Paint the town blue

Chapter XXXII

Alex's POV

The next working day started very calmly for me, but towards noon Frederic came to my office and, to put it mildly, he looked very worried. I was just typing out a report to the boss about yesterday's visit to the therapist, as he told me to drop it and start writing later.

"Has something happened?"

"Yes, we have witnesses."

"Wait, what do you mean witnesses?"

"An elderly couple lives near the place where Charles was abducted, and they saw something."

"They didn't say what exactly?"

"No, so they will come to the station at lunch, and you will conduct a survey with them."

"A survey or an interrogation?"

"The survey, and don't try to put pressure on them, so we don't need to deal with lawyers."

I nodded, and Frederic handed me a sheet containing the personal details of the so-called witnesses, and left, leaving me alone with my thoughts. Witnesses? And where have they been all this time? Why didn't they show up earlier? Frederic has long asked for feedback from anyone who could've seen anything, or who might know at least something about Charles' whereabouts. But I really hope that what they'll say can help us a little bit in our case.

While there was still about an hour and a half left before the visit of the elderly couple, I decided to continue my work on the report anyway. And again, while I was typing the report, I mentally replayed our conversation with the therapist, and still didn't find anything suspicious in his words, in his manner, in anything at all. But on the other hand, it seems to me that Liam is just taking on too much, and this, to be honest, is starting to interfere with the investigation.

"During conversation with Valtteri Victor Bottas, Charles Leclerc's psychotherapist, had no problems answering all the questions of the detective, Alexander Albon. He gave complete and exhaustive information about the condition of his patient, changes in his behavior, and also gave a brief description and commented on the dynamics of changes in both the physical and mental state of C. Leclerc. In addition, V. Bottas provided a copy of his patient's medical record, as well as a complete statement of the medications that he prescribed and which regularly took C. Leclerc (the extracts specify in detail the names, active substances, dosages and the procedure for taking medications)". It looks good, and Frederick didn't ask me to write the whole conversation word for word, so I think a short retelling will be enough.

I added some more text to my report, but I didn't mention anywhere that Liam was with me – his name wasn't listed on the warrant, so, in fact, he had no right to poke his nose into Charles's medical record, or even be present in the office during the conversation.

After rereading the report, I sent it to be printed – all I have to do is sign it and take it to Frederic. Taking the sheet and signing it, I decided not to wait any longer and just take it to the boss, especially since there is still time.

I left the office and went to Frederic, rereading my report a couple more times on the way: personally, this Bottas seemed like a pretty good guy to me, so I don't know what Liam didn't like about him. Maybe he's just jealous of his professional activities? Psychotherapists are still more in demand than profilers, and they understand much more in psychiatry, although Liam is always ready to argue on this topic.

While I was on my way to the boss, I remembered the list of medications that Charles was supposed to take. I know for sure that they are issued only by prescription and they are strictly monitored. It will be necessary to check who has recently purchased the same drugs, and who prescribed them. But that's later, I need to get rid of report first.