Finding Crimsoned

Chapter 8

How does someone live after becoming the reason a life was ruined? When they had their hands in doing so? Would there be any human left in them? Can they devoid of the conscience, the crime they had imprinted their hands on? Knowingly or unknowingly? He doubted it to be false, because there is no human left in a person capable of ruining a life? A life who trusted him, a life who put him above everything.
"Mr. Rowan Bell, President Zac wants you to attend the meeting at Kingston Company." Estella, his father's personal assistant said, her manicured nails drumming on the cabin's glass door, hair in a messy bun, what about the dress code? You don't have to worry about those things his father had told him.
"I can't." he sighed clicking on the cursor, a picture appeared on the screen of a girl sitting by the grass, he smiled popping his dimpled smile one beside his lips and other near the lower lip. He traced the cursor around her hair, almost black and shiny, her face was the only warm memory in his isolated cold life. You are like an ever-present spring and a light who radiates only happiness, hope.
"But Mr. Rowan, President seemed irritable."
"You don't have to worry about this."
"But-"
"Don't worry, I will attend it in his place." A soft female voice chimed in. Rowan turned his head up to see his younger sister Rosie. Her bangs had became a part of her face, he recalled how he used to tease her for getting those you look like a squishy ball and she would cry, nothing was changed, she was the same Rosie unlike Rowan who himself couldn't figure out his life. Everything feels wrong he would say to William You don't have to have it all figured out Roro yet he was still there No matter how hard I try it feels like nothing changes, I wonder do I even know how to live? And now you are over-thinking William would scoff.
"Brother." Rosie's voice got him out his thoughts,
"Hmm?"
"I will take this file."
"Okay, thanks." Rowan said looking at her, she rested her hand on his shoulder, he would've broke down and cried his heart out but he was strong he would tell himself.
"Take your time brother, the loss seems unbearable but-" her voice cracked "I believe there's always a way out and life is full of lessons, we have to stay tall."
Looking at her a thought occupied his mind; would his life had been easier if he had Rosie's optimism?
"Don't worry about me." he said with a smile that would assure her.
"I am trying." she said and walked out of the cabin, leaving him again to stare at the picture.
"I wish you were here Aurora." A tear streamed down his left eye; his face still devoid of emotions. Wiping his tear with his hand he shut down his laptop. Out on the way, he raised the employees and guards eyes on him, bowing in fascination, Rowan had been crowned as one of the most intelligent and ethereally handsome business-man, some had been jealous of his upbringings while some revered him for the same.
With pounding steps; he pulled up his sleeves and got into the Bugatti gifted by his real father Patrick Davis and the last name he preferred to be called as Rowan Davis.
"Where to? Sir!" Caleb, the driver asked in his energetic voice. The grey of his hairs shined under the car's lights as he pulled the handle.
"Greg's." he said not caring if his voice would be distinct through the back-seat, he diverted his eyes on the bright road lights, people carrying on their Friday nights while he was left all alone, William he wished he would've been here with him. To vent about how wrong, he might be living his life was all he needed.
"Got a date? Sir?" his voice a little honeyed.
"No."
"Hmmm...Isn't that a place for hanging out with girls Sir?"
Rowan stifled back his scoff and looked at Caleb through the mirror. Not in a mood of straight answers as it only would lead Caleb to ask more useless questions he said,
"Who knows? I might steal one." Hearing this Caleb burst out laughing banging the steering-wheel,
"Say this to Mr. Zac Bell." Rowan said moving his head to the outside view, blinking as the flashlights hindered his eyesight. You don't hang out enough, life is so much fun when we are enjoying, William's voice emerged in his mind as he scoffed to forget.
"Sir. What are you saying?" his voice unsteady, he covered it with his old fake laugh.
"Isn't that what you always do?" he asked keeping his eyes out the window, Caleb cleared his throat an uncertain silence filled between them. Caleb finally stopped the car outside the Greg's party place.
"I-"
"And remember, like always," Rowan looked at Caleb maintaining a smile on his face, honeyed just like Caleb's talks. His black eyes widened as he shook his head in disapproval, hands shaking on the steering wheel.
"Word to word." He said stepping out of the car and stopped at the window closer to Caleb's seat.
"He's still in the office, waiting for you." With no words, Caleb drove off leaving Rowan standing down the Greg's party hall, he turned to the other way where a big house was, drawing out the keys out his pocket he opened the entrance door to see 2 young men already approaching inside but their movements halt together and they turned to Rowan.
