65 Detective Bruce

Albert paced up and down in his sturdy making call after call. His face was blazing red and his voice was deep and hoarse.

Earlier, when he arrived home with Chloe by his side, he was so riled up that he boomed at the slightest mistake from anyone. His wife, Anna Robinson, was careful not to say or do anything that would worsen his situation. He handed Chloe to her and blamed her for Chloe’s insanity but she said nothing. After raving on and on like a lunatic, blaming both mother and daughter for ruining his evening, he stormed out of the sitting room to his house bar.

Chloe was so frightened of her father that she didn’t whine or cough out her displeasure when he was yelling at her. She never knew that her loving and caring father had this scary character. Even on her way to the mansion, she was so terrified of his state that she stifled her tears and kept mute like a deer hiding from a predator. From the little she witnessed, she knew that Leon’s bodyguard; who had pushed her out of the hotel premises, causing her to trip, was dead meat.

Anna felt weakened and frustrated when she saw another fresh bruise on Chloe’s arm.

“Why are you doing this to us?” Anna’s eyes shimmered with looming tears. “Is it a crime for parents to love their child unconditionally? Is it a crime that we chose to lavish all our resources on you, just to make you happy? Is it a crime to only have one child? How I which I had none.” Anna wiped the tears off her face and glared at Chloe; who was still in shock from both of her parent’s reactions.

“This madness over Leon must stop!” Anna’s tone was frosty. “There are thousands of eligible bachelors out there. So, pick one and stop making our lives a living hell. You used to be an international supermodel. Notable brands used to run after you for a chance to work with you. However, since your last drug binging which flooded the entertainment industry like wildfire, where are you now?

“M...mum!” Chloe stuttered. She felt her heart breaking at her mum’s cold words.

“Don’t you dare mum me,” burning tears rolled down Anna’s cheek? “Do you know the insults your father has showered on me before he went to pick you up at the hotel? He blames me for everything because of you. You have already succeeded in ruining my friendship with Marissa Treshvire. She won’t take my calls anymore all because of you.” Anna pointed at Chloe angrily.

Chloe tried the puppy eyes on her mum but Anna seemed unfazed by any of her theatrics.

.....

“As if that is not enough, you now want to ruin your father’s longtime friendship with Rex Treshvire. Do you have the slightest knowledge of what it is to be an enemy of the Treshvires? Do you want to see this family suffer a horrific fate? Are you so stupid that you are willing to lose everything, including your life for a man that doesn’t love you? Come on, Chloe, don’t keep mute, speak up!” Anna placed one hand on her hips and wagged the forefinger of her other hand angrily at Chloe.

Chloe was so terrified to say anything. As if her father screaming her ears off wasn’t enough, now her mum had suddenly developed nerves of steel to talk to her in this manner. Was she finally losing her angelic charms on her parents? Was this what it felt like for her parents to be mad? Even her father had threatened her of adopting a son or daughter if she continued with her madness of not thinking before leaping. What would happen to her if an adopted son or daughter came to live with them and take up Robinson’s name? That would definitely mean impending doom for her. Never! She would never let that happen.

All Chloe could do now was let the tears she had been holding back fall freely. She hoped this would soften her mum’s heart as it always did in times past.

“Oh please,” Anna was highly infuriated by Chloe’s tears. “You can do better than crying. Let me warn you if you continue in this madness for Leon and destroy properties that your dad has acquired in your name, then prepare to suffer the consequences. Henceforth, I will solidly support your father’s harsh decision against you, and don’t blame me when I do. I have had enough!” Anna hissed and walked out of the room after instructing the maids to attend to Chloe’s bruise.

—–

Detective Bruce arrived at the Robinsons’ mansion and introduce himself at the heavily guarded gate. After a quick call was made, he was granted access to the mansion.

“Wow! Money is speaking!” Bruce confessed to his subconscious as he was led by a security guard to Robinson’s home office.

“Keep up, will you?” The bodyguard flashed Bruce a piqued look while speaking in an irritated tone. “This is not an amusement park or a tourist attraction. You are wasting my precious time.”

historical

“Oh, sorry!” Bruce was so carried away admiring his environment that he didn’t realize he was walking like a tortoise. He quickly increased his steps and caught up with the guard. The guard sighed before continuing on his path.

