Chapter 9: The Mysterious Disappearance
“He hasn’t checked into any hospital.” “The police haven’t found any trace of his car yet.” “His phone is still off, and his family hasn’t received any news from him.”
Maya looked at Bernard, Creek, and Bob with disappointment. None of them had any positive news; on the contrary, their words suggested that hope of finding Alex, who had been missing for three days, was fading. She said as she walked toward his office, “Keep searching, and let me know if there’s any update. I’ll see what I can find in his office.”
She entered the room, sat on his leather chair behind the desk, and began going through the papers and files scattered across it. The phone rang suddenly, startling her. She glanced at the new phone sitting on the right side of the desk, swallowed hard as she remembered the incident with the bullet she had fired, then reached for the phone and picked up the receiver, saying, “Lieutenant Maya speaking.”
“Any news?” came the voice of her superior, John.
She closed her eyes and replied, “No, sir.”
John asked, “What are the chances this is a kidnapping?”
“I don’t know, but the fact that his car is missing suggests it wasn’t a kidnapping. If he had been kidnapped, his car would still be where it was.”
“What are the chances he disappeared willingly?”
She replied as she shuffled the papers, causing a photo to fall off the edge of the desk, “I don’t think that’s the case either. Even if he didn’t want to tell us where he was, he would have at least informed his mother, who claims that he never went anywhere in his life without telling her. This disappearance is unprecedented.”
After a moment of silence, John asked, “What are the chances he’s dead?”
Maya’s grip on the phone tightened, her eyes narrowed, and her body tensed as she coldly replied, “Is there anything else?”
“Yes,” John continued. “Is your team capable of handling the investigation into his disappearance on its own, or should I send someone to assist?”
“I believe we can manage.”
“Then you will lead the investigation. Once you bring Alex back, I’ll restore your rank. Goodbye.”
She slammed the receiver back onto the phone in anger. He had said “bring Alex back,” not “bring Alex back safely.” Why was he so insistent that something terrible had happened to him? In all her life, she had never met a man as strong and resilient as Alex. He could certainly protect himself; he wouldn’t let anything happen to him. She looked at the photo that had fallen while she was talking to John, picked it up thoughtfully, and then called out, “Hey, everyone, come in here!”
The three entered the room, and Maya immediately asked, “What do you know about a heroin dealer named Sam?”
Bernard, trying to cover up his and his friends’ unease, asked, “Why?”
Maya ignored the question and continued, “Is there any connection between him and Alexander?”
Bernard asked again, “What makes you think that?”
Frustrated, Maya snapped, “Stop it, Bernard! Are you investigating me now? Why do you all get nervous whenever Sam’s name is mentioned? Speak up!”
Bob quickly answered, “He’s someone Alex hates because he always disrupts his deals, and Alex hates him too.”
Maya urged, “And?”
Bernard added, “Alex has been after him for a long time. He’s determined to catch him, but he doesn’t know where he is.”
Maya asked, “Let’s say Alexander somehow found out where Sam is. What are the chances he’d go after him?”
Creek answered passionately, “100%. You have no idea how much Alex wants to get him.”
Maya stood up, still holding the photo. “Alright. I think I might know where he is.” Then she started to leave, but Bernard stopped her, saying, “Wait, tell us what’s going on.”
She held up the photo and said, “This man, Cal, is in prison. About ten days ago, I told Alexander that Cal claimed to know where Sam is, so I think your commander took the opportunity and got Cal to tell him the location. Now we’re going to visit our friend Cal to investigate.”
The door opened, revealing a guard leading Cal, dressed in orange prison clothes and shackled in handcuffs. The guard sat him down across from Maya and then left the room.
“Hello, Cal. I’m Lieutenant Maya. We’ve met before; I was a captain then.”
Cal remained silent, so Maya asked directly, “When did Captain Alexander visit you?”
