Varun Vashist

 

CHAPTER 1

 

“This is my daughter,” the old woman said as she handed over the photograph to Karl Bennett.

His face turned pale with fear as he recognized the face in the photograph.

“Mrs. Campbell, I hope you understand that this is a high-profile case, and the police wouldn’t want any interference from our side,” he said while adjusting his glasses.

“Their investigation hasn’t revealed anything so far. They are most likely going to conclude it as a missing person’s case,” Mrs. Campbell said.

“What makes you think that way? This case is all over the news, and the media has already declared your son-in-law responsible for your daughter’s disappearance. Though, my knowledge of this case is limited, but in my experience, the husband is always the prime suspect in such cases.”

“It's not as simple as you think. You’re right, the first suspect is Shawn … my son-in-law. And, even he knew that would be everyone’s first reaction. He is calm because he has planned it in such a way that he never comes close to getting caught. It’s almost two days since her disappearance, and yet the police haven’t found anything that could help us find her. He has played his cards right and has achieved what he wanted since day one. The house is completely clean, and he has supplied his lawyers with a list of false evidence to establish an airtight alibi. And, the worst part is that everyone who knows Shawn and Cynthia believes that they were madly in love with each other, further making it difficult for me to establish his connection with her disappearance. I mean, he was around her the whole time, and now it’s as if she has vanished into thin air. If nothing is found in the next few days to charge him, the police are going to declare it a missing person’s case. It will portray him as a grieving husband and he will start gaining sympathy from everyone, and the whole situation would get reversed.” Mrs. Campbell said, trying to put the point across to Karl.

Karl Bennett looked at her. She had begun sobbing gently.

He got up from his chair at once. The old leather chair made a creaky sound, drawing his attention for a moment. He turned around to look at it. While glancing back, he noticed Mrs. Campbell’s bag that she had kept in her lap. He looked at it for a moment before walking to the other end of the room. He filled a glass of water and gave it to her.

“Mrs. Campbell, I’ve read about the case in the papers, I would like to hear your side of the story as well,” Karl said while opening his journal.

“You don’t use a computer?” she asked while looking around the office.

“I … I believe in the old time ways. Besides, I can carry the journal around with me… it helps during the investigation,” Karl said sheepishly. He did not want her to know that he was a computer illiterate and that he could not afford to buy one either.

Mrs. Campbell nodded. “My daughter Cynthia and Shawn met first at a media conference about three years ago. She was working as a reporter at that time, and he was making a name for himself on Wall Street. They did not have a promising start to their relationship, though. During that time, Shawn’s company was placed in the center of a controversy. The Managing Director of the company had been arrested for insider trading, and the share prices were going down on a daily basis. The company was on the verge of bankruptcy, and that’s when Shawn was given the responsibility to handle the media.

“Cynthia was impressed by the sincerity and the honesty that Shawn portrayed in front of the media, and she started admiring him even more when the company got back on its feet and the management gave him credit for the unexpected turnaround. Not only did they give him credit, but he was also elevated to the position of Managing Director for his division.

“He invited the media to discuss the new vision for the company and shared the changes he had planned to bring to the new set-up. For almost three months, he was all over the news. He attended interviews; he participated in open debates—In short he did everything that could improve the company’s image. He was a one-man army that brought his company back on its feet when everyone had given up any hope for its revival.

“Shawn and Cynthia kept meeting at the press conferences. And, after they got acquainted, he asked her out to dinner. I believe that’s when all of it started.”

“What started?” Karl asked in a curious tone.

“The planning for my daughter’s murder,” Mrs. Campbell said.

“I don’t understand,” Karl said with surprise.

She took a deep breath and looked at Karl. “Though, he had a clean image in the public; other things were going inside the company that only he knew. I’m not sure what it was, but Cynthia did tell me that he wasn’t the same guy she thought she had married. She even confronted him, but he told her that it was all business, and she shouldn’t be bothered by it. Slowly, these confrontations turned into daily arguments.”

