THE WITNESS

Chapter 10

On getting to his office Samuel offered Malik and Adriana sits. He sat at his chair facing them. Before speaking, he looked at them and thought of what he could ask them.
He decided to ask them what came to mind. And the first thing that came to mind was how they were related to Ben.
"I am his best friend." Malik spoke first "this is his......."
He didn't finish but instead looked at Adriana waiting for her to say.

"I am his girlfriend." she said.
"when was the last time you both saw him." Samuel asked them.
"I saw him last three days ago." Adriana told them.
"what about you?" he turned to Malik.
"A week ago but he was supposed to meet me there days ago."
"And......?"
"he didn't show."
"the first I have tried calling his cell there was no reply. The second time it was switched off." Adriana told them.

From what they had told him, Samuel knew they didn't know his whereabouts. He wondered if he should tell them the truth or not. But he thought it the right thing to do. So they can prepare their mind for what ever happened.
Ten minutes later, he was done telling them what was really going on.
Malik couldn't say anything while Adriana was already shaking. Malik knew his friend had some problems he didn't think it would be this.

But they couldn't do anything but trust the police to do their job. Which was the only option they had. They left after Samuel promised them he would do his best.

***
After Bens friends had left he decided to go ahead to the holding cell. The cell that James was being kept. He needed to ask him some questions. Questions that would help in finding Ben.
But would he give the desired answers?
He got there and saw him seated on the floor head bowed.
He knocked on the gate to get his attention.

When he looked up Samuel almost got scared from the look on his face. It was stone cold. His face showed no emotions.
"I have some questions to ask you" Samuel told him.
He just looked back at him not saying anything.
"I want you to answer sincerely and truthfully."
"ask" he replied still seated.
Here goes.
"do you know of anyone named Ben?"
"there are a lot of Bens." he said "who are you really talking about?"

James knew that Samuel was trying to get info from him.
"he is a witness to the incident"
"what are you talking about? There were no witnesses." he insisted.
He knew of what he was being asked but he pretended to be oblivious.
After about ten minutes of questioning Samuel understood that he wouldn't get anything from him.

He moved the discussion to another pressing matter.
James's cohorts.
They still needed to be apprehended. Even though they didn't all kill John. They still belonged to a gang. Which was a crime in itself.
"what about your friends? Where are they hiding?"

"I don't know where they are." he told Samuel.
He knew where they were but didn't want to betray his friends.
""how is it possible that you don't know where they are?", Samuel asked impatiently.
"we had an argument when I said I would turn myself in." he was lying "they turned their back on me."

"really?!" Samuel asked "is that the story you going with?"
James just stared at him his face expressionless.
I will never betray my friends
Just then Jane walked in on them.
"is this where you've been? I have been looking for you."
"what is the matter?"
"you are needed out there" she told him
Apparently they had another case.

Samuel took one last look at James and said:
"I won't force you anymore to say anything or give their location." he told James. "just know that you are in the boat alone. And it is a big boat you are gonna paddle on your own."
James looked at him anger showing clearly on his face. He continued talking.
"but there is no paddle since you rejected it. How you're going to paddle?; I will wait and see."
They went out leaving him to brew over it.

***
Ben thought that food would just be brought to him; the normal routine.
But it wasn't what he had in mind. Instead of that he was untied and led out of the room. The blindfold was still on his face.
A lot of things crossed his mind.
What would be done to him?

Would he be freed?
Would he be killed as said before?
He was very anxious as he was been taken to God knows where.
Not so long after they got to their destination. He was sure that they had because his guide stopped him.
His eyes were still covered. There was no way to see around him.
He was made to sit in a chair and the blindfold was removed.

He was faced with the members of the gang. They all were staying at him like ravenous tigers about to have their next meal.
Then one of them who later knew as the leader of the gang came forward and greeted him.
"I am Michel." he told him stretching his hand for a shake "it's nice to meet you."
Ben looked at the outstretched hand and wanted to ignore it.

He reluctantly took the hand and they shook.
"why am I here?" he asked
"we brought you here to avoid a disaster." he was told
"disaster?" he scoffed "what disaster?"
"a disaster that could destroy all of us here."
"what does that have to do with me?"
"I understand that the police approached you?"

"what has that got do with you guys?"
"the video recording of us in your phone. Did you show it to them?"
He nodded slowly while looking at all their faces.
"well the video doesn't prove anything"
doesn't prove anything?
"what do you mean?" he asked while looking for an escape route.

It only shows us beating a person up. It doesn't show the killing."
"but one of you turned himself in, right?"
Michel nodded.
"and he was the killer?"
He nodded again.
Ben noticed that even their boss didn't know who the true killer was. That was why they picked the wrong person.

He then remembered the voice. The owners of the voice was the killer. He was sure that he would recognise him if he just heard his voice. All he needed to do was to make them talk for him to find him.