The Hunt

Five

"We should arrest her right now, "  Mark said as Jessica left.

"I agree but we have no enough evidence against her. But anyway, we will have someone watching her. And let's see what we find out, maybe she's in the system." 

We sat by Mark's desk and did some research on Jessica, but she was neatly clean. She came from a working family, parents and three siblings, one of them dead some years ago. She had no previous arrests , not even for traffic.  And there were no previous records on the victim either, he was from Milwaukee and  had graduated with honors in Harvard. Since then, he had been working at the National Gallery. He married to a French woman he had met during an Art Congress held in Washington but they had divorced six years later, two years ago.

"The more I think about this, the less sense it all makes. There must be something we're skipping." A frustrated Mark said

"Let's talk to Bennett's coworkers, they will know more about him or Jessica."

"I drive," Mark took the keys from his desk before I could even react.

About ten or fifteen minutes later we parked by the Gallery. I didn't remember when had I last been there, and promised myself to take Jordan before his school planned a visit. 

"We are Detectives Mitchell and Davidson," we showed our badges to the guy in the ticket sales office. "We would like to talk to the Director of the Museum."

The man, in his early thirties, didn't seem too impressed with our visit, and dialed one number in his internal phone "Mr Abbott will see you in a minute.  Next," he said gesturing us to step aside.

We stood at the hall for a short while, until a fifty something year old man came to meet us. He was rather tall and slim, and had an athletic complexion. When he shook our hands, he did in a confident way. "Good morning Detectives, Albert told me you wanted to see me. I imagine it's because of Bennett's death. What a loss, he was doing a fine work here. If you follow me, we can talk in my office." As he guided us, I couldn't but admire the beauty of the paintings " I can make you a private visit whenever you want, Detectives. Can I offer you a cup of coffee?" He sat on a white leather armchair, leaving the sofa for us.

"What can you tell us about Mr Bennett? Did he have any trouble with someone in here?"

"Not at all. Martin is...was a friendly man, devoted to his job. And I trust blindly all people working in here, we're a team. I know it sounds stereotypical and that most of times it's exaggerated, but here it's for real."

"What were his duties as public relations?" 

"Well, he was now organizing an exhibition on Impressionists in collaboration with Quai d'Orsay in Paris, they were going to lend us some of their best paintings. That artistic work marks the difference, we've been trying to get this exhibition for a long time now. And apart from that, we must fulfill  the demands coming from 1600 to attend foreigner visitors. In  their private time, they usually come here for an exclusive guided tour. Both the President and the First Lady are Art lovers, it's not strange if they come without informing us on advance."

"This will be all for now, Mr Abbott. We would like to talk now to Bennett's partners. " Mark got up from the sofa. 

"Of course, of course. Let me go with you." He took us along the corridor to an office with four people working it. Down to the left of it there was a door, leading to Bennett's private office.

"Thanks Mr Abbott, we'll be pleased in having that private visit." I smiled at the Director.

"Just call me and choose a date. This is my card, my direct number is in it. Elizabeth! " Abbott called a woman sitting by the enormous window.

"Yes Mr Abbott?" 

"These detectives are here to investigate the death of Martin Bennett, I want you all to give them all information you have. Now, if you excuse me, I have things to do. Good morning Detectives." Abbott shook our hands before going.

"Is the door open!" Mark pointed at Bennetts's office "We need to take a look there before talking to you."

"It is, Sir. "The woman said ."I'll be on my desk when you need me.

Bennett's office had nothing specially relevant. A picture of him and his daughters, some books of Art and some gifts from  different Museums all around the world ...El Prado, the Louvre, the Hermitage... However, there was no trace of his laptop either. 

"No laptop here, and no laptop at home. We will have to ask the judge for a warrant to have access to his emails."

"Will talk to the judge later. Let's talk to Elizabeth now," Mark said.

I felt the buzzing of my phone and answered it."Mitchell." As I listened at my Detective Chief, I went suddenly pale. Mark gave him a questioning look and I gestured him to wait.

"What was it? " he asked when I hung up.

"Another dead, just like Bennett. But this time is Congressman Vernon's eldest son, Arthur. We have to go to his house now, some units are already there."