“But that doesn’t mean he killed her. Every couple has its arguments,” Karl said. “Besides, I read in the paper that they had just returned from a weeklong vacation in Europe. That means these arguments were not affecting their marriage.”

“I believe that was a part of the plan too. He wants everyone to believe that there was nothing wrong with their marriage,” Mrs. Campbell said. “Otherwise, how did she went missing just two days after their Europe trip?”

Karl shook his head. He believed that she was just being paranoid. However, he did not want to lose a client either. He hadn’t had a job in months and with the health problems he was facing, it was better if he focused on taking the case rather than trying to find ways to get out of it.

“That indeed needs to be investigated,” he said, trying to win over Mrs. Campbell.

“There are lots of such small things that I need you to inspect,” Mrs. Campbell said while leaning forward. With that, she opened her bag and pushed Shawn’s photograph across the table.

“That won’t be needed. His pictures are all over the news,” Karl said with a smile.

“No, no … It would come handy in case you need to ask people about him,” she said while pushing the photograph further.

Finally, Karl conceded and put the photograph in his journal. He checked Mrs. Campbell’s body language. She looked a bit relieved now. However, he was still not sure of what was needed from him.

“What exactly do you want me to do?” he asked the pertinent question.

“I want you to find proof of Shawn’s involvement in Cynthia’s murder,” Mrs. Campbell said in a low voice. “I want him to be the prime suspect. I … I want him behind bars.”

A sweat drop glistened on Karl’s forehead. “You want my help in getting your son-in-law convicted of a murder that may not have even happened. See … I appreciate your confidence on a small-time detective like me, but I may not be able to help you here. I do small jobs like following people and getting small details like whom they met and where they went, etcetera. I have never investigated a missing person’s case, or as per your belief, a murder case.”

Mrs. Campbell’s face stiffened. “I am asking you to do the same thing that you do for others. There is nothing out of the ordinary. You have to follow him and see if he meets someone or goes someplace that you believe can lead us to Cynthia, or even tell us about what he has done with her. You will always be far from getting into any trouble. That’s my guarantee, and if you don’t find anything after a week, our deal will end.”

Karl got up and walked to the small window on the opposite wall. He kept looking at the sky for a minute, making some calculations. Mrs. Campbell kept looking at him in anticipation.

He turned around finally and looked at her. “I will charge double of my usual fee, and whenever I feel that I may get into trouble, I will cancel our arrangement.”

Mrs. Campbell nodded and pulled out an envelope. Karl almost came running to the table as soon as she pushed the envelope across it towards his chair.

His whole body shivered at what he saw. “This … this is $5,000.” It was ten times more than what he had asked for.

“Yes … and this is just an advance. If I am satisfied with your investigation, I will give you another envelope for the same amount,” Mrs. Campbell said. She pulled out a business card from her bag and handed it to Karl. “You can contact me at this number. You have a cell phone, right?”

“Yes … of course,” Karl replied sheepishly. His eyes were still fixated on the money.

“Do you want to know anything else?” Mrs. Campbell asked, bringing Karl back from his thoughts.

“What?” he asked while putting the envelope in the inside pocket of his jacket. “Well … nothing right now. Although, I need to do some thinking before I start the investigation. I’ll call you if I need something from you.”

“Very well, then,” she said as she rose from her chair.

“I’ll walk you to the door,” Karl said and got up in a hurry. He walked in front while still thinking about something. His heart said that he shouldn’t ask her as there was a chance that she may get angered by it, and he may lose the money. However, this was a high-profile case, and he couldn’t start before he was entirely sure.

He stopped mid-air as he was about to push the old wooden door, and turned toward her.

“Uh … Mrs. Campbell. If you don’t mind … I wanted to ask something.”

She looked at him with surprise. Even she didn’t want the deal to go sour.

“Yes, please,” she said while trying to decipher Karl’s body language.

“Why do you want me to handle this case? I mean … I’m a small-time detective and have never handled such a high profile case. You, on the other hand, are very influential. You could’ve hired any private investigator in the city,” he said with great difficulty. Every word of his made him feel as if the money was slipping away from him.

