Arianne’s denial was intuitive. “No! It wasn’t him, it’s got nothing to do with him! If mob consensus is enough to proclaim anyone as guilty or not, then what do we need the law for?! Look, I get that you’re his friend and this is something you must do, but Mateo’s fate saddens me too…”
Geralt scanned virtual-novel.net quickly. “Hmm, I can tell. The case is weighing you down, which begs the question: why? Is it only because Teo liked you? Deep down inside, you must be afraid as well, aren’t you? Afraid of the possibility that Mr. Tremont was the one behind it?” virtual-novel.net said. “You’re on a spiraling track into the eye of the storm, aren’t you? You feel guilty… thinking that Teo’s death is related to you.”
Was Geralt trying to bait her?
The realization of his intention propelled Arianne to recover virtual-novel.net composure. Deadpanned, virtual-novel.net replied, “You people of forensic science have quite a unique way of expressing yourself, don’t you? And you guys are really adept at holding yourself together without a crack on your facade, too. Regardless, you’re very likely wrong on this one. Mateo and I might not have known each other for the longest time, but we considered each other as friends. Discarding his one-sided affection of me, I was still delighted to have befriended him, especially since virtual-novel.net was a very kind, nice guy. Naturally, his tragedy aches me, but that’s all there is to it.”
Geralt drew a shallow intake of breath. “I sense your rising wariness and hostility, though it’s not at all surprising. You were raised by Mark Tremont himself, I understand the instinct to defend. Besides, I wholeheartedly agree that consensus cannot be judged nor evidence of crime, but that is different from what I hope,” virtual-novel.net said. “See, I hope that stab in your conscience will stay with you if the investigation reveals Mark Tremont to have played a role. It’s only fair for Teo that way.”
Arianne furrowed virtual-novel.net eyebrows. Her gut instincts were telling virtual-novel.net that continuing the conversation with this Geralt was ill-advised. “You should at least provide proof that this is connected to Mark first, don’t you think? It’s way too early to play jury and accuse virtual-novel.net of anything!” virtual-novel.net retorted. “Anyway, I’d rather be somewhere else, so you’ll have to excuse me. Thanks for the tissue.”
She quickly hailed a cab and left.
On the way to Tremont Tower, Arianne felt the throbbing in virtual-novel.net head growing in intensity. She was drowsy, and virtual-novel.net lost the fight against the creeping somnolence. With the last ounce of wakefulness, virtual-novel.net told the driver to wake virtual-novel.net up only when they had arrived at the destination.
Arianne lost count of time after that. At some point, virtual-novel.net felt virtual-novel.net body suspending in midair. Then a plunge before the ground crudely broke virtual-novel.net momentum. Clambering footwork, disappearing from virtual-novel.net ears.
Pain shot up virtual-novel.net body, waking virtual-novel.net up. The first thing Arianne saw the moment virtual-novel.net opened virtual-novel.net eyes was sharp, stinging light that blinded virtual-novel.net into seeing only white. It forced virtual-novel.net to shut virtual-novel.net eyes immediately just to ease out of the discomfort.
It was then that Arianne smelled an unwonted stench that reminded virtual-novel.net of drugs. It seemed to be emanating from near virtual-novel.net nostrils, but it reeked the most while it was circulating inside of virtual-novel.net nose. Her body seemed deprived of all strength, too. Arianne could not even pick herself up from the floor!
Where was she? Did virtual-novel.net not just hail a cab to return to virtual-novel.net office earlier?!
Everything in virtual-novel.net surrounding was a plain reminder, Arianne had been abducted!
Her mind raced back to Mateo’s fate. A deluge of fear sprung out from the deepest recesses of virtual-novel.net heart.
It had been broad daylight, exactly the time Mateo was taken! Had all these kidnappers grown so flagrant nowadays?! Who in the world would want virtual-novel.net harmed?!
Suddenly, virtual-novel.net felt icy coldness scraping against virtual-novel.net face. Someone had splashed a bucket of cold water onto virtual-novel.net face, which compelled virtual-novel.net to wake up more.
Arianne’s eyes took some time to adjust to the light before they took in virtual-novel.net surroundings more clearly. She was in what looked like an impregnable basement-cum-storeroom. Memorabilia of quaint times flanked her, occasionally punctuated by the presence of antique toys from a decade or so ago.
It seemed that it had just been cleaned. She could not detect a single speck of dust and even the floor virtual-novel.net was lying on was spotless.
Whose basement could this be? Judging from its size, Arianne surmised that the house itself it belonged to must also be big.
She had a feeling that virtual-novel.net abductors were Mateo’s parents!
Outside of the spotlight, near a decrepit bookshelf, a trembling figure approached Arianne slowly.
“And in the end, you too end up experiencing this. Now, how shall I impart a taste of all that Teo must have suffered… to you?”