Stolen HeART
Edward POV
"Spiteful words can hurt my feelings but silence breaks my heart."
"Mr. Masen, could you confirm that you are Mr. Edward Anthony Masen and you reside at 102 Lakeside Avenue, Seattle. Is this correct?" The FBI Agent that sat opposite me looked no older than me. His laid back attitude was just for show, not less than ten minutes ago I could hear his raised voice in the corridor telling the cops to stay at my home until they found something.
Mr. Frank Henley, my lawyer, had been with me for nearly three hours. The bright overbearing lights and the cocky attitude of the pricks that worked here were starting to piss me off. I couldn't afford to lose my temper, I knew that was what they wanted, an excuse to retain me. I had phoned Henley the moment I got a call from Aro and his team of experts. Their angry words and threatening behaviour had confused me when I picked up the call. They had their team of experts and lawyers on hand to give me an ultimatum if I didn't explain myself. They must have tipped the Fed's off because shortly after my lawyer had turned up the FBI was on my doorstep. This was now the third time in as many weeks. My lawyer and I had been here, in the same room with the same agent, two months down
the line and they still didn't know their ass from their elbow.
I stared blankly back at the agent in front of me. His fingers fanned the thin file in front of him as he pretended to read what little information was in it. To aggravate him further, I slowly turned to my lawyer and waited for permission to respond to his question. He nodded like we rehearsed and I turned to answer.
"That is correct." The flat tone of my voice showed no emotion and he continued to stare at me, waiting to see if I would show any sign of guilt.
"I'm stating for the record that my client, Mr. Masen, doesn't need to answer any more of your questions. He is here purely as a willing citizen and not in any way a suspect." I inwardly smirked at my lawyer's speech. The prestigious Mr. Henley had been my family lawyer since my parents had died. He was number one in the Forbes top ten most expensive lawyers three years in a row and now he worked exclusively for me.
"And we appreciate Mr. Masen for helping us with our inquiry." The tension was now beginning to show on the agent's face as he wet his lips in quick concession. "I'm just curious Mr. Masen; if the authentication papers confirm the originality of the painting then why is it that the painting you sold was in fact a forgery? I see by our records that the painting was previously owned by your parents and then passed down to you after their death. Was the original painting always in your possession Mr. Masen?"
"Of course it was." This was a waste of time and he knew it. I would gain nothing from such a crime and he knew that too. He was riding the wave hoping to get noticed in his uptight circle of overzealous colleagues. He was questioning Edward Masen.
"Then can you explain when the switch may have taken place?"
"No."
"Mr. Masen can I ask why you were selling the painting, from your financial records it wasn't for money reasons."
"I object to this line of questioning. Mr. Masen doesn't need to answer this question or any other question relating to his financial status. Like you stated Mr. Masen is not under arrest so the question of his background isn't relevant." My mind drift for a few seconds, where it always seemed to drift when I wanted to forget what was going on around me. The shape of her face sprung into my mind along with the smell of her scented wild hair and gorgeous smile.
"Do you have any enemies Mr. Masen, anyone that would want to take revenge or cause you embarrassment?"
"I have no enemies." I was too far gone now to care what road his line of questioning was taking.
