Accused + Silence (Continuation) 💣🤍 criminal bromance

9. Truth or Dare

Sunday 08.05 :
16:02
From Tony's point of view:

It was like a nightmare. It didn't happen – it couldn't happen. I was in a proper mess. I was hoping the police would close it down and they wouldn't deal with it too much.

I ran home – took a shower, changed my clothes and immediately started erasing evidence. However, before that, I downloaded them to disk. I couldn't destroy everything, in case it got out against me. After that step, I went to get my car and Angus's things at the jail, where I was greeted by a curious policewoman, but everything went smoothly. I also arranged for his car to be unparked at his house.
...

I returned to the hospital. Angus was sitting on the bed. I had a feeling from him that now a deep conversation would start, an interrogation, which I wanted to avoid.

-"Hey, here's your stuff. I'm in a hurry, I'm going to finish work." - I gave him his cell phone, wallet, and keys on bed – I had planned to disappear.

Angus looked at me slightly angry. I was about to leave when he said - "Don't you have some explaining to me?"

I paused at the door, considering what to do. I couldn't keep this from him forever if I wanted him to be on my side. In his place, I would have acted the same, or worse. I should be grateful to him for not revealing everything to the investigator.

I turned around - "You're right. It's unfair of me." - I walked back and sat down next to him on the bed - "You should know the truth."

"Then what is it? Who was that man?" - he asked with his curious, chocolate eyes.

- "You already know that I established a decent clientele some time ago. I'm an agent who finds the right people for clients. Some wanted purely workers for their companies, others were looking for someone for a quick job they couldn't handle – they were looking for repairmen, builders, or I even had a client who was looking for a clothing designer. There were a lot of cases, but I couldn't keep this one case under control." - Angus listened tensely the whole time - "You know, that man was looking for you specifically for some sort of campaign. But it sounded to me like he just wanted to get in touch with you."

"Contact? You mean he searched for me through you?" - he wondered.

- "Yes, exactly. However, I did not provide such services. I had no problem calling you and simply arranging it, but he didn't seem to."

"He didn't seem to you? Wait, who was he? What was his name?" - not understanding, he tried to find out more.

- "He didn't go by his name. And that was the strangest part. All he had were the initials under which he presented himself. They were J.H." - I explained.

"J.H.? That doesn't tell me anything." - he wondered.

- "In the woods, I knew it had to be him, because as soon as I turned him down, the next day I had a flat tire on my car. It had to be him!" - I said, convinced.

"Do you think he was after both of us?"

- "It's possible..." - I mused.

It really was possible that he was after me too, because I know more than I should.

"And why didn't you tell this to Investigator Dorn? She could have caught him." - he looked at me uncomprehendingly.

- "The reason I didn't say it was because I didn't want to get in trouble for it, because I was acting illegal for a while when this business was going on. I hadn't yet cleared it with the authorities so I could pull double income, so it was illegally earned money. And if they started drilling into it now, they would find out and I could go bankrupt." - I explained, hoping he would understand.

"I can understand that, even if it's your own fault. But how is this situation going to be resolved? What if it comes up again and this time there are consequences?"

Angus was right, of course, but I couldn't agree with him because he might get scared.

- "Don't worry, he won't turn up now because the police will be after him. And I'm just going to hope that if they catch him, they don't get through to me, because that'll be the end of it."

"So what would help both of us? Do you have a plan? I mean, other than lying." - he said.

- "No I don't. I removed the evidence, but they could get to me through his data, so if he disappeared, that would solve the situation for both of us."

"That doesn't reassure me much. Well take your pick! Either the cops catch him and you go bankrupt, or they don't find him, but he finds us." - he said seriously.

The truthfulness of him was getting on my nerves, especially the fact that I knew he was really right.

- "So, what do you want me to do?" - I stood up and paced around the room.

"You have to confess!" - he shouted.

- "Yes? Then where am I going to get the money for the penalty? I'm not that rich. This penalty will ruin me." - I said irritably.

"But you have no other choice."

- "I do. I'm going to lie and hope everything turns out okay." - I said, not even believing it myself.

"You won't. You'll destroy yourself that way and take me with you." - he objected.

- "Angus, please promise me you won't fuck this up. Don't tell Investigator Dorn. I'll think of something." - I asked him for time. I had to figure something out sooner or later.

"I won't tell, but I don't want to lie either. I will not hesitate to say it if it will be serious."

Was he threatening me? It didn't matter. At this point, I was glad he was sticking to my side anyway.

- "Leave it to me. I'll sort it out somehow." - I said under pressure.
...