CHAPTER 497: DON VINO (3)

Back at the press conference, Leon paused as if to get everyone’s attention, his tired eyes behind those useless glasses scanned the crowd beneath the podium on which he stood, then continued,

"Among those rescued is a person of interst-"

"A person of interest? Are you going to subject the poor people to further unreasonable screenings? One reporter snapped, a little more forcefully than intended.

Leon did not bat an eye, but continued,

"Brianna Mush, who I see has been dominating the media since the early hours of this operation, will not be handled like the rest, because she had a conviction waiting for her. She is confirmed to have been the mastermind behind the near-death of the now missing Mrs Shelby Thornston...."

"What?!!!!!"

"What do you mean?"

"Why would she do that? Wasn’t she Miss Shelby’s friend?"

"Yes, this does not make any sense!"

"This was a confession given by Ms Avril during her interrogation. Additionally, following this confession, Brianna Mush has been thoroughly investigated, and it has been confirmed that she was also involved in numerous hire-to-pay instances.

She relied on her family’s wealth to direct mercenaries to target many people, some of whom were killed and others tortured in ways unimaginable. We do understand Ms Brianna’s plight, but as soon as her injuries are tended to, she will be arraigned before the courts at the earliest!"

The press fell into silence, while the police wondered when Leon and Evans had put this together.

Obviously, they had help, but the two were not about to let this little fact be known.

"We have enough evidence to back this up, financial, call and even text records, some picture proofs and the likes, but all this will be made available to the relevant parties in due time. Today’s press conference will end here.

Leon bowed to the commissioner, who was nodding in satisfaction, giving himself a pat on the back for adhering to the mysterious directive he had received. Though with what was already in the media and Leon’s past glories, the decision had been fairly easy for him to make. They exited the place.

Leon and Evans did not have any time to rest and went straight to dealing with the aftermath.

A new task force was set up to handle the evidence that had been brought in as well as the impending investigation.

Despite all this, the station was a bit gloomy and awkward. Leon had no issues with them, but some were feeling awkward about their past actions.

Amid the chaotic energy following this bust, and back at the precinct, Detective Evans leaned against his desk, nursing a strong coffee and a stronger grudge. Evans was not one to let things go, like Leon was intending to do. Evans was going to get back at those stupide people who thought that they could kick him while he was down.

As soon as Leon sat down and shut his eyes briefly, Evans watched the rookies from across the room. Their door was ajar, so he saw all that he wanted to. These were the same ones who had laughed the loudest and had even taken the initiative on their own when he and his partner were publicly humiliated, assigned that "rookie-like task."

Now those same rookies kept throwing them quick glances .... a mixture of awe and panic, as a few freelance reporters swarmed the station for interviews.

Evans smirked, the left side of his lip twitching.

"They laughed when we got sent chasing ghosts. Had the audacity to talk shit directly at me, and now..."

He sipped his coffee thoughtfully.

"Now, who’s looking like a bunch of terrified kittens in a thunderstorm?"

He leaned over to Leon and muttered under his breath:

"Think it’s too early to start assigning them every toilet duty, coffee run, and mouldy file in the basement archive?"

Leon didn’t even open his eyes, but muttered, "You’re evil."

Evans chuckled. "Not evil. Just a man with an excellent memory... and a long list of bitter tea orders with no sugar. We’ll call it character development. Yes, let’s call it that... or maybe, super training? Anyway, you get it right? I am so big-hearted that I will enact revenge for both of us!"

Evans nodded and then stood up, stretching.

He smiled when he saw a group of his subordinates stiffen. Who did not know how petty Evans was?

However, just before Evans went out to do, whatever he wanted, he paused, just as one of their colleagues of similar rank stepped in tentatively,

"I- Pl- I mean, I was – we were being fools and dickheads-"

"Good you know that!" Evans snapped, but this man who have retaliated, did not say a word,

"Please forgive us, chief!"

Leon sighed. He really did not have time for those things at all.

"We have lots to do. Organize them into the meeting room and let’s strategize. I need half an hour to unwind, and I’ll be there soon."

For a moment, the guy was struck dump. Then he smiled,

"Thank you Chief!"

He nearly jumped with glee, but he had forgotten Evans....

Evans knew that his time would come, and revenge, he would seek!

"Ermmm...."

"Anything else?"

"Are you not worried that it could be Ian?" he asked,

"What?"

"The Don Vino person?" Evans and Leon looked at him like he was a fool!

"Why would Ian need to do this? Are you stupid or something? He is Ian Thornston! The fuck!" Evans spat out and then left without a backwards glance.

"You, over there! You are on loo duty for a week! And you – you know what, the cleaners will be off duty for the rest of the week, you two will be in charge o-"

Leon listened to this and shook his head, especiall, the dread he could see coating the faces of the rest. He decided to stay out of it if it did not affect his investigation.

***

When Abi finally came to, it was about an hour later. Abram had been beside himself with worry and had even called in their personal doctor to come to their home to see her. Obviously, they found nothing wrong,

"Madam just fainted from the shock. She will be up after a while," the doctor and opted to do nothing. He knew how to do things the way Abi liked.

"Is my baby really being held?" She sobbed as soon as her eyes opened.

Abram was at his wits end, as he had never seen his wife like that. He was usually the one taking on such a role, so he was a bit flustered.

It did not take long for Abi to regain her composure. The time was ripe for her to be there for her daughter. She wiped away her tears and composed herself.

"Let’s get the best lawyer for Brainna now. That will be our best shot, and then...."

She was already up from the bed on which she lay and headed for her office. A maid met her and bowed, but she did not even pay heed. Soon, she was at her desk, lost in thought.

She drummed her fingers on the polished mahogany desk in her office.

"We need lots of money to do that, but we do not have much at the moment...."

Abram added, knowing that they had spent a lot in the months prior in trying to find their daughter.

"Hmmm.... We have no choice but to sell the ready goods to the next available buyer!"

She said without even blinking. They both knew that doing so would result in a loss, but if they waited, their daughter’s fate might take a turn for the worse. They had tried everything and could not even get visitation rights. With the new knowledge, they knew that it was because Brianna was being treated as a criminal.

They therefore only needed that lawyer, and only a designated group of lawyers could do that. Those did not come cheap. With all their business partners abandoning them, they had no choice but to sell quickly!

Abi pulled a landline and dialled a number from memory. Her tone was cool and practised. In fact, it was very authoritative, but Abram seemed accustomed to this. Nothing in her voice gave away the weight of what was going on in her life.

"Tell our friends beyond the seas," she said, pausing to glance around the closed office, "that the shipment of crates is ready and will arrive sooner than expected. The same conditions they have proposed still hold, but we want the deal finalized tonight."

She listened to the other side, and then Abi chuckled lightly, as though she were talking about something as mundane as a garden party. Her state of mind was not apparent at all.

"What are they saying? Did they agree?" Abram mouthed, and Abi placed the receiver down, gently tapping on the loudspeaker so that he could listen too.

"Yes... of course," she added, "same method. However, ensure the wine garnish is properly sorted. You remember what happened last time."

"I understand, but do you really want to do this Don? These are new buyers that we have not finished assessing, but even their price point is too low. This will be a negative transcation-"

"Just do as you are asked and stop asking unnecessary questions!"

"Yes, Don Vino.... My apologies for overstepping my bounds!"

*********

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