Suspected

Nothing was better than arriving home early from work a day before the twenty-fifth, Ryan thought. He already had plans for the general holiday tomorrow and this he consciously spelt out of his mind on stopping his car in front of his lone apartment.

It was just minutes after six at the moment, the earliest time he was getting home on a Friday this year, asides the day he received a call about his mom slumping and fainting in the process. He clearly remembered that day. In haste, he had rushed to the hospital he was directed to by the caller, warning Helen after she was relieved to be conscious of her health.

The year had less than eight days to round off but the cold weather seemed to be getting harsher on each passing day, threatening to follow up until the new year. Just as gruesome as ever.

After killing the engine, he stepped out with a neutral expression. The day was still bright and quite misty but he could well navigate clearly with his eyes. He indeed looked neutral but inwardly, he was anticipating the arrival of tomorrow. Why? He had scheduled a movement to The Palmist with Lily to visit Helen.

It felt weird to him, more or less awkward. And he was nervous too. How would the females get to interact with each other? What would their reactions be like? The common 'shy daughter in-law meets furious mother-in-law' theory as depicted in movies? But that wasn't even the case between the two ladies he got. Their characteristics were the direct opposite of his thinking.

What was he even thinking?, he had to wonder. His mind was indirectly trailing to a seeming marriage plan and he was beginning to feel more awkward.

He had just fished out the set of house keys from his pocket when his motion got interrupted by a voice from behind.

"Mr Stones?"

Slowly, he turned around to see who had called. There was a car parked just next to his apartment and standing beside the car were two men dressed in police uniforms. Had he been super subconscious that he didn't notice them beforehand?

"What can I do for you?" He asked confusingly.

One of the men walked up to him and fetched out something from his pocket... a card. "I am Lieutenant Logan," He showed the card to Ryan. "And that is Lieutenant Holland," He gestured toward his colleague and continued, "We are from the District police station of Downtown Hill."

Downtown Hill? The name immediately rang a bell in Ryan's head — Stephen Ryder!

"Okay, is there anything I can do for you?" Ryan inquired calmly.

"Stephen Ryder... I presume you're familiar with the name?"

He nodded in agreement.

Lieutenant Logan continued. "Two days ago, Mr Stephen Ryder was found unconscious in an alleyway not too far from his apartment. We conducted an investigation and were informed you were seen in his apartment a little while before he was found in that state. If you don't mind, we have orders to take you in for questioning,"

"Am I under arrest?" Ryan had to ask as he furrowed his brows at the man.

"Not at all. We just need to carry out proper investigations regarding the situation. So, I really hope you don't mind at all?"

"Isn't it rather late for that?"

"Not to worry, we won't take too much of your time,"

Ryan hesitated for a little while. Was he in any sort of trouble? At the end, he decided to agree. If he needed to clear his name from the case, then that was the only way.

"Okay, let's go,"

.....

Minutes had passed since he arrived the District station of Downtown Hill. Right now, he was seated in a room void of any human entity asides him. The lieutenant called Logan had told him to wait a little in there because he needed to fetch his supposed superior.

He strained his head to look at something on the desk filled with different documents and a desktop computer. There was a slip with an inscription on it— 'R. S.'

R. S.?

Wasn't that his initials? R. S. for Ryan Stones. Wait, was he a major suspect?

All the way to this place, his mind had been making out the possibilities of why he was called in for questioning. Alright, he knew the major factor, but what was the reason for being summoned? Now he was clearly linking the major possibility. He probably was a suspect. It wasn't like Stephen Ryder was reported dead, so why should he actually be made a suspect?

Or, could it be he was reported to have attacked Ryder? No way. He didn't even get to make much contact with the reporter, talk less being able to attack him. This is hilarious, he thought.

'Did Brent do this? Did he try to sell me out? I just hope he's not the one, if not I'd make sure he regrets it,'

"Chief Editor Stones, I presume,"

Alongside heavy steps of a shoe, a thick voice was heard and he turned around to see a man come in through the open door and pass by him to the seat behind the desk. The man sat and that was when Ryan got to notice his facials.

The man had a sort of wrinkled face making him look old. His black hair was trimmed low and he looked no different from the 80s saga. There was also a bushy mustache just above his wide lips and this completed the description of the 80s.

Ryan gave a nod in affirmation. "Do you perhaps know me from somewhere?"

