41. An Interrogation #2
"He's five years old. His parents are splitting up, and he doesn't understand what is happening.
" Andreas nodded at me to follow him and opened the door to the building for me.
"Should I tell him that his father is our gardener?
Or his mother's fitness trainer? Or maybe his sister's Spanish teacher? "
"Shit!" I cursed under my breath, oblivious to our surroundings.
"Yeah, it sucks, but I'm willing to make a deal with her." I stopped, frowning at his back before he found out I stayed behind. He returned with a grimace, and I prompted him to explain before we met investigators. "I'll suggest giving her money in exchange for full custody."
"Will she agree?" I breathed, seeing the police officer approaching us.
"I have no idea, but I'll give it a shot.
" He shrugged, turning on his heels and stretching his arm towards the incoming woman dressed in a grey pantsuit, with glasses on her straight nose and shoulder-length light-brown hair behind her ears.
"Good afternoon, Caroline," he greeted, and her green eyes lit up.
"It's Officer Nielson here, Mr. Thorn," she corrected him, but her lips stretched into a toothy smile, and I blinked in confusion, unsure what this was about. "You're here early." She shook his hand, holding it longer than was necessary until he gently pulled away.
She smiled and turned to the door, motioning for us to follow her.
"She's been after me for as long as I can remember," Andreas whispered, placing his palm on the small of my back. "Leave this to me."
"Okay, boss," I agreed, smiling politely when I entered the small, austerely furnished office. There was only a wooden table in the corner with a lamp and computer covered with papers and files, two simple chairs, and shelves with boxes.
"Sorry for the mess. I'm drowning in work," Officer Nielson said, offering her hand. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Mrs. Thorn. Thank you for meeting me."
"Of course. What can I do for you, officer?" I sat opposite her, waiting for Andreas to find a place for his briefcase, but there seemed to be none.
We both lifted an eyebrow at him when he turned in every direction, confused. "I hate small places," he mumbled and plopped beside me, realizing we were staring at him. "Sorry, I never worked in a box."
Caroline smiled at him sweetly and directed her attention to me, opening a thick file.
"Mrs. Thorn, when did your relationship with Sebastian Thorn start?" she asked, taking the black pen and opening a small notebook.
"Officially? On April 28, this year," I replied, narrowing my eyes at the copy of the mine and Bastian’s contract that the officer took out from the drawer. We still haven't found out who gave the agreement to the press and to the police.
"The date here is different." She pointed to the dotted line with my signature and grimaced.
"Yes, that's the start of our BDSM relationship," I clarified, and she flashed me a fake smile, entwining her fingers on the table.
"Mrs. Thorn, can you give me a direct answer to my question? "
"I did." I crossed my legs, leaning into my seat. "Our working relationship started even sooner."
"Do you think this is a joke?" she inquired, frowning at me. "Your husband is being sued for sexual harassment, and I have a contract about spankings, anal, and other interesting things in my hands."
"Caroline," Andreas interrupted our staring contest and my imminent sharp response with his deep voice, and she glanced at him with an irritated scowl on her face. "First, Electra is not the one suing him, and second, the contract you're referring to is not legally binding."
"It's evidence," she snarled, tapping the pen onto the paper, but he didn't move a muscle.
"Of what? That she likes to be fucked in the ass?" He finished the sentence with a low chuckle, and I whipped my head in his direction. His comment was inappropriate, but she instantly shut her mouth.
"What is your connection with Sarah Pearson, Mrs. Thorn?" She changed the topic, squeezing the poor pen in her palm like it was responsible for her minor failure.
"None," I answered, trying to recall any memory that involved Sarah. "She worked on a different floor. Sometimes, she stopped by to chat with my former boss, Lena Kowalski, and I was at the meeting when Bastian fired her. That's all."
"No drinks after work, gossiping in the kitchen, or other activities?" the officer continued, making quick notes.
"No, nothing," I confirmed, glancing at Andreas, who was checking his perfectly manicured nails, looking bored as hell.
"So, you claim you know nothing about her sleeping with your husband?" She took the yellow envelope from the file, moving it towards me. "We have photos that confirm he had an affair with her."
My stomach twisted with dread, and I tried to take the envelope with my trembling hand, but Andreas snatched it away. He opened it, briefly glimpsed at the pictures, and threw them on the desk .
"I have the original files right here, Caroline," he stated, unlocking his briefcase, and the officer's brows furrowed. He passed her a stack of photos, and her eyes quickly scanned them. A frown formed on her face while checking them, making a note here and there.
"Are you saying Miss Pearson fabricated evidence?" She leaned into her seat, giving us a doubtful look. "That's a serious accusation.”
"I'm sure your experts can confirm that those pictures are photoshopped.
" Andreas pointed at the photos that supposedly showed Bastian with Sarah, playing with the USB key he fished from his pocket.
"I also have a video of her having sex with my father and another set of photos showing them on the yacht in Mexico. "
"She had an affair with Leonard Thorn?" Caroline asked in evident surprise, taking the USB from Andreas, and he nodded. "Then why is she attacking Sebastian?"
"Revenge and money," he answered matter of factly, opening his briefcase again. I watched their conversation like some movie played before my eyes, trying to stay invisible. Andreas came heavily armed for this interrogation, and I didn't want to spoil anything with a wrong response.
"This is the list of people who were present at my mother's birthday party when Sarah crashed it and revealed my father's out-of-wedlock child.
" Andreas gave her the paper, his hand slightly trembling.
I could only imagine how hard it was for him to talk about that day.
Bastian mentioned it several times but never told me the specifics.
"She did it because Bastian refused to pay the rent for her Manhattan apartment and the mortgage for her house.
He also took away the limousine and driver my father assigned her.
She lost all her privileges when my brother took over the company. "
"We are talking about a sexual harassment accusation, Andreas," Caroline pointed out, still not sure about his words, but he had another ace up his sleeve.
"Bastian fired her in front of the managers of Thorn Enterprises, and he made sure she wouldn't find a job in this city. Do you want to know what he did when she started threatening him?" Andreas winked at me, and my heart clenched. I didn't know about this, and my expression matched Caroline's .
"I'm sure it was legal but devastating for her career," she mumbled, staring at the open file. The idea that popped into my mind was disturbing, yet she probably thought the same. No one wanted to be on Thorn's enemy list.
"Of course. Do you have other questions, officer?" he inquired, adjusting his suit jacket and checking his expensive watch.
"I believe I have everything I need," she replied, standing, and we followed her example. A strange feeling nestled in my chest when I watched her, but I didn't dare to say anything.
Basically, there was nothing more to say. Andreas made Sarah look like a spurned mistress who manufactured everything as an act of revenge. But I felt in my bones she wouldn't let us win so easily.
She would plan a retaliation. I was sure of it.