Chapter 16: Working together II

Aiden's P.O.V The damaged cafe is labelled with no entry strips, we stopped by the road scanning the surrounding trying to find anything which can give a useful piece of information. There is only a couple days left for the trial and we are still unprepared, turning to my left I look at Riley, he pinches the bridge of his nose his forehead wrinkled, his eyebrows curled and his eyes are squinted. He lets out a loud weary sigh and sits straight, his eyes tensed. He faces me and forces a smile. Unlocking the door, I push it open "Come, let's go," I step out and walk ahead. "The owner of the shop," I speak when he meets my pace "Do you know him?," I ask as we stop by the shop where Mr. Mintz was stood, the damages are cleaned yet not fixed. "No, I haven't been here," he replies as he steps forward looking inside through the frame of shattered glass. "I see," I wander in to the counter table, passing a glance at Riley who watches me curiously I spring off to the opposite side of the large desk. Gripping the handle of the drawer of the cashier table, I drag it open, curling my lips in I scout down and I open the bottom cupboard to find whether there is something left behind, but it was empty as well. I lean over the table burying my face in my hands, I squeeze my eyes shut, a pile of questions forming in my head. What happened before Mr. Mintz came here? Was the owner present when he arrived? Was all this planned? Did they know his destination or was it suddenly planned? Anything is possible! Sliding my hands upward I run it through the hair, I move my eyeballs up taking a glance at Riley who is talking to someone, a dry sigh leaves my lips trying to assume the scene. Riley turns around after the stranger leaves, he waves at me and gestures me to come. "The owner has not been back since the incident," he explains "The lady told me that his house is behind the shop." "But seems like he has prepared for it because the drawers are unlocked and there is nothing left in," we stroll in the narrow lane beside the shop. "So?," "So, he had left at that moment taking his cash," "Maybe the FBI's took it to keep it safe because it's an open space now," "I don't think so," I reply believing in my hunch "If we can find the owner our questions will be answered," we stop by the door which is locked outside. Riley rushes to the turning point of the lane to check whether anyone is around but it seems like no one will be here as the land next to the shop is empty and this is the only house with the door behind. He grabs a brick by the broken wall in front of the house. Hopping forward to the door he bites his lower lip, grasping the edges tight he hits the padlock, unfortunately it doesn't break. "Hit harder," I point at the upper surface of the padlock where the on corner of the arch is locked in. Passing me a glance he looks at the shabby door, raising his hands he inhales a lump of air in and let's it out, he grits his teeth and drops the brick forcefully on the lock and this time it breaks. Adjusting the edge of his suit and setting his tie in place he faces me with his chin high. His actions are like as if he broke a locker by finding it's password. I purse my lips to a flat line as I lift my hand to show him a thumbs up as I nod my head. I push the door and we enter the dark house, the environment gets clear when Riley switches on the light. We walk around trying to find something else, stopping by the calendar I notice that the date is torn till sixteenth and today is twenty fourth. If he is tearing off the dates regularly it means he has not been back since sixteenth. "Hey," I turn around when Riley calls out "Come here," he peeps at the side of the kitchen door. "Seems like he left at that moment," he blurts, he opens the shopping bag on the pantry and hands over the bill to me. The purchase has been made on sixteenth and the things are not yet taken out. He would have bought these before the incident? "Hunt something about him," I order as I rush to the bedroom opening every cupboards I scan through every items inside. A wave satisfaction hits in me when I spot his insurance. Pulling out my phone, immediately I take a picture of it and send it to Blake. Walking out I gesture Riley to follow as I lift the phone to my ear. "You checked the photos," I question immediately when he answers the call, Riley jumps forward next to me watching curiously. "Yes," he replies "Did you try to call the number filled in the paper," "I tried, but the number is no longer valid," I sigh "Can you find out when the number has been deactivated," "Sure, I'll try...Any deadline?," "The trial is on the day after tomorrow, the evidence should be submitted," "I'll get it done boss," my cheeks lift up below my eyes when he stated that "Aiden," he mentions my name softly, I hum in reply "Don't put yourself in danger," his words come out in concern that I can just imagine how his expression will be. "You think I will be in danger," I scoff. "That's right, you won't," "And keep Harry safe, I will be taking him after clearing Mr Mintz name," "Hmm, what about uncle Johnson?," Passing a glance at Riley I yank the door open, getting in I continue "I think it's safe for dad to be in there," "I understand," "See yah, bye," I hang up, I buckle the seatbelt and turn to my right to see Riley already looking at me. He clears his throat and looks away "You found something?," He asks fixing his eyes to the windscreen, the view of shaded sky with orange and red . "Yeah," I explain "It's his health insurance, the number written doesn't work so I asked Blake to find out when it has been deactivated, I'm sure that he was told to leave at that moment. It would be great if there were any cameras around," I exhale, if there is even one camera near by it will be a great way to find out the scene, there were only two cameras around and these two cameras stopped functioning at that specific time. "I see," he nods "Was that Blake you spoke to?," "Yes," "You look different when you talk to him," I furrow my brows as I face him, he stares at the steering wheel forcing a smile. What's with that expression? "What do you mean?," I ask out of curiosity, knitting my brows . "What's your relationship with him?," that comes out casually. "None of your business," I sit straight "Let's visit the hospital to check on Philips's wife," "Yeah, It's none of my business," he grunts under his breath as he starts the engine. Philips wife is hospitalised and she is living the last few days of her life. Philips desperately wants to get out of prison to spend the few days with her and to prove himself not guilty. Tira has got all in her hands, being his lawyer she doesn't side with him in reality. The only question in my head right now is to know who is the one behind all this, who is the chairman? First I will get Mr Mintz name which will eventually lead to my destination. The car comes to an halt by the hospital, I pass a glance at Riley...He has been silent all this while...he yanks the door open and steps out without uttering a word...he walks ahead. Getting off the car I follow him, he looks over his shoulder from once and continues to move. The doors of the elevator parts welcoming us, I pass a smile at the ladies with pink uniform as we step in. He clicks onto the button of seventh floor...the same floor where mom is admitted. We step out when the door open, I follow him as I'm unknown to the details. Stopping by the last room at the corner we face each other, we nod and look away. Gripping onto the knob he twists it open we stop in our tracks. "Tell your husband not to change his lawyer," the cold stern voice gets into my ears. Closing the door we walk in taking the attention of the man standing by the bed, by his appearance I guess that he might be in early thirties, he snaps to the doorway when we entered, his eyes widens in astonished watching us. Gritting his teeth he glances back at the lady who is laid on the bed...her weak eyes looks at us. "Who are you?," The man questions, he walks toward us and stops in front of Riley. "Excuse me," Riley steps forward he looks straight into that man's eyes, his voice sounded stern and deep. Raising my brows in amusement I look at him...He looks totally different today. "Who the hell are you?," He questions adjusting his tie as he slants his head a bit on the left glaring at the person opposite to him, his brow arched questionably.