KEYS

Chapter 11: A Sibling's Punishment

Ross, Rochelle and Debbie were sitting at a Bistro on Wednesday afternoon after Debbie got home from work. Ross told them about how well his audition went and that he received a call from Mr Crain who arranged a meeting with Mr Pibels the upcoming week. Debbie had been looking around for some decent houses in Chicago for her god children; for she could see that they were not use to the small cramped up living space she had to offer. Rochelle could not shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen today, but she just tried to ignore it as far as possible.

The three of them made their way back to Debbie's apartment after having lunch. They came around the corner only to see two police cars standing in front of the building Debbie lived. They stared at each other with shocked faces and slowly moved towards the building and their muscles tightened with each step. They made their way up the stairs to Debbie's apartment. Outside her door stood two police officers busy speaking to each other.

"Good day officers. May I ask who you are looking for?" Debbie said folding her jacket over her blouse.

"Good day ma'am. I am Inspector Cory Duff and this is my partner Inspector Wallace Anderson." Inspector Duff was dressed neatly in his police uniform. His hair was neatly combed to the right and his packet of cigarettes was sticking out of his chest pocket.

"I am looking for a woman with the name of Rochelle Victor. Do you know such a person perhaps?"

Rochelle felt her throat getting dry. Her first instinct was to run away and hide in the lobby behind a bookshelf.

"I am Rochelle Victor sir." She said without hesitation.

"Young lady, I am afraid you have some explaining to do. Do you mind if we come in for a few minutes?" Inspector Duff said while taking off his hat.

"Sure thing let me just get my keys." Debbie said turning her back on Inspector Duff pretending to look for her keys, but actually looking at Ross and Rochelle standing behind her with fear in her eye.

The group of people entered Debbie's apartment a few moments later. Inspector Duff was walking calmly to the living room while looking around Debbie's house in a dreamy sort of way.

"Miss Victor, would you please have a seat?" Inspector Duff said pointing to the sofa in front of him.

Rochelle slowly moved towards the sofa and sat down in front of Inspector Duff. She looked over her shoulder hoping that her family members will join her on the sofa. She sat down shuffled and folded her hand on her lap to give herself a gentle looking presence.

"Miss Victor. I would like you to explain something to me. Why is it that your father's business and new house was sold so suddenly after you moved to Germany?"

'How could they possibly have known that we lived in Germany and that we sold his house and business?' Ross and Rochelle thought.

"Because my father went missing sir and seeing that we were part owners, we sold it to a man my father did business with. My brother and I had no interest in taking over his business and the house we lived in was way too big for us to maintain. So we figured we should sell it and move to our aunt."

"Oh, I see. And can you please explain to me, when last did you see your father and did it ever occur to you that he might be dead?"

"Yes it did occur to us that he might be dead sir, but there never really was any evidence that he is. He just did not show up after a while." Rochelle said nervously.

"Oh is that so?" Inspector Duff said calmly. "Miss Victor, I think you are being a bit dishonest with me at the moment." Inspector Duff reached into his pocket and took out a slightly torn photo.