When Bruce was ushered into the office, he was made comfortable. He was also offered drinks which he politely declined.

After twenty minutes of waiting, Albert stepped into the office looking refined and refreshed. There was no coldness in his eyes or strain in his voice as he warmly welcomed the detective.

“Good evening, Mr. Albert. I am detective Bruce and I’m sorry for disturbing you at this hour. It was never my intention.”

“Nah! Don’t worry yourself, detective.” Albert took a seat opposite and instructed his bodyguard to pour him two glasses of his prized wine.

“Thank you, Sir, for the kind gesture. I am on an official visit and it is against my job ethics to drink while on duty. Please, forgive me.” Bruce politely declined the drink and breathed down his anxiety.

“No hard feeling. Although, I must tell you that you are missing out on such an exquisite drink.” Albert dismissively waved his hand and only one glass was brought. “So, detective Bruce, to what do I owe this visit.”

“Thank you again, Sir.” Bruce half smiled. This was his first time being in the presence of a multi-billionaire. He was completely overwhelmed by Albert’s elegance and sophistication. Although he had turned down a drink that was worth his entire life earning plus pension, he secretly wished he hadn’t. Being a detective was hard work and little pay. His melancholic mind even guessed that the bodyguard seated behind Albert earned way more than him. What an ironic life he breathed out his frustration and stated the reason for his visit.

“Ah, Children! Do you have any detective?” Albert looked keenly at Bruce.

Bruce felt unsettled by this question. He gulped down saliva several times before answering, “yes.” He was worried as he couldn’t read through Albert’s cheerfully but mysteriously beaming eyes. There was something sinister under those smiles and he could tell thanks to his gifted abilities to sniff out danger.

“Good! This would help a lot.” Albert smiled weakly and took a sip of his drink to tame his catastrophic emotions. “Any teenagers or young adults?”

“No!” Bruce braved up and spoke firmly. He hadn’t said or done anything to warrant Albert’s animosity. Hence he tried to sound confident and composed.

“Hmm... Then, it would be difficult to understand the life of a teenager or a young adult. But I’ll educate you.” Albert paused momentarily before speaking up more calmly. “Teenagers or young adults love lots of things but it varies between individuals. It ranges from shopping, going to parties, being with friends, gaming and using social media, texting, watching movies, reading, and going to the beach or park. But something they all have in common is wild and exciting life. My daughter is no exception.”

Albert suddenly changed like a chameleon about to catch its prey. “Now I must ask you specifically, detective. What evidence do you have against my daughter for instigating the crime as you so rightly put it?”

Bruce’s chest tightened and his pulse quickened. He could hear his heart thumping loudly and he suspected that Albert could hear it too, as he watched Albert’s lips curve into a devilish grin. He gulped down several salivae and regretted not accepting the drink because right now he needed any liquid to calm down his burning thirst.

“Mr. Albert, I am so sorry if I used the wrong words. The truth is that we have no evidence except mere words of witnesses at the scene of the crime.” Bruce adjusted his shirt collar button to allow free passage of oxygen into his system. For some unknown reason, he felt Albert scowling bodyguard’s hands around his throat, which made breathing difficult for him.

“Is that so,” Albert smirked wickedly. “Enlighten me then, detective. It seems as though I am not privy to certain information. What do you know? Spit it out, without leaving out any details!” Albert sneered.

Like a robot automated to tell only the truth, Bruce spilled everything he knew to a devilishly grinning Albert.

“Thank you, detective. You have been so helpful. Now you know my daughter has nothing to do with the crime.”

Bruce simply nodded his head but said nothing.

“To show that I truly appreciate your corporation,” Albert picked up a thick envelope that was brought by his bodyguards and tossed it to Bruce. “Take this and get something nice for your wife and kids. Have a great night detective.” Albert made a short signal and the detective was led out of the mansion, with the envelope in his hands.

Albert made a quick call to Rex Treshvire and when he ended the call, his face was like the blazing sun.

“Quickly, arrange thirty men. Something is going down this night.” Albert instructed his chief minion hoarsely and stormed out of the office.