Prisoner's Prisoner

Chapter 16

David was able to get out from the hospital after three days. He asked Ryan to dropped him off his house. His car was still there. He checked it and found nothing different in it.  He went inside the house and found it in complete disarray. All drawers were opened. Lots of papers were scattered on the floor. He knew nothing there could be considered important. He pushed them away using his left foot. His right thigh still hurt if forced.

He checked his room. It looked the same as his living room. His clothes were removed from his closet, thrown everywhere. He saw some of Tara's belongings. Drawers opened. Some drawers were on the floor. David noticed something bizzare. Even the small drawers were seemed to be searched. Surely, a hundred thousand dollars won't fit in there.

He checked the mini cabinet in the kitchen, on the counter top where he used to keep his medicines. He saw that those were checked as well. Even the small drawers within a bigger drawer. He asked himself, what was it that they were actually looking for?

He went out to his car to get his camera. It was still in there. He took pictures of the small drawers that were opened.

He got his travelling bag and put a few of his clothes in it. He noticed Tara's wedding ring on the sidetable. He picked it up and put it on his pockets. He locked all the doors and went outside. He got into his car and threw his bag on the backseat. He drove towards the police station.

His colleagues were surprised to see him soon. They were advised David will not be back until next week. They just looked at him and they let him be.

David went directly to his station. Turned his PC on and looked for Tara's files. He needed to find Tara as soon as possible. But he did not know where to start. He tried calling her cellphone but it was turned off. He searched the ring on his pocket. He stared at it and looked for details. It was a diamond ring set in platinum and yellow gold. There were no inscriptions on it. He started searching on the internet for rings that matches the one he was holding.

He found many but there was one which exactly looked the same as Tara's. Said it was a Winston piece. He checked for the available shops of Winston all around US. There were none in Kentucky. That was his starting point because the car Tara stole was registered at Kentucky. He listed down all other shop locations. New York. Hawaii. Texas. Nevada. New Jersey. Connecticut. He crumpled the paper where he was writing and threw it hard on the trash can under his table. It was pointless. It could have been purchased anywhere else and it did not mean he can find Tara there. But he knew the ring was indeed expensive.

He rubbed his temples. He had this headache since he awoke in the hospital. He might have been thinking too much. He went back with Tara's file and his notes.

Drunk. Stolen plates. Yes, she was the one stealing the plates. Money. Bruises. Amnesia. Wedding ring. Bad dreams. Somebody was killed. Child's picture. The drawers. They were looking for something that fits a small drawer. Maybe some sort of a document.

He immediately went to the evidence room. It was closed. He checked the time. 7:00 in the evening. The time flew so fast, he thought. Yet he was not going anywhere. He asked the night officer to open it. He needed to check the money. But it was inside the vault. He lost his patience.

"I need to open the vault!" He shouted at the night officer.

"Detective, only the deputy and the chief have access to the vault." The night officer said. "And we normally need to secure a letter of request."

David sat on the metal chair. His elbows on his knees. His hands on his face. His headache was getting more painful. "I know...I know. I'm sorry."

"May I know what it is that you like to check in there?"

"The money...the money from the woman. I have to check if there was something else in the bag aside from the money."

"That's it, Detective?"

David nodded.

"There was none. The deputy asked us to thoroughly search the bag for any identification. There was none. We checked for possible secret pockets. Even the bundles."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Detective."

David slouched on the chair. He tried to think. What could it be that they were looking for? Or had they found it yet?

David heard his stomach rumbling. He hadn't eaten much since this morning. It was already past eight in the evening. David left the evidence room and asked his comrade to close it. He went outside the building, got into his car and looked for a place to drink the night away.