Crime At Northland Lake (Completed)

Misunderstandings Cleared

Both the men didn't seem to speak after that. Nick felt like breaking a window of his car whereas, Cole just wanted a reply. "Are you there sir?" Cole asked.
"Is James in the police station?" Nick asked, speeding his vehicle.
"No. I don't know where he's gone." Cole replied.
"Well, call him and tell him to come to the station right away. Don't tell him I told you to say so. We need answers from James. He wouldn't be in a crime scene just like that. Wonder how that guy became the deputy of this place!" With that, Nick cut the call and in no time reached the station.

Getting inside the building, Nick started searching for the deputy. "He hasn't come yet sir." Cole approached. "But he will be here soon." Both the men sat near the main entrance on two well maintained couches.
"What do you have in your hand there?" Cole asked, noticing a book with Nick.
"Oh." Nick exclaimed. "That's Mr. Mathews' diary. I got it with me without Simon knowing it. Might've been wrong of me, but it seems important for the case." After a moment of silence, Nick came back to the main topic. "Do you know how I got to know that Mr. McMillan was murdered?"
"Someone told you?" Cole asked surprisingly.
"James called and told. After that, he even said he's on his way to London. In that case, how did he even know that a murder has taken place?" Nick banged the couch's arm. "I'm sorry to say Cole, but I think your Deputy has become a prime suspect in this case."

Cole crunched his hands. It seemed like even he was getting frustrated. It wasn't long until the two men saw the deputy step in. "Mr. Deputy!" Nick shouted. James' simple expression suddenly changed. He didn't know what to do at the moment. Running away seemed too awkward and no words came into his mind. "You're quick from London. Took the bullet train?" The detective went towards James.

"You might want to sit down. There's a lot to talk." The two men sat on the same couches with a cup of tea. "You calling me and reporting a crime and apparently telling me that you're on your way to London just made things unclear. But you're fingerprints on the doorknob has just put you on the top of my suspect list. In fact, you might be the only one."
"Hold it right there young man!" James stood up in anger. "You cannot just tell that to me." He pointed straight at Nick's face.
"Don't show me the finger old man." The detective held the deputy's pointer finger and boldly pushed it down. "Wonder why you didn't want to take up the case in the first place."
"I didn't want to take the case because I didn't want to risk my career. I wouldn't have solved this one. I've never solved such a case in my life. To be honest, I'm not as experienced as you." James replied.

"Well then you must be having a perfect reason why you were in Mr. McMillan's bungalow, either before the murder or after you killed-" "Stop it right there detective!" James interrupted furiously. "You can call me whatever you want except a criminal. You want the reason, I'll give you. But you've gotta believe me."
Nick nodded unconfidently.
"See Nick, I'm gonna be honest with you. I've always been the highest authority in this area though I haven't done much. When you came today morning, I felt this case could be a test for you. But turns out you confidently accepted the case and you're going well with it. I might've really underestimated you. So I thought of following you. I secretly went everywhere you went. Mr. Mathews, Northland Lake and Joseph McMillan. But when I went to the last residence, it seemed too silent. So I entered the bungalow only to see a dead body. I didn't know what to do when I saw it. Without thinking, I called you. But if you saw me there, I was sure you'd suspect me. For that, I exited the house through the back door."
Nick didn't know what to say after this. He felt James cooked up a story within a minute. "How am I supposed to believe you?" The detective asked frowning.
"You have to Nick." James crunched his hands. "And you will. By the end of the case you will believe me, because at the end the one behind all of these crimes will be someone else. Not me. Tell me one more thing. What in the world will this old man get from blackmailing two men and supposedly kidnapping their wives?" He asked, sitting back on the couch.

Nick shrugged. "I don't know. That's up to you." He giggled.
"Believe me Nick. I just wanted to know what your plans were. That's it. My alter ego just told me to follow you, and I know it might've been wrong. This is the only truth." James explained. "If you're fine, I'm even ready to help you out with this case from now. Hate to say it, but you've proven that you're better."
The detective took a deep breathe. "Fine." He said. "Alright. But if the case points out towards your way, then you're surrendering whatever happens."

"Ok." James nodded. "I'll do that."
The entire time Cole had been siting with his mouth wide open. James glanced at his watch and said, "It's one fifteen Nick. Half a day has been gone. If you'll tell us all the details of what you've learnt, we can work as a team and solve the case quicker."

Nick nodded softly and began explaining the entire story. By the time the explanation was over, the clock had struck fifteen minutes to two.
"Wow!" Cole exclaimed. "I've only read such type of cases in books. Never expected I'd be a part of it." He said.
"You're still not exactly a part of it." James giggled softly. Nick gave a soft smile and continued, "I've got really less clues on this one. The only items I found were the necklace near the lake and this note in McMillan's bungalow. The necklace proves that Sarah was near the pine tree. We just don't know whether she came before or after Simon kept the money. I also don't seem to get much info about Judy."

"Looking at the details, it looks like you tried to go behind the culprit rather than the women." James stated.
"Definitely. We get the culprit, we get the women." Nick said.
"Why don't we try the other way now? James suggested.
"But I don't even know whether the women are alive or not. Nothing's proven yet." Nick said.
"Both the women have gone to the club on Friday night and both have disappeared from there. You didn't get much traces near the lake. Why don't you go and visit the club?" The deputy suggested. Nick developed a smile. "That's actually a great idea. Is it open on Sunday?" He asked.

"It's open everyday. Right now might be the right time to go and enquire. It usually doesn't have much visitors during the afternoons. I can join you if you don't mind."
"No, it's alright James." Nick replied. "I better go alone." The detective didn't waste any time. He immediately rushed out of the building and got into his sedan.

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A visit to the club. Will the detective get necessary answers there?
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