Entangled Strings Of Fate

Chapter 10: Private Number

Harris looked at Connor and continued, "See if you'd still want to deny everything, then that's okay, but if you'd provide us with some information, then maybe we'd be able to help you, as we do know that you are hiding something for sure."

Clearly, William just didn't want to give the insight into the matter to the detectives. Because the matter that they are pointing to is far beyond their reach. Thus, he just can't tell them everything, at least not until checking something.

When this all went inside William's mind, he heard his assistant, Andrew's voice, who came in full speed to the mansion after Thomas called him.

"Mr. Jones," he called for him, but, as he stepped inside the waiting lounge, he stopped right there briefly to look at the detectives, but then the other moment, he looked at William, whose expression lit up seeing him there.

Taking small steps, Andrew walked towards William and stopped right behind him. Leaning in, he whispered, "Sir, what's happening? Why are they here? Have their identity been checked for sure?" he asked.

"Not yet, I was waiting for you," William stated, in a low voice.

His gaze swept over the two strangers, sitting a short distance away, their faces uncertain by shadows and doubt.

Andrew added with a hint of suspicion, "The look of their rough demeanor and guarded postures makes me question their intentions. What if they are with him and here only to cause trouble, just like before?"

William looked at Andrew and replied, "I know, we can't just assume it, but let me look into it, and for that, I need you to keep them occupied while I confirm their identity."

Nodding in agreement, Andrew watched as William stood up and requested to see the detectives' identification. He's asking for the ID, bluntly astonished both the detectives, and that's why they hesitated at first but eventually complied.

William left the room to make a call and returned after about an hour with a determined expression, looking at Andrew, he pressed his eyes, gesturing Andrew to take it easy, While returning their identity card, William said, standing close by, "I have something that you could see, which I also noticed last night, it's a CCTV recording." The detectives listened to his words attentively.

"Can you show it to us now?" Harris exclaimed standing up followed by Connor.

"Yes, but we have to go to my study for that," William replied.

"Alright then, let's go and see it," Harris said, and they all got up from their seats and left for the study room.

On their way to the study, Connor interjected, "We'd also like to ask everyone if they noticed anything odd."

William hesitated, "I'm afraid I can't call everyone right now," but before he could say anything further, his phone rang. The screen displayed 'Private Number', leaving him uncertain about who could be calling.

In the end, he decided to answer the call and dismissed himself, saying, "Please go ahead, I need to take this call."

Hearing him, the trio moved forward, while William held the phone to his ear and greeted the caller with a simple, "Hello..."

But no response came from the other side, so William greeted again asking, "Hello... Who's this."

On not getting a response for more than a few seconds on that, William was going to cut the call, but then, a voice suddenly cut in, that sent a chill through him, "Hello, my old friend. How have you been? I noticed your voice hasn't change much, what do you think about mine, hope you haven't forgotten."

William in sudden shook, couldn't form a reply, which made the caller to sneer, each word growing sharp and deliberate. "Uh, looks like you have forgotten, but that's fine, you must have tried hard to forget it, by living a happy afterlife, but I couldn't forget anything, SINCE YOU... STABBED ME IN THE BACK AND STOLE MY PRECIOUS THING FROM ME..."

Blinking his eyes rapidly on that, William voiced, getting over the daze, "No Er..."

But the caller shushed him, and continued with a menacing edge, "Shh... Listen, when I talk but anyway you are bound to regret."

Taking a momentary pause, the caller added, "Now, I'm going to take something that you hold dear; more precisely, I already have my eyes on it. So, I suggest you keep your dear ones near you... or else I'll surely take away what I have my eyes on."

With that note, the call ended with a devilish laugh of the caller.

The laughter lingered in the air like an ominous storm cloud, weighing heavily on William's chest. Overwhelmed, William struggled to stand, his thoughts consumed by the impending danger. Moments later, a message arrived, revealing a photo of Eric and Bryce together at a place.

Seeing that he tried calling Ermanno, but his phone didn't connect.

To confront the situation, he tried and tried calling Eric, only to find that it was switched off too.

This caused, frustration and despair to well up inside him, Thus, he cried out holding his phone tighter, "No... this can't be happening... You can't do this, Ermanno! No... not again..." as Ermanno's sinister laugh kept echoing in his ears.