The Hunt

Fourteen

"We should call Kate first, if were talking to Vernon we'd better not leave loose knots." Mark said as he drove to Vernon's mansion .

"You're right, I will call her right now. " I took my cell phone and dialed Kate's personal number. After several rings, she finally answered.

"Hey, Dana. Why are you calling this number?" She sounded puzzled.

"Remember what you told us about Vernon's account and the transfer he did? We're going to see him right now, and we would need those records. We'll be at the parking lot in ten, can you manage to come down?"

"Wait wait, why can't you just come and get them? "

"Let's say Commissioner would prefer us to wait." 

"Always the free fighters, huh ? Okay, see you in ten, but.."

"Thanks Kate, we owe you one!" Mark said before I hung up the phone. I gave him a questioning look " What? Are you chickening now?" He laughed.

"No, but maybe we should wait. We're talking about a Congressman, Mark. He will have connections, and sincerely I don't see myself controlling traffic again. I'm too old for that."

"Congressman or not Congressman, he isn't above the laws. He interfered in a criminal investigation and caused four deaths. He's as responsible as the actual killer."

"Okay. Just one thing, promise me you will keep your emotions at bay. "

"I will try."

I stared at Mark "No. you won't try. You will do it."

"Do ir or don't do it, but don't try!"

"What?"

"And you're the self proclaimed Starwars freak? You should know that sentence, partner."

I couldn't but laugh."Fine, let's see Darth Vernon then."

Once we arrived to the parking lot we had to wait for a while until Kate showed finally up. She seemed over excited as she came."Are you sure this is a good idea? You can't play the Lone Ranger forever, you know." 

"Someone has to, Kate. And Vernon obstructed am investigation. Besides, we just wanna talk to him." Mark tried unsuccessfully to convince her.

"Good luck then. I'd better be going, call me when you talk to Vernon. I'll keep searching on him."

McLean suburbs, where Vernon had his mansion was one of most exclusive places in all D.C. Most congressmen lived there, and some foreign embassies had chosen it as their siege. All in that place exudated richness, and all normal people could see of the houses in it was the thick stone walls that made a physical and psychological barrier to any kind of trouble. People living there belonged to a world of their own. And they knew it and behave according to their very own rules.

"Middle Oaks must be around here," I said after a while. There were no street signs or anything that indicated a particular direction. Even the GPS system had gone nuts and kept searching the direction again and again. "We should call Vernon, maybe he's not at home." After several rings, the powerful voice of Congressman answered and gave us the indications to get to his place.

"This way, Detectives." Vernon's butler opened the main door and led us to a huge living room. "Congressman will come in a moment." 

While we waited, we took a look at some of the pictures and paintings in the walls. Some of them were of Vernon with former presidents like both Bushes. 

"Sorry to keep you waiting, we were making final arrangements for my son's funeral service." Vernon seemed older than the first time we had met him, though his voice was as energetic as then. "Do you have any clue on who killed him?"

"Yes and no. We have some information but would need to ask you some questions." I said trying to ease things before going to the point "Apparently your son and the other victims had been receiving emails with no contain, just a question."I read one of the emails "Remember Vicky?"

I had the feeling Vernon went pale when he heard that name but he recovered instantly "I don't know any Vicky, actually. "

"Well, we made some research in Harvard . It turns out there was a gang rape during the years your son studied there." I looked at Mark and couldn't but be surprised with his voice so calm.

"That's rubbish. The victim here is my son, and I don't know what does that have to do with his murder."

"It has more to do than what you think, Congressman." Mark took out the piece of paper with the printed emails and read them . "That jerk of Vernon, he said his father would take care of everything." 

Vernon went pale again and took a cigarette with shaky hands "They're talking rubbish. If those two got into trouble it has nothing to do with my son. It's his murder what you should be investigating instead of losing your time like this. And now, I have more things to do than listening how my son's memory is insulted this way." He walked to the door and turned around before leaving the room "I'm calling Commissioner right now to complain about this. Your careers are done, Detectives."