Chapter Three #2
“I can look after Oliver until Uncle Ben gets here,” quietly said Nick. “We can just play video games in the room and keep Ben on the phone.”
“Hey, I can take you guys to the science museum if you want,” replied Ben. “They are supposed to be having a pretty cool robotics display today with robot fights.”
“That would be totally fun,” enthused Oliver.
Henry forced himself to smile. “Thanks Ben.”
He grabbed his car keys and gave the boys one last instruction. “Don’t leave the room and don’t open the door until Ben gets here. No cooking anything and keep Ben on the phone.”
Oliver rolled his eyes but Nick gave a firm nod.
Trusting Nick would look after his brother, Henry headed out the door.
He was getting to a point where he should probably have someone else driving him around but Henry was loath to give up the freedom just yet.
Finding parking near the police station was the harder part.
That took him the better part of ten minutes.
Once inside, Henry was greeted by Addison who gave him a quick hug.
“They took her into a questioning room. Apparently, the FBI has requisitioned the use of the precinct for their investigation. I had my lawyer go with Cora,” Addison informed him quickly. “I asked if she wanted her own lawyers but Cora said they were Nate’s and she didn’t want them.”
“Did Kepler say anything further?” wondered Henry.
Addison shook her head. “No, just that I’m supposed to wait here.”
They were at the front area which was jammed with people waiting, some filling out forms, others looking bored or angry. All the seats were full and people were leaning against the walls while others were at the front desk having conversations with the front desk clerks.
The place had poor lighting, peeling paint, and uncomfortable looking chairs. The floor tiles were so scuffed, if there was a pattern it was now camouflaged under years of use. It was depressing. Henry imagined the interrogation room Cora was in was probably in just as bad of shape.
He hated that Cora was in there without him. That she only had a stranger of a lawyer to advise her, to take care of her.
Henry pulled out his phone, calling Templer. The lawyer seemed to know what was going on with Cora and had some sympathy for her. Henry wanted him involved so he would have an ear on what Kepler really wanted.
“Ads, Henry,” greeted a serious Lincoln Waters as he approached. He immediately put an arm around Addison. “Do we know anything further?”
Addison shook her head, leaning on her husband.
Finishing the call with Templer’s promise he would come by the station, Henry shook Lincoln’s hand. “Hopefully we can get to the bottom of this soon. I think Cora’s been through enough without the FBI questioning her again.”
“Agreed,” murmured Addison.
Their conversation was interrupted by a disturbance down the hall. Heads swiveled as people leaned to get a better vantage point to look as a man spoke loudly and aggressively.
“You take over half the police station for your people, crowding us out of doing real work. When are you going to be done Epps? Maybe you could do something useful, like find Holly Urshman. Have you made any headway there? Would you like to share any information you have on that investigation or have you just decided not to get involved in the kidnapping at all?” growled a man.
Another man held onto him, talking quietly, trying to diffuse the situation as a man in a suit continued down the hallway, seeming unperturbed by the outburst.
“Excuse me,” said Henry as he quickly made his way over to Detective Drew Colborne. He didn’t know his cousin well, just that he was one of David Ramesly’s illegitimate sons and was a detective with the local police force.
Henry followed Drew as the other man led him out of the hallway. He received some curious looks as he approached Drew, but no one stopped him from entering the room full of desks of working police personnel.
“Detective Colborne,” greeted Henry.
A distracted Drew looked at him and it took him a moment before he recognized him. “Henry Ramesly.”
Henry nodded. “I was wondering if I could have a word.”
“Of course,” agreed Drew. He tilted his head towards the other man who was with him. “My brother-in-law Miguel. He’s also a detective.”
Henry shook Miguel’s hand. “Good to meet you.”
Drew led Henry to a small interview room where they could talk in private. It was as depressing as Henry thought it would be. “What can I help you with?”
“That’s what I was going to ask you,” dryly mentioned Henry. “I take it the raid on the warehouse last night was unsuccessful.”
Drew nodded. “Tremblay is like a magician. I have no idea where he has Holly hidden. We have been putting pressure on him and his associates, we have followed up on every lead but I’m out of ideas.
I honestly don’t know what to do. We are reduced to raids on random abandoned places around the city. It’s not a winning strategy.”
“Do you need more funding? Will hiring further professionals help?” wondered Henry.
Drew shook his head. “Without some form of a lead, having extra people won’t help. Besides, your brother Ben is footing all the bills. He says there is no spending cap.”
Henry was quiet, wondering what he could do that might help in some way.
Drew growled in frustration. “My brother isn’t as strong as he likes to pretend to be. I’m not sure what he’s going to do when Tremblay’s kid dies and we haven’t found Holly.”
“Just be there for him. That’s all you can really do,” suggested Henry, feeling the words were inadequate for the situation facing Drew.
Drew gave a jerky nod, his jaw clenched.
“I need your help on another matter. Cora Ramesly was brought in for questioning by Agent Kepler,” mentioned Henry. “I need to know what was talked about.”
Drew cursed at the man’s name. “Kepler isn’t exactly friendly to me. He’s not going to tell me anything.”
“I understand that. However, you might hear something through the grapevine since they are sharing the building with you. I would appreciate it if you passed on any information to me,” responded Henry.
“I can do that,” said Drew with a sharp unamused laugh. “The FBI doesn’t share. They just commandeered and expected us to live with the fallout.”
Henry decided not to respond to that particular resentment.
“Kepler has talked to Cora at least once, maybe twice, before bringing her in for questioning now. Her husband, Nate Ramesly, had an autopsy come back as not natural causes like previously thought as the cause of his death. What is your take on the FBI talking to her again?”
Drew sighed. “I don’t know how the FBI handles things but if it were me, then the first talks were probably to rattle her. This one means they may have an interest in her as a suspect in her husband’s death. If they don’t arrest her, they don’t have enough proof and are fishing for a confession.”