Perfecto. Comienzo la
CHAPTER 9
When It All Began
ARI
"Now you'll have to wait here. I'll keep an eye on you while your parents are in the interrogation with the detective," García told me as the nurse injected a tranquilizer that would put me to sleep. "I'm sorry, but your parents are worried you might make bad decisions."
I tried to keep my eyes open, staring at the white wall. I was already more asleep than awake, and my head began to sway from side to side.
They wanted to restrain me.
"Lie down," he said as he took my head and rested it against his shoulder, and I stopped fighting.
I closed my eyes.
I was tired. Far too tired.
I was free… but they were afraid.
[...]
Detective Johnson
"All right, let's begin the interrogation. I understand you became responsible for Ari after the murder during her childhood. Did you agree to take her under your care?" I asked Ari's father, who had been agitated moments earlier.
I came to this country for matters related to the Elite, but over time I was informed that several young women were disappearing and that no one was investigating it.
Somehow, in the United States, we came to the conclusion that perhaps all these cases were connected, since the perpetrators had enough power to cover up all their crimes.
I felt a certain relief knowing that a young woman might have contact, or might have had contact, with someone who worked for the Elite.
That would be a major step toward identifying someone close to them and moving the investigation forward. But seeing her in that condition worried me; I wasn't sure she was ready for questioning.
I decided to start with the others: her parents, her friends, and even the officers involved.
"I agreed. I never had a problem with it. I always wanted to have children, and I couldn't be more grateful to raise Ari after what happened to her," he answered as he brought the glass of water to his lips.
"And your wife?"
"At first it was difficult, because we had agreed not to have children. But I know she loves Ari just like I do, as her daughter," he replied quickly. I noticed he wasn't lying; his body language throughout had been normal.
He checked his phone constantly, and I noticed he had his daughter's chat open. He just wanted to see her.
Even though he answered quickly, as if wanting to end the interrogation, I knew he was telling the truth.
He wasn't lying.
A few minutes passed, and I found no need to ask anything else. He wasn't the person I was looking for. Nor did he have important information.
So we moved on to someone more relevant to the case.
Liam
"Take a seat. You're Liam, correct?" I said, confirming his identity.
"Yes," he answered. He pulled his shoulders back, and I noticed he was nervous.
Then he pushed the chair back slightly before sitting down.
I saw his tear-filled eyes, but his expression was serious.
He was good at pretending; apparently everyone saw him as a closed-off boy, someone who didn't open up to just anyone.
But Ari managed to.
"How are you feeling? The statements were intense. You know more things now," I said, recalling Ian's confession, where he claimed Liam never hit Ari.
I observed his reaction: he lowered his arms from the table and simply nodded.
"It's hard to believe, because even I felt like a piece of trash," he replied, in a tone that surprised me for someone his age.
"We'll investigate further, but I truly don't believe the detainee is lying," I told him, trying to offer some support.
But I noticed his leg shaking and brushing against mine under the table. It moved slightly but quickly, as if he were trying to calm himself.
"But it's still my fault."
"Why do you say that?"
"Didn't you see how she is?" he said, referring to Ari's condition. "She wasn't like this, but since she was with me…"
"No, Liam. It's not your fault. The only guilty ones are out there, and we've already caught one of them."
"I don't understand her. I really don't understand her," he said.
Was he talking about Ari?
"What don't you understand?"
"Why did she stay with me? If she had run away, he would have left her alone."
"I don't think he would have left her alone. That kind of person stalks their victims in terrifying ways."
"But I don't understand… why?"
"Because he knew you were a threat. And he was surely surprised that she didn't leave you, despite everything."
"She's foolish."
"Tell me… if it were the other way around, would you have left her? A situation that put her or you in danger."
"No. I wouldn't leave her. I couldn't… and I wouldn't survive it either," he answered bluntly, which made me smile.
They weren't together, but they would give everything for each other.
"I don't usually say this, especially in situations like this, but fight for her. Because you're in love, aren't you?"
"Yes. I have been since the moment I met her."
"Then, Liam, if you're willing to find the culprit, you must agree that Dylan is not the boy we're looking for," I said, trying to provoke a response that would help me move forward with my suspicions.
"Are you saying Ari was wrong?" he asked, confused.
"No. I'm saying she lied. Don't misunderstand me, but Ari knows more than she's said. I'm sure she did it all to confuse us, especially Ian. I saw him after she spoke to him."
"I thought she was smarter, but she's not even close to knowing who it is," Ian said as we escorted him in handcuffs.
"I really want to see her face when she finds out who it is. Too bad I'll be in here," he added with a sigh and a mocking laugh.
"And you think Ari knows who it is? Maybe we don't even know him," Liam said, still doubting my theory.
"No. I'm completely sure she knows. No one doubted her. Not even you when she screamed at everyone that Dylan was the culprit. I know she wants to end this before I discover who he really is."
"Do you suspect someone?" he asked.
"Yes, but that's not important right now. What matters is knowing who the culprit is for her. That's the point."
"Can you tell me how you came to the conclusion that she's hiding the culprit from us?"
"Because we're underestimating her. I have theories… Maybe when she was drugged, there were moments when she saw the real face of the culprit. But one thing is certain: her dreams are a major confirmation."
"The dreams?"
