The Woman in the Letter

PART 32

Natalie

"I didn't want you to be seen in the department," he said, shaking my hand and sitting in the brown seat in front of me, looked around to check if there was someone suspicious. When I called Ian and told him I wanted to meet him, he asked me to meet him in one of the nearby cafes. In any case, Paul could have been even more frightened to see me go to the police department because he risked following me. During the time I came to the cafe, the police would follow me from outside and check if Paul was in the area. But the man sitting in front of me didn't seem enthusiastic enough to tell me any good news.

"Any news?" I asked.

"An investigation is underway. Do not worry"

I knew that Ian would not say anything to me. Because up to now, if there was any news, they would tell us. But the police, like me, didn't seem to know where to start. This was perhaps the first time they had encountered such a situation. They were looking for a man who was thought to be dead months ago.

I used to love this place due to its vintage style. But now I was very bored here. On the vintage wooden tables, there was a black and white menu. The pictures on the wall are arranged in shades of black and white, just like the menu. Dark red, round chandeliers hung on each table. clips of pop music of the 70s were repeating each other on the old TV.

"How can he hide with no trace?" I asked.

He took a deep breath before answering the question. "The last camera I saw was Paul driving to the river"

"He drove the car into the canal to lose track. Let everyone know he is dead "

"We think so"

"Is there no video of him returning from those cameras?"

"No"

"Any taxi, a bus coming back from there ... Any transportation?". For a second I felt like I am the dedective.

"Ms. Natalie. I understand. You want your mother's killer to be found. We want the same with you. But unfortunately, we have to be a little patient. Everything is searched one by one. We checked your handwriting in the letter. We took several samples of Paul's writings in the company "

I never expected this news. While I was looking for Paul, the police were still investigating to make sure that the handwriting on the letter belongs to Paul. "I have told you. I know his handwriting "

"Ms. Natalie, we are working with evidence, not probabilities. You were right. The manuscript is Paul's handwriting"

"I simply do not understand. When will you start looking for the killer if you are trying to clarify the known issue? " I knew my question was very rough and prickly. But that didn't bother me, because I was tired of trying to stifle my nerves.

Ian simply looked at me seriously and said, "I told you to be patient."

"Patience is a quality I tried many times but failed every time"

"Let's get to the main issue. Let's talk about the issue you want to meet with me" Ian said.

"Actually, I am not sure to talk to you about it," I said hesitantly.

"Even the smallest thing that comes to your mind can be a big step for us to follow in Paul's footsteps. "

"Maybe it's a very meaningless thing ... I don't know"

He raised his right eyebrow a little without interrupting me. He listened carefully to every word that came out of my mouth.

"I will ask you something. I can't do it on my own. "

"Please"

"I'll tell you several dates" I opened the sky blue bag and handed him a piece of paper, "I wrote the dates on a paper"

As soon as he picked up the paper, he began to look at the notes. He no longer had eye contact, I spoke more confidently. "Can you find where Paul was on these dates? I wanna find out he was in abroad or in here"

He paused and shook his head. "Sure," he said. "But I need to know why you want it."

"As I said, maybe it's a very meaningless reason"

"Nothing is meaningless in this situation"

"Paul told me he was going abroad on these dates. But I have some doubts that he did not go abroad. "

"So you think he was not in abroad. He was here In Baku. With another lady? "

"I want to know. I think that if we learn this, something can help us"

"It's not difficult to learn. I will inform you about it soon"

I felt a little relieved. I got up and took my jacket. He got up with me and put the paper in the pocket of his jeans. "Ms. Natalie" shook my hand and said, "I'm glad to see you strong," he said.

I could not say anything. Because we both knew that I was at the black hole. He was just trying to support me.

I left the cafe before him. When I went out into the crowd, I remembered what Ian had said. Paul can follow me anywhere and I have to be careful until he is found. I stopped in front of the cafe. People passed by me as if I was not there. Everyone was in a hurry. I looked around carefully. I waited for him. I waited for him to come to me and catch me immediately. But no. I knew everything would not be so easy. I tried to calm the fear inside me. The fear that I would not be able to find him before he hurt my loved ones again.