He replied coldly, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Maya slammed her hand on the table. “I don’t have time for games, and I know he visited you. There are three officers currently reviewing the surveillance footage, and when they find it, I’ll charge you with lying and obstructing the investigation, and you’ll rot in prison. Now talk.”
Realizing she was serious, Cal said, “Four days ago, around eight in the evening.”
Maya pursed her lips in frustration. He had visited on Nina’s birthday, which explained why he was late. She asked, “What did he want?”
“The location of Sam.”
“And what did you tell him?”
“With the same answer I gave you when you visited me. A deal: reduce my sentence in exchange for telling him the location.”
“And what was his response?”
Cal smirked, “He was more generous than you. He agreed immediately, so my sentence went from ten years to six.”
Maya was shocked. Was Sam so important to him that he’d give up four years? She tried to make Cal doubt Alexander. “Do you really think he was sincere? He probably tricked you.”
Cal laughed heartily, then said, “Do you think I’m a fool? I didn’t say anything until he brought me a signed agreement from the district attorney, along with a lawyer to verify it.”
“Alright…” The ringing of her cell phone on the table interrupted her. She picked it up and answered, “Yes, Creek?”
“There’s a problem.”
Maya felt uneasy. “What is it?”
Creek replied, “We watched the surveillance tape. He’s telling the truth—Alex visited him four days ago, but the problem is that the visit was recorded without sound.”
Maya stood up, shouting, “How is that possible?”
“It seems Alex turned off the microphones.”
She ended the call in thought. He had turned off the microphones to prevent anyone from following him. Now she was beginning to believe he was in danger. She turned to Cal and said, “Where is Sam?”
Cal remained silent for a moment before exclaiming, “Wow… so he didn’t tell you the location, huh? What a selfish guy.”
Maya shouted, “Talk!”
“Don’t shout, darling. I won’t say a word until I get a new deal.”
Maya replied helplessly, “You already got your deal.”
“No. That was with that man. Now we start a new deal, and this time I set the terms because it seems you need me badly. Cut my sentence in half, and I’ll tell you where Sam is. You have two hours to decide.” He stood up and knocked on the door, and the guard returned to escort him out.
“Did you schedule the meeting?”
Creek answered, “Yes. It’s at one in the afternoon.”
Maya exclaimed as she checked her brown wristwatch, “That’s in three hours!”
Creek explained, “Getting them to agree to meet today without an appointment is impressive. You should know that these meetings with the unit commander and his deputies usually take months to arrange. We should be grateful for their immediate response.”
Maya screamed, “To hell with them and their meetings! One of their officers’ lives could be in danger, and they don’t care! Instead, they want us to be thankful for a three-hour delay!”
“Why are you shouting?”
Maya narrowed her eyes as she saw Frederick standing by the door. She asked him irritably, “Who let you in?”
He responded, spreading his arms, “This is my nephew’s office.”
Maya turned to Bob and Bernard, who stood behind him, and asked, “How did you let him in without asking me first?”
Bob answered, “He wanted to know if we’d found anything about Alex.”
Maya turned to Frederick, “We have found something about Alex! Don’t you realize you’re asking the wrong people? You should be asking the police, not us. We’re not responsible for finding him.”
Frederick responded provocatively, “Strange! I heard you opened an investigation to find him, and you’re leading it.”
Maya answered flatly, “When I said we’re not responsible for finding him, I meant we’re not responsible for answering your questions. Now leave before I call someone to throw you out.”
Frederick studied her for a few moments. He missed his nephew dearly, the one who would risk his life for him, as he had done before. He asked anxiously, “He hasn’t been harmed, has he?”
Here he was, trembling before her. This was her chance for psychological revenge. One word from her could shake him, unsettle him, destroy him, and fill his heart with fear and sorrow. Yet, as she opened her mouth to speak, an image of Alex flashed before her eyes, and she heard his words echoing in her mind: “You let your emotions drive you, blind you from seeing the truth, which usually hurts you in the end. Think about what your actions will do to others before you act.” She looked into Frederick’s eyes and said, “If there’s one thing I’m sure of, it’s that not a single hair on Alexander’s head has been harmed. He’s fine.”
