Summer was shocked while Carl pointed at Douglas. “Contract killing? You mean this little rascal?”
Douglas shot Carl a look, talking back. “You’re the rascal!”
captain Gibson shot Carl a look. “I’d appreciate it if you’d stop interrupting.”
“Fine, fine, fine. Go on.” Carl threw his hands in the air.
captain Gibson looked at Douglas again. “Where were you at six o’clock this morning?”
Summer could sense the little nervousness in Douglas, but he did not flinch. “I was sleeping at home.”
captain Gibson nodded and asked, “Any witness?” Just when Summer wanted to say something, he glanced at her, and said to Douglas again, “Not family members.”
In that case, Summer and Leonardo could not be his witnesses, and the interrogation ended. Because of the lack of evidence and eyewitnesses, the police had no choice but to let him go for now. But the police would summon Douglas at any time to assist in the investigation.
…
Out of the police station, Douglas and Carl were talking; they had been knowing each other. But Summer just could not ease her mind like the two. Who told Ben Burton about the kidnapping of Leonardo’s mom? They were most likely family and friends. Back then, the abductors held Leonardo’s mom in that place, violating her. Other than the abductors and the Emerson family, the surrounding residents could be the only persons who knew about it. The place was an abandoned factory. There were even fewer people living in the surroundings back then. But so long as there was a population, there could be eyewitnesses. What if Ben Burton’s father was one?
Summer thought of her last kidnapping, Leonardo coming to her rescue, and what happened to the two kidnappers, and she could not help shuddering.
“Summer, where are you going? We are waiting at the car.”
A call from Douglas pulled her back from her thoughts. Only then she realized the other three were standing at the car, looking as she was walking in the other direction. She quickly turned around. “I’m sorry, I was just thinking…”
As she was getting into the car, something came to mind. “Where are you all going now?”
“I’m going back to Tip Top Entertainment. You all can follow me, or else I can send you all back to school and workplace,” Carl said.
“I can go home by myself. Please send Douglas to school.” She then waved down a cab and left.
Sensing something was not right about Summer, Douglas looked at Carl. “What happens to Summer?”
Carl did not appear as lackadaisical this time. Thinking for a moment, he said, “Maybe she is worried about you. Do you want to follow me to see your cousin, or back to school?”
“I’m not going to school. Could you please send me home?”
…
After sending Douglas home, Carl went back to Tip Top Entertainment and headed straight up to the CEO’s office. Leonardo was sitting behind the desk, sorting out documents when Carl walked in and sat across from him.
“How are things going for the thing you don’t care about?”
“Since Douglas didn’t do it. With no evidence, they can’t do anything about him.” That said, Leonardo looked up, not a hint of emotions in his eyes.
Carl was silent for a few seconds, then said, “Did you do that?”
“Do what?” Leonardo looked at him, eyes half-closed.
“You know what I’m talking about!” Carl took a deep breath. “Leonardo, I’m not the only one suspicious. I think Summer has that question in her mind, too.”
“I didn’t.” Leonardo answered with no hesitation.
“Really?” Carl apparently did not believe him. Aside from his cool temperament, Leonardo looked just like any other humans. But he had been knowing Leonardo for years. He knew how badly his mom’s incident had impacted him. since Leonardo said he did not do it, he would not ask any further.
…
Back in the office, Summer bumped into Vicky.
“Do you really think no one could rein you in when Dad is not around? You can’t just come and go as you wish!” Vicky folded her arms across her chest, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
“If not, then? What can you do about me?” Summer sneered.
Vicky could not find a word to respond.
Summer could not have cared less about her. Something else was bothering her. Her gut feeling told her that Leonardo was involved in the murder case. Ben Burton had knowledge of the kidnapping of Leonardo’s mom, probably because his father was an eyewitness or something.
A few days later, the police summoned Douglas again. This time, Summer still insisted on accompanying him. But it was more of a routine questioning than downright interrogation; the police had found no new evidence.
Coming out of the police station, Summer got a call from Jessica.
“We haven’t hung out for a while. What don’t we go for a movie tonight?”
Summer did not say no; they agreed on the rendezvous. Jessica had been busy, and Summer would not ask her out on normal days for fear of disturbing her. So normally it was Jessica who would call her to hang out.
…
They had dinner in a mall, then went for a movie. Just before going into the cinema, Jessica suddenly asked, “Do you know what Leonardo is the man behind Tip Top Entertainment?” She had wanted to call Summer to tell her about this after coming out of Leonardo’s office. But something came up, and she had totally forgotten about it.
“I know.” Summer nodded after a moment of hesitation.
“When? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” Jessica gave Summer a smack on her shoulder.
Her mind was a muddle back then. Now thinking about it, Summer felt embarrassed. “I was up to my neck in dealing with it, forgetting to tell you.”
“That’s alright. Let’s get in now.” Jessica did not harp on it, hurrying her into the movie theater.
Perhaps because of Leonardo, Summer just did not find herself enjoying the movie. As the movie was about to come to its ending, she got a call from Leonardo.
“When will you be back? I will go to fetch you.”
She wanted to decline, but after some thinking, she said, “Just about right. You may come now.”
Coming out of the movie theater, Jessica offered to send her home.
“Thank you. But Leonardo is coming to pick me up. Drive safe,” she said with a smile.
“Wow, I didn’t know that you have allowed him to fetch you! Tell me, how are things going now? You know what I mean?”
“Go home!” She pushed Jessica away playfully.
“Have you two done it?”
“Yeah, yeah, please go!”