Mrs. Campbell heaved a sigh of relief. “I thought you were getting cold feet. You’re right, I could have hired anyone, but I came to you because I want this to happen without anyone noticing anything. Being high profile means everyone’s eyes are on me. Firstly, you are unknown to our world. No one will suspect you. Secondly, I understand that the local police knows about you and what kind of cases you generally handle. They will never believe that you can handle such a case. That way, they will not suspect you either. I, on the other hand, will benefit from the services of a person of your caliber. Also, your assignment has nothing to do with the investigation of Cynthia’s disappearance. You have only to follow Shawn and find something that I can use against him.

“I guess I’ve cleared your doubts now?”

“Yes, very well,” Karl said with a sheepish smile. She indeed had done her homework before reaching out to him. He pushed the door open while she covered her head with a scarf and concealed her eyes under large, dark shades.

“Call me if you need anything,” she said the parting words as she stepped out.

Karl kept looking at her till she crossed the road and got into her black Mercedes. He was surprised to see that she drove the car herself, but then he remembered how she wanted to keep the meeting anonymous. He pressed his jacket pocket once again, and the warmth of the unexpected cash made a smile run across his weathered face. He looked around the street once before bolting the door from inside.

 

 

Special Agent in Charge Carlson stood in front of the TV with his hands clasped behind his back. Agent Kiara Davenport knocked on the glass door drawing his attention. Agent Jake Carter accompanied her. Carlson looked at them for a moment and then gestured them to get inside.

Kiara looked at the TV that played the news of Cynthia Hansen’s kidnapping.

“What’s happening?” Jake whispered.

“I guess we’re getting this case,” she said while pointing at the TV.

Jake was about to say something when Carlson turned towards them.

“You know anything about this case?” he asked while gesturing them to take a seat.

“Yes…. I mean, whatever is being covered on the news. Three days back, Cynthia Hansen went missing from her apartment in Manhattan and since then the NYPD is trying to find out whether it’s a kidnapping or murder. Till this morning, they hadn’t found any evidence pointing to either possibility,” Jake said thoughtfully. 

“Since the case is coming to us, I believe we know that now,” Kiara added.

Carlson looked at her. “You’re right. This morning an anonymous call was made to Shawn Hansen for ransom. It was traced back to Sicily, and the number was found to be in the Italian government’s blacklist. It belongs to one Lorenzo Oldani. He’s part of Cosa Nostra, or more commonly known as the Sicilian Mafia.”

“Hmm … So that’s why it’s in our jurisdiction now,” Jake finally understood why Carlson had called them.

Kiara glanced at him and then remembered something. “Weren’t Shawn and Cynthia Hansen in Europe last week?”

“Yes, and they visited Rome on the final day of their trip,” Carlson added while shaking his head.

“You think her disappearance has something to do with their trip?” Kiara asked.

“It’s too early to say anything,” Carlson said tersely.

“Any leads on where they could’ve held her captive?” Jake asked, trying to find the extent of the investigation done so far.

“Not yet. According to the NYPD, she went missing from her apartment two days after they returned from their trip. Since Italian Mafia is involved, the police are keeping a close eye on the Italian-American community for people with a criminal background. They’ve already raided all of their known hideouts. So far, they haven’t found anything. There is an excellent chance that her captors are changing her location on a daily basis since this is a high-profile case,” Carlson said and paused for a few moments. “I want you to visit the Hansen residence. The police officer working on this case will be there till three o’clock. You gather all the information from him and relieve him of this case. Study all the facts and figures and report to me first thing in the morning. And, one more thing: the Hansen family is powerful, but the Campbell … Cynthia’s parents are even more influential. We have to tread with caution.”

Carlson looked at both of them, but both remained quiet, simply staring back at him. Treading with caution was a phrase the meaning of which was unclear to them. Remaining quiet was their way of saying that they were going to do everything as per their methods.

Still, he kept waiting for their response. Kiara knew something needed to be said.

“We’ll take all the measures to keep everything the way you want it to be, sir,” Kiara said as she got up from her chair.

