment suddenly wafted from Max’s mouth. His plans to reward the assailant properly, began to falter.
“One more thing,” the police officer said as he bent down, picking up something from under the table. Two seconds later, a baseball bat that had been wrapped in plastic appeared. “The culprit attacked you with this. Is this yours?”
In an instant, Max’s eyes were fixed on the familiar wooden stick. The carving of the waves near the handle has brought back memories. With a pounding heart, the man checked the tip of the stick. As soon as he found his name engraved there, a sigh of disbelief suddenly stifled his chest.
“Is this really yours?” the man with the badge repeated while raising his eyebrows.
“Yeah,” Max sighed before revealing bloodshot eyes that welled up with anger. “Now, I know who sent that person to attack me and injure my wife.”
***
With tears in his eyes, Max reminisced about the baseball bat he had touched a moment ago. For a dozen years he had not seen the gift from his father. Who would have thought that it would return with such great suffering?
“Why does he do this?” the man sighed before looking down and gulping. “Isn’t it enough for me to disappear from his sight?”
Drying his face, Max looked up at the view outside the window. With a shallow breath, the man took the phone out of his pocket. Soon, the father’s name was on the screen.
For a few seconds, the man’s thumb trembled in the air. Doubt had frozen his intentions. “Should I call him?”
After exhaling quickly, Max finally pressed the call button. With eyes closed, he looked down waiting for an answer.
Across the ocean, Herbert was unmoved at his vibrating cell phone. His gaze was flat at the unknown number. No surprise nor suspicion. His heart and mind had been empty for a long time, just like the glass in his hand.
After letting his cell phone flicker for a while, the old man finally made a move. With an expressionless face and voice, he answered the call. “Hello?”
“Are you still not satisfied with torturing me?”
Herbert’s eyelids suddenly trembled. He did not expect to hear the voice of the son he missed so much. “Max?”
“I’ve given up. I handed the company over to Julian, then disappeared from your life. Is that still not enough?”
Hearing the hoarse voice that was pitiful, the old man’s eyes automatically filled with tears. After one heavy breath, he asked, “What do you mean?”
“If you really want my life to be ruined, at least, please don’t involve the people I love. You don’t have to hurt Gabriella like this. Even just taking a breath, she’s in pain.”
Herbert swallowed hard at his son’s words. He really had no idea what he was listening.
“Next time, if you want to destroy me again, just do it right away. Don’t involve Gaby or our child. Losing a womb isn’t something easy.”
The sigh of disbelief was released again. The old man’s lips continued to tremble wordlessly under his furrowed brows, depicting confusion.
“Now, what should I do? Is there a way I must take so that you stop disturbing our lives?” Max asked, successfully bringing tears to his father’s cheeks. “I just want peaceful days with Gaby. Is it still wrong in your eyes?”
Herbert started clutching his tight chest. The regret that had been buried for a long time, could no longer be ignored. With breath mixed with tears, he answered quietly, “No, Max. No ….”
Unfortunately, the son would not listen.
“Do I have to stab myself in the heart so you will free us from suffering?”
The old man shook his head wordlessly. His tongue was too numb to move.
“Sorry. If that’s the path you expect from me, I can’t make it happen. I’ve promised my wife to always be by her side. You have no right to separate us.”
Before Herbert could apologize, his son’s voice had disappeared. The heat in the chest immediately spread to scorch the ego. Shaking his head, he admitted regret.
“No, Max, you’re wrong. I never expected you to suffer. You are the son I will always be proud of. There’s no way I want you in pain. Max….”
Desperate, the old man clutched his head. The weight inside seemed like a thousand tons, pushing the tears on his eyes and air into his lungs.
“What have I done?” Herbert sobbed. “Why would I destroy my own son?”
In the midst of agonizing contemplation, suddenly, the cell phone in his hand rang again. Thinking that it was his son, the old man immediately received the call and sighed, “Max?”
“Good evening, Mr. Evans. I just arrived at the transit airport. Considering the situation, it would be safer if I changed the destination. Therefore, immediately transfer the payment to my account.”
Receiving such a report, Herbert’s tears suddenly stopped. With a shaky breath, he tried to process information that had no origin.
“What do you mean?” the old man sighed, shaking his head faintly.
“Are you pretending to forget? You ordered me to find Max Evans and hit his head three times. You even asked me to get rid of anyone who got in the way of this plan.”
Herbert’s frown instantly deepened. “No. I never gave such an order.”
“Don’t deny it, Mr. Evans. I still have the recording of your voice while delivering it. You want to give Max a warning for interfering with your life. Therefore, I left your baseball bat so that he doesn’t misinterpret the message.”
“No …, no way,” the old man denied as he had absolutely no recollection of what he had done.
“I give you 24 hours. If no payment comes in, don’t blame me if Max Evans is found dead with his beautiful and troublesome wife.”
“No! Don’t bother my son!”
Unfortunately, no matter how loud Herbert shouted, the caller would not hear. He had ended the call.
While moving his eyeballs aimlessly, the old man tried to find common sense. However, panic and worry have dulled logic. Failing to stay sane, his hand grabbed the glass and refilled it.
Without considering the doctor’s orders, Herbert downed the drink. He was no longer afraid of death. The old man felt that he was not worthy to live.