The Hunt

Four

"Western Region Detention Facility?" The male voice insisted, this time a bit impatient. "Can I help you?"

I hesitated for a short moment before answering "Yeah, sorry. I'm Detective Dana Mitchell from Washington D.C,  and yesterday I had a phone call from there. Do you have an inmate named Ellen Mitchell?" 

"Good morning Detective, please let me check. " The man's attitude changed suddenly. "I'm Officer Richards. Hold on, please...yes, Ellen Mitchell is here, she was brought two days ago because of house intrusion near San Diego. She insists she acted on her own but we suspect there was someone else with her."

I breathed heavily and counted to three before going on "Did she intend to steal in the house?"

"Most likely, Detective." Richards sounded sympathetic "I'm sorry but I can't give you more information. I pass you through to the Warden Michael Miller, he can check the file."

"Fine, thanks Officer." I saw Mark pointing at his watch , sort of impatient. It was almost noon and Jessica Thomas must be about to arrive. " Hello?"

"Good day Detective Mitchell, Officer Richards has just informed me about your request. I have Ellen Mitchell's file right here, this is not her first arrest. In fact," Warden Miller had a friendly voice, he was probably in his early sixties.

"Thanks Warden. Look, I'm really sorry but I'm currently investigating a murder case and a witness is about to come to be questioned."

Miller smiled through the phone "I understand, Detective. Job comes first. Just give me your email and I will send you the file. I'll be here until eight p.m, you can call me back when you have  read the file."

"Thanks again, Warden. Please take note of my email address. Will call you back ." I hung the phone and went to the coffee machine. Mark was having his usual cofffe along with some other detectives. 

"So? Is your sister in trouble?" He questioned me . I gestured him to stop , I had no intention of ventilating my family issues right there.

"Nothing important." I lied  "It's almost noon, Jessica should be here in any moment now." 

"C'mon Dana, there's no sense in hiding it from me. What's going on with Ellen?" Mark insisted.

"She was arrested in San Diego. Fuck, I don't know what she has in her mind. Listen, I don't feel like talking about it now okay?" I was fuming with the news about my sister. Last time I had seen her was two years ago in our mother's funeral service. Even then, she had behaved quite strange, as if she care about that. From that moment on, she had kept out of touch . And honestly, I couldn't but enjoy it. All memories I had of Ellen weren't exactly nice and heartwarming, and once she went away for good calm went back home.

"Hey," Mark snapped his fingers right in front of me, "Earth to Dana. Jessica Thomas is here, do you want me to talk to her ?"

"No, I'm fine." I took a deep breath "Let's see what she has to tell."

Jessica came into the questioning room showing a completely different attitude from the one she had the previous day. Her make up and her outfit were impeccable, and there was no trace of sadness or anguish in her. 

"Good morning Detectives, here am I as you asked me to. " Her voice was sure and determined.

"Please take a seat, Ms Thomas. As we told you yesterday, we need to make you some more questions. " Mark was strolling along the small interrogation room, as he always did "When and where did you meet Mr Bennett."

"About eight months ago, when I started working at the Gallery. I have a Degree in Arts and wanted to work there. I was assigned to the Public Relationship Department and that's how I met Martin."

"And all this time, have you noticed any changes in his behavior or his mood? Did he seem worried or scared about something?"

"I've been thinking about that, and yes, about two months ago there were some days when he acted strange, as if he had something in mind. But he was a reserved man and never told me what worried him. And I never asked him either, if Martin didn't want to say something it made no sense asking him."

"How did he get along with his coworkers?" It was my turn to ask.

"Fine, he was a kind man and a good boss. As I said, he wasn't exactly talkative but people could count on him in case of trouble."

"One more thing, Ms Thomas. We will need a sample of your DNA. It's a simple formality." I tried to reassure her.

"Is it necessary?" Mark and I exchanged a quick look.

"I'm afraid it's absolutely necessary, yes." I didn't hide my discontent with Jessica's weird attitude.

"I came here willingly, without informing my lawyer. I answered your questions yesterday and so did today, but I won't give my DNA so that you can use it against me. If you want me to give it to you, you will have to get a warrant for it. Good day, detectives."