Glenworth police department rests on the outskirts of the town. Detective Lancaster and his partner are making their way back to the station.
“I’m telling you Jones, the Blaires has something to do with this,” Frank says with total confidence.
“We need the motive Frank. An argument in a classroom won’t cut it. We’ll need hard evidence to convict.”
“We just have to figure something out,” Frank replies.
Not long after, they arrive back at the station. Frank pulls his car onto the rocky gravel and kills the engine. They enter the police department, where a female officer is waiting to speak with Frank at the main reception desk.
“Hey Detective, you have a visitor. He’s waiting in the interrogation room for you,” she informs him.
Jones and Frank both go into a large room with beige walls and one table in its center. A man is sitting in a chair, patiently waiting with his fingers crossed on the table top.
“Hi, Detective,” the man says without turning.
Frank and Jones immediately recognize the voice, but Frank has to be certain it’s him. He walks around the table to see if the face matches the voice. Indeed, it’s Cornelius Blaire. Cornelius looks at his diamond watch and observes the time.
“I’ve been waiting here for about twenty minutes now. If I have to estimate, you just cost me about ten thousand dollars. My time is very, very, valuable.”
“What the hell do you want?” Frank asks distastefully.
“I want what you want, answers. I’ll give you one and you give me one. Do we have a deal?”
Jones and Frank eye one another, and then they shift back at Cornelius.
“What answers do you have?” Frank asks.
“The one you’ve been dying to find out. And it’s no, I did not do it. I did not kill Grant. Now, here’s my question, how are you going to figure this one out? Whoever did this, you have to admit, it was pretty well thought out,” he says with a smirk.
“A man’s body was brutally murdered and you find this amusing?”
Cornelius ponders deeply about Frank’s question.
“All I’m saying is…I didn’t like the bastard anyways.”
Jones and Frank refuse to believe their ears. The carelessness in his remark is appalling.
“Listen you sick, sadistic, prick. I know you did it. I will turn you in and make sure you rot,” Frank informs him in a harsh tone.
Cornelius looks around the room and back at the two of them.
“But I already turned myself in,” he tells Frank with a dumbfounded expression.
Frank explodes into a hateful rage and slams his palms onto the table.
“Damn it. Don’t play games with me. I’m talking about life in prison you cocksucker!”
“Oh, prison. You are sadly mistaken. That will never happen,” Cornelius replies confidently.
“I will find a connection,” Frank reassures him in a firm tone.
“I can’t wait to hear your plan,” Cornelius says sarcastically.
“In a week I’ll have a warrant.”
“Okay, and then what? I’ll bail myself out and become a free man. Just curious, how will you win the case? What’s that stuff called again? Evidence, that’s it, you’ll need evidence,” suddenly, Cornelius mood changes as well. “Are we done here Detective?” he asks angrily. “You have no case. I own this town. I pay more taxes here in a year than you would your entire, pathetic, life. I own this department.”
Frank looks at Jones, gesturing for his assistance. Frank doesn’t have to say a word to his partner. Jones has known him for so long that he can almost read his mind. At this very moment, he knows Frank has an urgent sense to shoot something.
“Take your gun?” Jones asks Frank.
“Please do,” Frank replies.
Jones pull Frank’s gun from his side and steps away.
“Are we done?” Cornelius asks again.
Frank forces himself away from the table and backs into the corner, so he won’t be tempted to harm Cornelius.
“Get the hell out,” Frank orders him.
Cornelius stands up with his chin high in the air, bursting with pure arrogance.
“I appreciate our little chat. Now, get back to work, I’m not paying you to just stand around.”
Cornelius chuckles as he exits the room…
CHAPTER 19: THE MEMORIAL