“I hope you mean those words. I won’t take any chances this time. A single mistake and you’ll be out of this case,” Carlson said sternly, shifting his gaze between the two of them. “Let me know if any approvals are needed. Don’t expect any other help from my side.”

“What if we don’t get support from the police just like the last time?” Jake asked and got up.

“Didn’t you hear when I said that I won’t help with anything else but routine approvals?” Carlson stated. “You have to find a way around to get their support.”

“We understand, sir,” Kiara said at once to avoid any further confrontation.

Carlson gave them a last threatening look before going back to work. Kiara patted Jake on the shoulder and left the room. Jake shook his head in frustration and followed Kiara out the door.

As the door closed, Carlson looked at Cynthia’s photograph flashing across the TV screen. He knew that the negative publicity Shawn had gained was going to make it difficult to handle such a high-profile case. He just hoped that Kiara and Jake would follow his order and wouldn’t do anything that could add to his woes.

 

 

 “What do you think?” Kiara asked as Jake settled down at his desk opposite to hers.

“It looks like a typical kidnapping for ransom, but securing Cynthia’s release is going to be a tough task,” he said thoughtfully. “The first forty-eight hours are the crucial ones, and it’s been three days now.”

“Doesn’t matter. We need to make a move without wasting more time. Let’s look at the local connections of the Sicilian Mafia. Any ideas on where to start?”

“Haven’t heard about any activities by the Italian Mafia in New York for a while now. But, you’re right. It may have been orchestrated overseas, but the kidnapping happened here. There has to be a link,” Jake said while staring at his computer.

“Yeah,” Kiara said. “What are you looking at?”

“Looking for some details about the two families,” he said while scrolling down.

Kiara walked to Jake’s desk.

“Carlson is right. Both families are highly influential. Jeffrey Hansen was an investment banker just like his son, Shawn. He retired a couple of years back,” Jake said and stopped for a moment. “Wow!”

“What is it?”

“We’re in the wrong business. Jeffrey Hansen received 10 million dollars as a retirement bonus, plus the shares that he holds in various companies along with other properties that he owns—his net worth comes to around 15 million,” Jake said. “He now works as an independent consultant and helps some of the biggest names in the city with their investments.”

“I don’t know about his clients, but he sure made a fortune with his investments,” Kiara said while looking at the figures. “Anything else that we should look into?”

“Nothing else here. The guy has a pretty clean image,” Jake said and closed the browser window.

“We need to dig deeper, then. Maybe there’s something that’s not in the public domain,” Kiara said thoughtfully.

“I guess we need to do that for everyone in the Hansen family. Just like her husband, Scarlet Hansen is well respected in the society too. She runs a handful of charitable organizations and has organized over a hundred fundraising activities till now,” Jake said.

“That may be a ploy to save taxes for Jeffrey’s clientele. Two birds with a stone,” Kiara mused.

Jake looked at her and shook his head. “Some people are actually good at heart, Kiara. Stop scrutinizing everyone.”

“Yeah, I will. You concentrate on the work at hand. We have to leave in the next ten minutes,” Kiara said

“Okay,” Jake said and clicked on the other window. “Shawn is the only son. He is the Managing Director of one of the business units of a leading financial institution. Look at his earnings. We are in the wrong business. We should be working on Wall Street.”

“That boat sailed twelve years ago. Concentrate on what you’re supposed to do in your current occupation,” Kiara said.

Jake ignored her and looked excitingly at the computer screen.

“This is interesting,” he murmured.

“What’s interesting?” Kiara asked, leaning forward.

Jake gestured her to wait while he scrolled down and read the whole page. Kiara looked at her watch. Jake noticed that.

“Okay, let’s go. I’ll tell you on the way,” he said and got up.

“Okay,”

CHAPTER 2

 

“Cynthia comes from even a greater lineage than Shawn. Her grandfather was a senator and a pretty renowned one. Have you heard the name of Michael Campbell?” Jake asked as their car entered the main road.

“Of course … I’ve even heard that every president used to seek his blessings,” Kiara said with surprise.