"Yes. She's had dreams about this even before it happened. Her psychologist said Ari truly knows who the culprit is, but she needs to confirm it herself."
"I didn't know that…"
"She hid it from you, but she has her reasons. Both of you are going through difficult things. That's why I'm asking you to spend more time with her. Anything unusual, you must report to me. And if she confesses something, come to me immediately."
"I will."
"I interrogated Jeff first, her best friend, but I didn't tell him all this. I'm giving you this information because I thought she would trust him more… but I noticed she would choose you over anyone. She trusts you more.
Her father knows, as does her mother, and they'll be alert. Everyone has to do their part to keep Ari alive. I'm sorry to say this is only the beginning… and you're facing something much deeper."
"I'll help you."
I knew he would be willing.
Before taking the case, I had to investigate each of them long before interrogating them, even Ian. I observed their routines, wanting to know if what they told me was true or if they were hiding something.
I did stop to wonder if Liam was truly a victim, since everything pointed to the fact that he wasn't.
However, watching him from afar, before any contact, I noticed something different. When school ended, his gestures changed whenever Ari was near or within sight.
He avoided her at all costs inside the school, though he turned around many times just to look at her for a few seconds.
When she smiled and he noticed, his expression lit up. If Ari left late, he stayed, even if his classes had already ended, especially after the recorded attacks; he protected her even when he had promised to stay away.
And when he saw someone arrive to pick her up or that she left with Jeff, he gathered his things and left.
That's when I understood he had no bad intentions; all he wanted was for her to be safe, something he couldn't achieve when she was still by his side.
Liam left, saying goodbye and thanking me.
Then I reviewed the interrogation list.
I would continue with them another day, but first I needed to speak with one of the friends who, by her own request, seemed worried and said she wanted to talk about the case.
"Give me your name," I said to the girl who hurried into the room and sat down quickly.
"Camila Fernández," she answered, but my attention went to her phone, which lit up every second with notifications.
"What's going on? I have an interrogation scheduled with you tomorrow; I already informed your parents."
"The thing is… they won't stop bothering me. I keep getting anonymous messages and I don't know what to do."
Like the messages Ian claimed to have when Jeff went to question him?
"What messages?"
"They won't stop sending me the same message since Ian was detained. They won't leave me alone. But they're strange symbols I don't understand. I feel like it's connected because it gives me a strange feeling in my body, like something is going to happen."
"Show me." She nodded and unlocked her phone, handing it to me so I could see one of the many messages with the same symbols:
@Cuentadesactivada2008.
".- -- -... .- .-. / ... . .-. .- / ... . -.-. ..- . ... - .-. .- -.. .-".
"It's Morse code. Let me talk to one of my colleagues so he can translate it."
"Yes, okay." I stood up and left the room to find Sebastián, who was leaning against the wall, drinking coffee to stay awake through the night.
"Come on, I need your help."
[...]
ARI
"Ari, which do you want, strawberry or grape?" Ámbar said while looking into the store freezer.
I was carrying some cookies to eat with her, since she suggested coming to my place and I agreed.
She and I had talked about this for a while.
"Strawberry," I answered, watching her straight, well-cared-for hair and wondering when she had started taking better care of herself. "I'm glad to see you doing better."
I knew she was going through difficult things too, so I knew that, in some way, we were both seeking refuge in our friendship.
"Well, my dad is calmer," she replied with a smile. "Plus, my grades went up and they're happy."
"I'm glad, but it's not right that how he treats you depends on your grades or his mood or whatever. That's why I didn't go over to greet him," I answered honestly, and she pushed me toward the register, indirectly telling me to shut up.
"Stop worrying about me. You already have enough problems," she replied.
"You're still my friend, so I'll keep worrying about you," I said, and she smiled, returning it softly.
My phone began to vibrate and I reached into my pocket to grab it.
"Look, it's Jeff."
We saw him through the glass doors while he had his phone to his ear.
My expression turned confused when he touched his head and suddenly looked shocked.
My phone rang again and this time I answered.
"Who is this?" I asked.
"Ari, it's the detective. Is Ámbar with you?" he sounded rushed, and in the background I could hear a police siren, as if he were driving.
"Yes, we're together. We came to a store near my apartment to buy food before going back home. Did something happen, detective?"
"Get out of the store right now and get into the car. Immediately!"
I looked at Ámbar, who was walking toward Jeff to greet him, and he looked at me as if he already knew what I was being told.
"But why? I don't understand."
"They sent Camila a message about a kidnapping… a kidnapping that will happen to Ámbar if you don't act immediately and get to safety."
I lowered my phone instantly and grabbed Ámbar by the arm, pulling her out of the store without taking anything we had picked up.
"Come on, Ámbar, let's go!" I said desperately, looking outside, worried because no one was waiting for us.
"What's going on, Ari?" she asked, pulling free from my grip.
I looked at Jeff.
"Did the police call you too?"
"Yes, it was García who told me about the message. He was shocked and called me immediately when he found out," Jeff answered, and I looked at Ámbar, who stared at us, confused, not understanding.
"What are you talking about? What message?" she asked, and I looked at the camera in the corner of the store ceiling.
Then I looked back at her.
"About a kidnapping."
"What? Of you?"
"No. Of you, Ámbar. You're in danger."