"Sky Broadcasting Organization, correct? I've come across your name written beneath some articles on the company's website," the man said.

"Oh..." Ryan came to a sudden realization — The SBO.

"Detective Inspector Blyde Dember," The man introduced himself and held forth his hand for a shake which Ryan accepted.

"I actually told my men to bring you in here to save face for you. You know, with your reputation as a chief editor. And I wouldn't want it to actually look like an arrest,"

"Isn't it an arrest?"

"No, not at all. Did my men harass you in any way when bringing you over?"

"They didn't,"

"So be rest assured that it isn't an arrest."

Ryan sighed. "May I ask why I'm really here?"

"Oh, sure," DI Dember said, "You see, there was an incident regarding Stephen Ryder who works in Tymes Network. He was found unconscious in an alleyway just near his apartment by residents of that side. I believe my men have briefed you on that already,"

A nod from Ryan promoted the man to continue, "So, after proper investigations, we realized you were last seen there early that morning, just around twenty to thirty minutes before the incident happened. And the reason why we invited you over is to uncover the reason behind you being there. We're sure it will help in our ongoing investigation,"

"Is Stephen Ryder dead?" Ryan had to ask.

"No," DI Dember shook his head.

"Then I really see no reason why I should be called in for questioning. I think the actual person you should be talking to is the victim of the incident. He alone would know the instigator of what happened to him," Ryan reasoned.

DI Dember wryly smiled and shook his head again. "And that's where the problem lies, Mr Stones. Up until this moment, Stephen Ryder is still lying unconscious in the hospital. He was brutally attacked on the head and the impact seems to be severe,"

The word 'coma' rang in Ryan's head repeatedly. What the hell is going on?

"Oh, I didn't know," He managed to say.

"You now see why we had to call you in. Mr Stones, your words will go a long way in helping out in our investigation,"

Ryan felt weak. His head was throbbing as he tried to make sense of the situation. Why did Stephen Ryder get attacked? There was no doubt that he had gotten himself in a bad business, but being attacked was another thing entirely.

John Ruben! Ryan's thoughts drifted off to that name. He had seen the bearer of that name over there. Before he left the place that day, he saw the man knock on the reporter's door. That wasn't a mere replica. It was truly John Ruben in flesh and blood.

"Excuse me, but was there any other person reported to have visited Stephen Ryder that day?" He inquired from the inspector.

The inspector shook his head. "Asides you, there wasn't. Why do you ask?"

"That's because I saw John Ruben there!"

"What?" DI Dember's face scrunched up in bewilderment. "John Ruben? The CEO of Titan Technology?"

"Yes," Ryan gave an affirmative nod, "That was before I happened to drive off from the place. It seems you're not aware of this at all,"

DI Dember frowned as he contemplated. "There was no report received of such. Are you sure of what you saw, Mr Stones? You know who we're talking about here, don't you?"

"I really am sure. I wouldn't dare to soil the reputation of another person,"

"I'll definitely look into it, don't worry. So, your words, Mr Stones?"

"Company decision,"

"Company decision? But Stephen Ryder works in a different broadcasting organization from yours..."

"Yes," Ryan said. "There was a plan to recruit him to ours,"

"So, the company sent you there as a representative?"

"Not really,"

DI Dember stared keenly. "I don't understand." He said.

Ryan sighed. He knew he would eventually have to go into details about his action if he had to prove his innocence from the case. "Although it was the company decision to recruit him," He began to say, "I went to meet Stephen Ryder myself without receiving a direct order from the management. I did it out of the company interest."

"And why, if I may ask, was your company so interested in recruiting Stephen Ryder? What was so outstanding about him that they had to send a whole chief editor to meet with him in person?"

Ryan half-shrugged. "Probably because of his potentials. And mind you, I never said I was sent. I did it from a personal perspective to felicitate the interest of the company,"

"So, his potentials, you say?"

"Yes?"

"Are you sure that is the actual reason, Mr Stones?"

"That is it. There's nothing more to meeting him, honestly."

DI Dember stared at him for a long while without saying anything, observing his facial expression to deduce anything. He eventually broke the silence by standing up.

"Okay, I'll have to let you go now, Mr Stones. I hope you'll heed to our call the next time we need you?"

Ryan stood up as well and took the man's hand in his. "Don't worry, I will."

As he stepped out of the station, he took out his phone and began typing a message.

``Man, I think I'm in a mess.``