“Yes, he carried a lot of weight within the party a few years back. And, his son Philip continued the legacy of political association, albeit in a different way,” Jake said. “For the last thirty years, he has funded the campaigns for all of the Republican presidential nominees. He’s a venture capitalist who has financed a number of start-ups, and some of them have even turned into major companies. Whatever he earns from there; he again puts into new ventures—that keeps his money rolling. His wife, Shirley, also comes from a family of politicians. I couldn’t find much about her, however. But, the thing that interested me the most was what I found about Cynthia.”

Kiara looked at him. “What’s that?”

“I read one of her interviews, where she said that she avoids using her last name, as the weight it carries makes people treat her differently and she doesn’t get an honest feedback that would help her grow as an individual. You know what was she doing when she met Shawn?”

“No…What?”

“She was working as a reporter for one of the local news channels. Father owns major stakes in some of the biggest media companies and daughter works as a lowly reporter. Isn’t it interesting?” Jake asked as they entered the Manhattan area.  

“It sure is. Maybe that was a cause of the rift between Shawn and her. Except her, everyone in the family seems to enjoy the limelight,” Kiara mused.

“You are again over-reading the situation. They just celebrated their fifth marriage anniversary with a luxury vacation. I don’t think there was any rift,” Jake said at once.

“Maybe he planned the vacation to show her face to the kidnappers,” Kiara replied sternly.

“Hmm … we’ll come to know in the next five minutes,” Jake said and pointed at the twenty-five-storied tower to their right.

“Liberty Plaza—yeah, that’s right,” Kiara said while checking the address in her journal. “This building is with guards and a separate parking area. That’s unusual for this area. Most buildings are without gates; with just a single entrance.”

“When you have Managing Directors and C.E.Os living in your building, you ought to have security from the prying eyes of the media,” Jake said and stopped in front of the massive gate. Two guards came running to them.

Jake lowered his window. “Shawn Hansen?”

Kiara could see a police car parked inside the compound.

“The Hansen live on the twentieth floor,” one of the guards replied while the other opened the gate.

“What is the apartment number?” Jake asked.

The guard smiled. “There is only one apartment on each of the floors. The elevator opens directly into the house. I will inform Mr. Hansen while you park.”

Jake looked at Kiara, who smiled back. “You were right when you said that you were in the wrong line of business. I guess even the guards of Liberty Plaza earn more than you.”

“Very funny,”

 

 

After parking the car, they entered the beautiful and ornate Liberty Plaza building. The elevator opened directly into an entrance gallery that Kiara felt was even bigger than her bedroom. It had marble floors and parchment panels framed in mahogany. Both Jake and Kiara gazed around in awe at the apartment’s splendor. The ceiling was almost twenty feet high, and the floor to ceiling windows displayed the incredible view of the whole Manhattan skyline.

It took them some time to realize that an officer of the NYPD sitting at the corner of the room was looking at them with amusement. As their eyes met his gaze, he walked over to them with a smile on his face.

“Takes your breath away, doesn’t it?” he said proudly. “You can see all corners of Central Park from there.”

“Where is Mr. Hansen?” Kiara asked, ignoring his words.

“Oh … he’s in the conference room, attending to some calls,” the officer said at once.

“His wife might be dead by now, and he’s busy minting money,” Kiara said, “And, what are you doing sitting here? Enjoying the view?”

“I … I…” The officer was taken off guard by Kiara’s sudden outburst.

“Tell him to come out at once,” Jake retorted before the cop could have replied.

The officer cursed his luck, but he had to do something. He went to the adjoining room and came back immediately with his head down.

“He needs a few more minutes,” he said sheepishly.

Jake gave a loud grunt. “I’ll get him. You take the documents from him and if possible, get him out of here before we start questioning this rich guy.”

“I will—” the officer was about to say something but was cut short by Kiara.

“No. You won’t. Just give me everything related to this case and then you’re relieved of your duties. Your captain knows about this, and you should also know your jurisdiction.” With that, she gestured Jake to get Shawn Hansen. Jake nodded and left.