Learn To Love Again

Chapter 25

Andray lived in one of the apartments on a huge apartment building in Santa Cruz. Detective Sterling pulled up in front of the building and parked the car. I followed as he exited and entered the building through the main entrance. We ascended a few stairs before approaching a door with the number 46 painted above it.

Detective Sterling knocked lightly on the door. I could hear movement inside before the door was opened by a tall, bearded man wearing wide-rimmed glasses.

He gave us a questioning look. "Who are you? Can I help you?"

Detective Sterling stepped forward. "I'm detective Sterling; This is Mrs. Saunders. I'd like to ask you a few questions."

For a second, a panicky expression took over Andray's features, but he quickly concealed it. "Come in."

As he stepped aside, detective Sterling walked into the room and I followed behind him.

"How can I help you, sir?" Andray said as soon as we were all seated.

"How close are you to Malcolm Anderson?" Detective Sterling asked.

I realized then that all this time I hadn't even known Malcolm's surname.

"We're friends," Andray responded. "Why?"

Detective Sterling ignored his question, and asked, "When was the last time you saw him?"

Andray seemed to think about it for a second, then said, "About two weeks or so ago. Why? Did something happen to him?"

"No. When you saw him, did he seem strange in any way?"

"Not really."

"Did he mention anything out of the ordinary?"

"No."

"Did you know that he was arrested about a week ago?"

"Yeah, he told me. But he said he was misunderstood."

Detective Sterling sighed. "When was the last time you saw Malcolm?"

"I told you, two weeks ago."

"And he told you about his arrest a week ago?"

I couldn't help the smile that spread across my lips.

Well played...

Andray straightened his glasses uncomfortably. "Yes, he called me."

"Okay. When was the last time he called you?"

"A week ago, when he told me about his arrest. I haven't heard from him since then."

"Where did he call from?"

"Jail."

"What did he say?"

"He said he got arrested for assaulting some woman. But he said he didn't do it."

"What did he say happened?"

"He said that the woman invited him over and was flirting with him. When he rejected her, she attacked him. He was just defending himself."

I gaped at him, then shrugged. It wasn't like I could expect better from Malcolm.

"And when did he tell you this again?" Detective Sterling asked.

Andray sighed in annoyance. "A week ago, sir."

"Can I get an exact date?"

"Uh...," he thought about it for a moment. "Monday, sometime in the morning."

Detective Sterling rose. "I'll be right back."

He opened the door and stepped outside, leaving the door open enough so he could still see inside. He pulled his phone from his pocket, dialed a number, then brought it to his ears. I could tell he was speaking, but couldn't interpret what he was saying. He soon dropped the phone back into his pocket and returned to his seat.

"Malcolm did not make a call from jail on Monday," he said sternly.

Andray started fidgeting with the tail of his shirt. "I guess it was Tuesday, then."

"He didn't make a call on Tuesday, either."

"Really? How about Wednesday?"

Detective Sterling straightened in his seat. "How about we do this again? When was the last time you saw Malcolm?"

"Two weeks ago," Andray replied defensively.

Detective Sterling narrowed his eyes at him, and gave him a look that was cold enough to freeze alcohol. "When was the last time you saw Malcolm?"

"Two days ago," Andray blurted out.

"Good. What happened then?"

"Nothing, really. He-"

"What happened?"

Andray sighed. "He said if I told anyone he was here, he was going to hurt my mother."

"Why didn't you go to the police?"

"I didn't want to jeopardize my mother's safety."

I just sat there looking from one person to the other, intrigued by their conversation.

"What did he do while he was here?" Detective Sterling asked.

"He told me about his arrest and said he needed to stay the night. I didn't mind, but when he told me he escaped, I asked him to leave. I didn't know he was like that, I swear."

"How did he say he escaped?"

"He said he has an officer friend who works at the station. He got the key and opened the cell for him, then helped him to sneak out."

"Did he say what the name of this officer was?"

"Uh... Omar?"

"Omar Wilson?" Detective Sterling asked in disbelief.

"I think so."

"I need you to be sure."

"I'm sure."

"Did Malcolm say anything else to you?"

"No."

"Did he say where he was going when he left?"

Andray hesitated for a second, then said, "No."

"I don't believe you, Andray."

"He didn't."

"If you're withholding information, I'm going to have to charge you," detective Sterling said. "Who's going to protect your mother from Malcolm when you're in jail?"

Andray let out a sharp breath. "He said he was going to stay at the Holiday Inn for a night or two. I don't know if he's still there."

Detective Sterling excused himself once again and went outside to make a phone call. When he returned, he didn't bother taking his seat again.

"Thank you for your time, Andray. An officer is on his way to take you and your mother to a safe place until we find Malcolm, if you wish to go."

Andray nodded and I rose and followed detective Sterling out the door and back to his car.

As he pulled onto the road, I couldn't help but ask, "Are you always this rough when you question people."

"Rough? I wasn't rough?"

"Yes you were," I said.

"He wasn't being honest, and I didn't have all day."

"He was so intimidated by you," I stated.

"He wouldn't have answered truthfully otherwise."

I shrugged. That was probably true.

"What now?" I asked.

"I already have people at Holiday Inn asking questions and searching for Malcolm. Right now, I'm going to have a talk with officer Wilson. This should be interesting."