"Who are you?" Rowan crinkled his eyes, looking for any weapon in their hands but to his surprise they had the same keys.
"Who are you?" The brunette hair asked, face in a serious expression, flabbergasted by their arrival he answered,
"This is my house!" The brunette hair's eyes widened, he looked at the black-haired guy.
"I am sorry young man but the house belongs to William Gray." he said more calmly than the hyper Brunette haired who still had his face in a grimace. A pause.
"I know, we purchased it together, ¾ of this land also belongs to Georgia and Dexter."
"Sir, who are you?"
"I am Rowan Davis, William's friend."
"We need to check the house for investigation." The brunette-haired said and Rowan sighed looking at the badge in their hands.
"You can."
"Thank you for your cooperation." The black-haired guy said proceeding to open the door as Rowan stood still, his heart pounding in his head, anxious when he asked,
"Did you find the murderer, officer?" he asked to the black-haired guy, he inhaled turning to Rowan who anticipated to hear something positive but instead he said,
"Not yet but Dexter Philip is missing and we're afraid it is the same person who killed William."
A pause,
His voice was lost, tongue numbed. But he pushed himself to speak
"Dexter-is missing?"
"Mr. Rowan calm down." The brunette haired finally clasped his hands around his arms and then he realized he was shaking. The fear like an electric current in his body and with each moment he felt his heart palpitating faster than before.
"Will he die as well?"
"Mr. Rowan." The black-haired guy said and made him walk inside the house, the brunette haired before them and patted on the sofa as Rowan sat. The house had now reflecting the emptiness, the lightings felt foreign as well.
"I am okay." he managed to speak hands clasped on the sofa's sides.
"We are from Frederick Police Department, officer Gabriel," he said pointing at the brunette-haired guy, his eyes unwelcoming.
"I am officer Archer."
"Hello." Rowan said
"You were acquaintances with William?" Gabriel asked hands resting on the table. Rowan nodded.
"Were you present at the party with William? The night of his murder to be precise?"
"No. Had a business meeting."
"Why is this house not in your name? As I suppose you are self-sufficient."
"I didn't want my father to know this place."
"Your father?"
"I have a step-father he is Zac Bell,"
"So, you hid this from Mr. Zac Bell, that name rings a bell." Gabriel crinkled his eyes, his voice smooth and clear.
"Is your real father alive?"
"Yes, Pattrick Davis." Gabriel eyes turned dark as he maintained an eye-contact with Rowan who did the same but gave up after a minute.
"This is out of nowhere but, Mr. Rowan Bell." Gabriel leaned forward yet his posture was tall.
"By any chance is Audrey Bell your sister?"
"Who is Audrey Bell?" Rowan narrowed his eyes and looked at Archer who nodded to himself and asked,
"As William's acquaintance did you know about any Aurora Denham?"
His heart sank, throat dried up and his lips wouldn't move. Fear and uncertain fear that she might be in trouble and that she didn't cut off ties with him for nothing, maybe she might be suffering like William Gray, stifling back a sigh he looked at Archer,
"I know her very well. What happened to her?" From both the officer's faces he knew they heard the impatience in his voice.
"He nearly cheated on Georgia Evans with Aurora Denham, he admitted it to Georgia Evans but sadly, we can't find any information about her." Gabriel said, something about his tone had a way of unravelling the truth from Rowan's mouth and he did, the muscle in his jaw ticked harder and his hands clenched and unclenched.
"Aurora Denham was my girl-friend." Archer's eyebrow furrowed as he turned to Gabriel.
"You knew about this?"
"No! I didn't, this can't be true." Rowan's voice cracked and it embarrassed him, deep voices cracking are not that pleasant or that's what his step-father had told him stand lean talk coherently.
"Can you tell us about her?" Gabriel asked
"I would've but I don't know where she is."
Archer drew out a pack of photos out his pocket and lay it on the table, all 20 of them and Rowan looked at the photos then at him.
"These are the girls William knew about, or that's what Georgia Evans has told us," he said "but she doesn't know Aurora's appearance maybe you can figure out." A sound of pity in his tone that disgusted Rowan as he was now raged instead of sad. He exhaled taking a look at the photos when Archer took out one photo he was about to pick up.
"Sorry, this person isn't a suspect."
"Why?"
"She's Audrey Bell, nutritionist of Gray's mansion." Gabriel answered and Rowan crinkled his eyes confused about why they were referring Aurora as some Audrey.
"Is her picture here?" Archer raised his eyes
A pause. Maybe he would commit a treason but this was his business to deal with.
"No."
"Do you have her picture then?" Gabriel asked eyes directly looking into his.
"No, I burned them."
"Fine, we will provide you with a sketch artist." Gabriel smiled, unamiable "Tomorrow morning 7, Mr. Rowan, show up."

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Sorry for the late post
How was the twist?