Bruised Innocence

Chapter 26

A broad hulking man walked into a sparsely occupied bar. He was wearing a plain off blue shirt with it's sleeves rolled up to fall on his elbows.

As he walked in, his eyes moved around, trying to find someone and in a moment, his eyes met the eyes of another man sitting at a dimly lit corner of the bar that others would have found hard to spot at first sight.

The man walked purposefully to greet the other man who was dressed a tad bit too well for the shabby establishment he was in.

"Detective Smith" the man nodded in greeting.

"Mr. Fern" the detective titled his glass up at him.

Everett Fern was a tall man and towered over him but there was no submission in Jax Smith's posture.

Even though he only came up to Fern's chest and he was not even half as broad as him, he held himself with an underlying strength. He was a man who knew his capabilities and didn't underestimate other's.

"I would thank you for meeting me on such a short notice but we have had a breakthrough-----"

"If it's another one of those dead ends, detective! I am not sure I want to hear that. Just how incapable bunch of---" Fern responded, his voice rising after every sentence.

"I am gonna have to ask you to not finish that sentence, Mr. Fern," Detective said in a low but firm voice. "Not when I am the one trying to help you and considering what we have found, you are going to need a lot of help."

"Alright,  quit your banter. Spill already!"

"So, the tyre trails that we found in the woods belong to a very expensive vehicle--"

Fern's fists balled in his hands and several veins on his head popped. He was trying to hold in his anger.

"So, it wasn't some tramp but a rich bastard who---"

"Yeah and we also have the list of people who own that particular model."

"How many? And what if it was someone from another town?"

"Let me answer your second question first. You know when we can't find the culprits of a case, we try to find motives for the crime. Who could have a motive to harm your prodigal son that way?"

Everett opened his mouth to deny it and then closed, remembering something suddenly.

"The school! Del mentioned that he was being bullied. Some rich brats didn't take kindly to him rising up to study with them."

Detective Smith's flashed him an approving nod and Fern's eyes widened.

"You don't think it was one of the--- students of the school?"

"That's exactly what I am inclined to believe and coincidentally 13 of those cars are driven by the kids of the school!"

Fern gritted his teeth in barely restrained anger.

"Tell me their names! Tell me those privileged little devils' name and I would get--"

"I am afraid I can't! It has the potential to derail the investigation if it gets out," Fern opened his mouth in outrage at that and Smith quickly added.

"You have to understand, the people we are dealing with, are very powerful,  Mr. Fern. We have got to be very quiet about this. If word gets out that they are suspects, things can get bad very quickly!"

Fern looked like he wanted to argue but then he relaxed slightly.

"What are you gonna do? How will you find out who was it? Could you take them in for questioning?"