Happiness shone in Frederick’s eyes as he said, “That’s all I needed to hear. I won’t even ask how you know that. Thank you.” Then he quietly left.
Maya watched him until he disappeared from view and said to herself, “I’ve just passed the second step, Alexander.” Then she looked at the three men who were staring at her in astonishment and said, “What? Don’t tell me it’s the first time you’ve seen a woman lie.”
Bob spoke up, “I thought you hated Frederick.”
“I hate him! I want to kill him, dear.”
Creek asked, thinking she was speaking figuratively, “Then why did you reassure him?”
“Because if I told him Alex was in danger, he would tell his sister, and I hate to see a mother grieve for her son, Creek.” Then she stood up, knowing she was lying for the second time.
“Cal, a man who sold heroin in poor neighborhoods, was caught by the police and sentenced to ten years in prison. The day before Captain Alexander disappeared, he met with Cal and struck a deal: reduce Cal’s sentence to six years in exchange for information about a heroin dealer named Sam, who turned out to be an enemy of the captain.” Maya paused to let Chief John and his deputies, Generals Julian and Jack, fully grasp the situation.
John nodded for her to continue, and Maya felt like lying was becoming a habit. “Unfortunately, it seems the microphones malfunctioned because the recorded visit had no sound, so we couldn’t learn Sam’s location. As for Cal, he’s demanding another deal before he tells us.”
General Jack asked, “What’s the deal?”
“Cutting his sentence to three years instead of six.”
General Julian remarked, “He’s definitely insane.”
Maya replied, “The district attorney agreed to the first reduction in Cal’s sentence, so he won’t agree now without approval from the unit’s leadership, as the regulations require. That’s why I need your consent.”
John asked seriously, “Are you okay with letting this prisoner exploit us?”
Maya answered nervously, “We have no other choice, sir.”
General Julian said as he clenched his fists, “Being blackmailed twice by a prisoner is a reputation we don’t want.”
Maya responded boldly, “But abandoning one of your officers is a reputation you’re willing to accept?”
Chief John roared in anger, “Watch your tone, Lieutenant. You know we haven’t abandoned anyone; the captain acted on his own, so he must face the consequences of his actions.”
“Sorry, but…”
General Julian interrupted, “What if he’s already dead? We’d gain nothing in that case.”
Maya silently cursed them, growing weary of people telling her he might be dead or hurt. Why was she, who had known him for such a short time, more confident in him than those who had known him for years? She defiantly said, “And if he is dead, doesn’t he deserve a proper military funeral?”
She thought she would make them angrier, but to her surprise, General Jack burst out laughing. Then, calming down, he said, “You’re just like him. Honestly, I’m starting to think I’m seeing Alex standing in front of me.”
General Julian explained when he saw her confusion, “He’s referring to that time, about a month and a half ago, when you abandoned your mission to monitor that man’s house, which John assigned you. The next day, we were all furious because of what you did. You have no idea how hard we worked to get that information. We recruited a few men, spent money, and used advanced equipment, all to get a lead on a drug dealer. And when we finally got it and knew he would be one of the visitors to that house you were supposed to monitor, you simply left the mission. The next day, when we met, we decided to deduct three months of your salary to cover the costs we had incurred. But Captain Alex, who was present as your commander, stood up, fuming with anger, and said it wasn’t your fault. He argued that you weren’t in a normal state because your mother had been hospitalized and your mind was distracted. He claimed the mistake was his, as he was with you and knew about the mission, yet took you to the hospital without assigning someone else to take over. So he suggested we only deduct 30% of your salary while deducting 70% of his. And that’s exactly what happened.”
