2 The Disappearance

Hough woke up early in the morning to begin his investigation. As he sat on his bed, he began to collect his thoughts. Before he could even stand up to take a bath and get ready the phone rang. He reached out to check who it was, upon inspection, he saw it was Kim. He thought to himself

"what does he want now"

He accepted the call and in a grumpy voice, he demanded.

[Hough]: What do you want now?

[Kim]: It is about the case.

[Hough]: What about it?

[Kim]: John is missing.

[Hough]: What do you mean he's missing? I talked to him yesterday.

[Kim]: His wife reported that he did not return home and he is not in his office.

[Hough]: Maybe he ran away after knowing I was investigating him.

[Kim]: According to the CCTV cameras, he never left the building.

[Hough]: Aaahhhh

Hough growled in frustration through the phone. He lied back to his bed and stared on the ceiling, lost in thought he became quiet and didn't utter a single word. Kim began to call his name.

[Kim]: Hough! Hough! Are u there?

Hough ignored Kim as he began to think of different possibilities and scenarios. He needed to check out the office for clues and visit his home.

[Hough]: I am on my way by any chance are you at his office?

[Kim]: Yes, I already made sure that people don't temper with the room.

[Hough]: Good I am on my way.

He promptly hung up the phone and got himself ready. After driving for some minutes he approached the building, some cop cars could be seen already. He parked his car across the street and trotted to the other side. He waved on the officers around and let him in. He entered the elevator and after some time 'ting' and the door opened. The sight of Jake and Kim talking on the corner straight away greeted him. While on the other corner some police officers where writing eyewitness testimony of the secretary. He entered the reception area of the office and Kim noticed him. Kim then waved his hand signalling him to come. Hough sighed and made his way to him.

[Kim]: We need your eyes with this since you're the one who was investigating the case related to him.

[Jake]: With all due respect chief, if Hough would have kept the case closed this won't have happened.

[Hough]: Do the public know of this?

[Kim]: I did my best to keep the reporters out but soon enough they will know.

[Hough]: Good.

Hough left Jake still protesting about his involvement and entered the office. It was empty and silent he looked around the office before walking towards the table. It was a very luxurious office, the table was made of the finest wood and the coaches were also very nice. There was a small cupboard where he kept all his expensive drinks. He opened it and begun to inspect the drinks, he looked at the base of the drinks and he saw dust start collect in a lot of them except for half-empty one.

'Looks like this was his favourite'

He took the bottle and looked at it. It was written 'The Bavarian est 1895' this bottle was very expensive. He opened the lid and smelled the contents inside, once sure, there was no any sedatives or drugs of kinds inside he returned the bottle. He closed the cupboard and began to pace around the office. The next clue was the chair, which was swung to the direction of the window indicating he left the table. The question, which plagued him, was where too. He sat on the chair, swung to face the table, and looked down on the table. The closest thing to him was the phone but he ignored it and started to look through the drawers. Inside nothing that caught his attention but on the last drawer, he pulled out a gun. The gun had no bullets but an entire clip was found next to it. He muttered to himself

'Interesting, I should check out this gun later maybe it will match the bullet found in the victim'

He placed the gun together with the clip on the table and closed the drawer. He stared at the phone for some time but just laid back on the cozy chair. He swung the chair to face the window to get up but something caught his eye. He went on all fours to look at the ground. Even though it was subtle marks could be seen as if someone was dragged. He followed them with great interest but it leads towards the window. Puzzled he stood up and looked down he tried to recreate the action but it made no logical sense.

'How can someone drug someone into that direction of the window would have imposed him'

He decided to look around the room one more time; he checked every space and pulled everything trying to find some button to open some passage. He found nothing that could help in the investigation, he decided to return to the area. He inspected the scratch mars and then looked closely on the window. The office itself was on the uppermost floor of the building but either way, he did not dismiss the theory that someone came through the window and kidnapped John. He checked around the window for any signs of tampering but something else caught his attention. There was fine soil on the ground on the base of the window.

'Soil, how did you get here?'

He inspected the soil particles with his hand. Indeed, it was very odd to find soil in an office especially a window. All of this made no sense to Hough, he was left with one more thing to investigate the phone. He returned to the table to check the office phone. He checked the phone log and an unknown number was the last to call.

'Maybe they know what happened'

He reached out to call but he thought of a better idea. He shot up and left the office. Kim was the first one to question him.

[Kim]: Did you find something tangible?

[Hough]: I will tell you later, where is the secretary I need her.

Kim looked towards the officers and ordered.

[Kim]: Bring the secretary.

[Officer]: Right away sir.

The officer left but promptly returned with the secretary in hand. Hough walked towards her and spoke.

[Hough]: There something I need from you.

[Secretary]: How can I help?

[Hough]: Come with me.

Hough grabbed her hand and entered the office with him. Kim and Jake became also curious and entered the office with him. Once inside he made her sit on the chair and gave her some instructions.

[Hough]: You will call that number and then you will announce that your boss is busy and wants to meet up with them at the garden near the famous café.

[Secretary]: Is that all?

[Hough]: yes.

The secretary put the phone on loudspeaker and called the number. She did her best to be composed but her trembling hands could show she was scared. She dialled the number and the phone started to ring. After some time the phone stopped ringing and someone began to speak.

[Mercenary]: Hey why did you not call me back yesterday.

The secretary swallowed her dry saliva and started to speak.

[Secretary]: Mr. John is currently busy but he has notified that he wants to meet you at the garden near the famous café.

[Mercenary]: Wait, who are you?

[Secretary]: I am his secretary.

[Mercenary]: Hmmm. Did say at what time?

The secretary then looked at Hough who then signalled with his fingers the number three. She then answered the man.

[Secretary]: In three hours.

[Mercenary]: Tell him I will be there.

Then the fun was hanged up, Silence engulfed the entire room. Kim then turned away from the secretary towards Hough and with a calm voice, he asked.

[Kim]: Who was that?

[Hough]: Let's go we are about to find out.