The damaged cafe is labelled with no entry strips, they stop the car by the road. Seated inside they scan the surroundings to find anything which can be a useful piece of information. There are only a couple of days left for the trial and they are still unprepared. Aiden turns to the left and looks at Riley. He pinches the bridge of his nose, his forehead wrinkled. He lets out a loud weary sigh and sits straight, his eyes tensed. He faces her and forces a smile.
Aiden unlocks the door and pushes it open. "Come, let's go," she steps out and walks ahead.
"The owner of the shop," she says when Riley meets her pace. "Do you know him?" She asks as they stop by the cafe. 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," she wanders into the counter table, passing a glance at Riley who watches her curiously. She springs off to the opposite side of the large desk.
She grips the drawer handle of the cashier table and drags it open. Her lips curl in as she squats down and opens the bottom cupboard, to find whether there is something left behind. But there is nothing. Everything is empty. She leans over the table and buries her face in her hands. Her eyes squeeze shut, a pile of questions forming in her 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!
Her hands slide upward running through her hair. She looks at Riley talking to someone. A dry sigh leaves her lips trying to assume the scene. Riley turns around after the stranger leaves, he waves at her and gestures to her 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." She adds.
They stroll in the narrow lane beside the shop.
"So?"
"So, he had left at that moment taking his belongings."
"Maybe the cops took it to keep it safe because it's an open space now,"
"I don't think so," she replies, believing in her hunch. "If we can find the owner our questions will be answered." They stop by the door which is locked outside.
Riley rushes to the turning point of the lane and checks around. He grabs a brick by the broken wall in front of the house and hops forward. He bites his lower lip as he grasps the edges tight. He hits the padlock. It doesn't break.
"Hit harder," Aiden points at the upper surface of the padlock.
He passes a glance at her and looks at the shabby door. He lifts his hands and grits his teeth. He drops the brick on it forcefully and this time it breaks.
Adjusting the edge of his suit, he sets the tie in place and faces her with his chin high. His actions are as if he broke a locker by finding its password. She purses her lips to a flat line as she raises her hand and shows him a thumbs up. He pushes the door and they enter the dark house; the environment gets clear when Riley switches on the light.
They walk around trying to find something else. Aiden's feet pauses by the calendar as she notices that every date is torn until the sixteenth, the day of the incident.
"Hey," Riley calls out "Come here."
"Seems like he left at that moment," he says and opens the shopping bags in the pantry. He hands over the bill to her. The purchase has been made on sixteenth, the day of the incident.
"Hunt something about him," Aiden rushes to the bedroom and checks in every cupboard.
A wave of satisfaction hits her as she spots the owner's insurance. She quickly pulls out her phone and takes a picture of the details. She sent it to Blake and calls him as she walks out the room. Riley follows her out.
"You checked the photos?" She asks. Riley jumps forward watching her curiously.
"Yes," he replies "Did you try to call the number filled in the paper?"
"I tried, but the number is no longer available," she sighs. "Can you figure 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," her cheeks lift below her eyes. "Aiden," his voice comes low. She hums in reply. "Don't put yourself in danger," his words come out in concern.
"You think I will be in danger?" She scoffs.
"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?"
She passes a glance at Riley and yanks the car door open. "I will get him out soon."
"You will!"
"Alright! Bye!" She hangs up and buckles the seatbelt. She turns to her right to see Riley already looking at her.
He clears his throat and looks away "You found something?" He asks, fixing his eyes to the windscreen watching the orange shaded sky.
"Yeah," she nods, "It's his health insurance, the number written doesn't work so I asked Blake to find out when it has been deactivated. It would be great if there were any cameras around," she exhales.
If there is even one camera nearby it will be a great way to find out the scene. There were only two cameras around and those two cameras stopped functioning at that specific time.
"I see," he rubs the back of his neck. "Was that Blake you spoke to?"
"Yes,"
"You look different when you talk to him," she furrows her brows as she faces him. He stares at the steering wheel forcing a smile.
"What do you mean?" She asks out of curiosity, knitting her brows.
"What's your relationship with him?" That comes out casually.
"None of your business," she sits straight. "Let's visit the hospital to check on Philip's wife."
"Yeah, it's none of my business," he grunts under his breath as he starts the engine.
Philip's wife is hospitalised and she is living the last few days of her life. Philip desperately wants to get out of prison to spend a 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 car comes to a halt by the hospital. Aiden glances at Riley, confused as he has been silent through out the drive. He steps out and walks ahead. She gets off the car and follows him. The elevator doors open, she passes a gentle smile at the pink uniformed nurse as they walk ahead. Philip's wife is admitted on the same floor of her mother.
They stop by the last door, Riley grips the door knob and twists it open. They look at each other with puckered brows.
"Tell your husband not to change his lawyer," the cold stern voice gets into their ears.
Riley closes the door and walks in with, taking the attention of the man standing by the bed. He snaps at the doorway, his eyes widen in astonishment watching them. He grits his teeth and averts his gaze to the lady on bed. Her weak eyes looking at Riley and Aiden.
"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 sounding stern and deep.
Aiden raises a brow amusingly looking at him… He seems totally different.
"Who the hell are you?" He questions as he adjusts his tie, glaring at the person opposite to him.