Maya was stunned by what she heard. She had wanted to kill him when she read the report that day, not realizing he had been her savior, bearing the punishment instead of her. General Jack’s voice broke her thoughts, “It’s funny how things turn around. Yesterday, he was defending you, and today, you’re defending him. But as for the deal, I refuse.”
“And I refuse,” echoed General Julian.
John added, “I’m sorry, but your proposal is denied. We won’t cut Cal’s sentence to three years.”
Maya glared at them in frustration, then spoke through clenched teeth, “Why tell me that story if you weren’t going to agree? Did you want to make me feel even worse? To show me that Alexander could do anything for me while I can do nothing for him?”
No one responded, so she left without asking permission or saluting them, then pulled out her cell phone and held it to her ear. After a few seconds, she spoke, “Bob, meet me at the central prison building.”
Silence filled the interrogation room containing a single table and two chairs. Maya sat in one, with Cal in the other. Her phone vibrated on the table, and she answered, “Are you done?”
After listening to the response, she said, “Great, wait for me.”
She placed the phone back on the table and turned to Cal, “My colleagues just told me they’ve turned off the surveillance cameras and microphones, and they managed to convince the guards not to log this visit in their records. Do you know what that means? It means no one will know this visit happened. It will be as if it never took place.”
Cal spoke fearfully, “You’re a scoundrel! Are you threatening me? Are you going to torture me for the information?”
Maya smiled, “It’s tempting, but unfortunately, I won’t resort to that. I won’t violate your rights.”
“Did you agree to the deal?”
“No.”
“Then what do you want?”
“Do you have a family?”
Cal stood up, shouting, “I swear if you go near them…”
Maya raised her voice to cut him off, “Shut up and listen. I won’t hurt anyone; just answer the question.”
He sat back down, thinking for a moment, then said, “I have a wife and two kids.”
“Do you have money to support them?”
“No.”
“Who’s supporting them, then?”
“My assistant.”
Maya leaned back in her chair and, after a moment, said, “Listen carefully to what I’m about to say. I never used to think about money because my father worked, my grandfather worked, and I worked, so I never needed money. But three years ago, my father was killed, a month and a half ago, a third of my salary was cut for three months, and two weeks ago, my grandfather’s pension stopped. See how things go wrong without warning!” She paused briefly, then continued, “I’m on the brink of insanity now. I don’t know what to do. I have my mother, my grandfather, and my aunt to support, and I have no idea how. I can’t sleep; I can’t eat. You know what thought crosses my mind whenever I think about the financial crisis I’m in? I wonder how different things would be if my father had left us an inheritance.”
Cal asked, still dazed, “What are you trying to say?”
Maya answered seriously, “Don’t make the same mistake my father did. The last thing on his mind was money, so he didn’t save anything, leading to the crisis I’m in now. Don’t make the same mistake he did. Secure your family’s future. Your assistant won’t keep supporting them for long. Tell me, why should he continue to do so?”
Cal’s eyes darkened, and sweat began to form on his face. Maya observed, “Oh my God! You actually believe he’ll stop.”
“What can I do?”
“Does your wife have a bank account?”
“Yes.”
Maya placed a folded piece of paper on the table that she had brought with her and slid it toward him. “Open it.”
As she watched his surprise grow when he opened the paper, she said, “Give me the information, and this check for a large sum of money will be yours.”
Cal said in disbelief, “But this check is made out to you; it’s in your name.”
Maya’s eyes took on a strange look as she replied, “Just because it’s in my name doesn’t mean I deserve it. But don’t worry about that. I’ll go to the bank now, cash it, and deposit the money in your wife’s account. Then I’ll bring you the deposit receipt.”
Cal hesitated, so she pressed on, “The information you have is worthless to you. They’re determined not to make a deal. Not a single day will be shaved off your sentence, so be smart and secure your family’s future.”
After a moment of reflection, Cal extended his hand to shake hers and said, “Deal.”