Chapter 49: Reymondo
Nick’s POV
“Who are you?” A deep voice of a man resounded followed by a faint footstep. Nick's frustration rose, ‘If he was just silent, we wouldn’t be heard right away.’ He mentally cursed Ben. His eyes widen when he suddenly stood and showed himself. Nick didn’t have the chance to grab him.
“Good afternoon, sir. I am actually here to arrange a little survey. We received a report that this house was abandoned by an unidentified owner. My bad, I am Albert Temosa.” He heard him say so he was left with no choice but to stand and act calm. He saw him extend a hand for a handshake to a man that was in his forties holding a forty-five caliber gun.
The old man didn’t look either convinced or suspicious to them, he looked at Ben straight without expression and accepted his hand.
“Here’s my ID,” he even showed a fake ID while Nick looked around the house and check everything. He walked to them and extended his hand to Reymondo.
“Kingston,” he only said and he accepted it.
“This house is named after Reymondo Elcarte, are you Mr. Elcarte?” Nick bit his tongue to hide his surprise when he saw him show a document and looked away.
“Yes,” he glanced at him once at a time. ‘He must be heard us talking, I doubt he’d buy this kind of play.’ Nick thought and secretly held his gun behind him.
“I think we need to take a seat.” Ben initiated when the old man didn’t offer them.
“Sure,” His instant reply was suspicious so they carefully walked following him to his fireplace. Reymondo hasn’t placed down his gun so Nick stayed in the doorway. The two of them sat down while Nick stayed standing.
“Take a seat, don’t worry. My couch was stronger than it seem.” He said but he looked at Ben and he signaled him to sit down so he did.
“I can see that your sidekick is inexperienced, Leonardo.” A ghost of a small smile formed on his lips. All his hair rose as the chill of his aura touched his spine. He could now understand Ben. He did his entrance calmly and obviously to prove his white intention since that guy Reymondo would notice them no matter how careful they would enter.
“Nice meeting you, sir. Don’t mind my cousin here, babysitting is my sideline job.” He scoffed as he heard what Ben said, it was insulting to him and he saw Reymondo nod his head as if he acknowledge that joke seriously, which insulted Nick more.
“What can I do for you, Prosecutor Benjamin Leonardo?” His question was emphasizing their place. He displayed on their faces that he was more than they imagine. He knew them before they had placed a foot in his territory.
“We are here about the Fuentes, how are you related to Mrs. Fuentes?” Ben asked him directly. He placed his gun beside him and leaned back.
“Stay away from Fuentes, they cause no good.”
“How can you say so?” Nick didn’t stop himself to ask and Ben cast him a warning look.
“Everyone that crosses them, even their ally would suffer. You know nothing about them.” He was shaking his head and stood up, he walked to the side where his electric kettle was. He prepared his own tea while everyone was watching everyone’s every move.
“I know one and I know her than you,” Nick said.
“You must be talking about their daughter, that kid? I don’t think so. You haven’t seen her capabilities, she’s tamed as for now.” He walk back to his chair and sat there.
“I don’t care, we are here for some information. She’s in jail-”
“ Accused as the murderer of her father.” Ben almost cut his face with his sharp glare at Nick. “Are sure you are on the right side? Maybe you are trying to save a demon.”
Nick took a huge gulp and felt his forehead burn. “I’m sure,”
“Then you must stay calm and let things fall their selves into places so that Fuentes won’t stay in that jail for long. No one would and could cross a Fuentes.” He said and drank his tea.
“How are you related to Mrs. Fuentes, then?” Ben finally had the chance to speak.
“None.”
“Then how can you explain this?” He showed a picture of him with Mrs. Fuentes in a restaurant. But those pictures made him chuckle, he took it and looked at him.
“This picture, this was the exact picture that showed up in my mails with a death wish from her husband after I work for her.” He slightly shook his head while amusingly smiling.
“You investigate someone for her, who was it?” Ben asked but he shook his head more.
“I vowed to my wife’s grave that my name will never be linked to Fuentes. I wouldn’t be making things hard for you, young man. I can’t give anything you want.”
“Rest assured that your name won’t be involved in this.”
“Live.” He put his cup down and stared at them.
“Please.” Nick easily drops his ego and pleads that quick. He wasn’t joking when he said he would do anything for her.
“Hernandez, you have a great future ahead. Your grandfather had built a great name and it would be your turn when he step down. Leave everything for now, if you love that girl. Climb to her level first, and this mess? You have nothing to worry about this.” Nick cringes his forehead in confusion, Ben on the other hand was observing them.
“You talk as if you know what is happening, you may know about what I have done and how my name was being linked to her.” Nick stood and walked toward him, he looked up to Nick and looked at him from head to foot.
“I don’t, I just know that we don’t need to worry about them. They can take care of themselves.” He reached for his gun but Nick kicked it. It was an offensive move so the veteran’s reflexes caught his leg and attempted to elbow it but Ben was fast and caught his wrist.
“We know nothing about you, sir, but we see the situation otherwise. If you think that everything was going according to plan as how you describe it, we couldn’t agree. That evidence was stolen, its purpose was to help her but it turned against her. This isn’t about them anymore, we were long involved and someone has attached a string to us. We need to get out too but on the good side of the Fuentes.” Ben’s serious statement decreased the tension a bit and he let his leg go so he did to his wrist.
But the old man’s eyes widen and pointed his gun at them.
“You brought those demons in my place! They were following you, right?” He was mad and aggressively held his gun.
“Sir, calm down.” Nick couldn’t understand his reaction. But they had to go out before he decide to pull the trigger so they made their way out.
They went out while their hands were up in the air. He closed his gate securely and turned on something beside it. Nick had a glimpse at the huge wires and he turned on the high voltage to guard his house. That explains the dead grass around.
“I told you, we have similarities,” Ben said as if he didn’t fail while Nick was all torn and more frustrated.
“We didn’t get a thing!”
“Calm down, we’ll figure this out.”
“We should have forced him to speak. It’s two versus one.”
“And his veteran, while was just handsome. We know our capability, we have the skill but not enough, we have the ability and head but I felt back there that I am the only one who has it. You are honestly distracted and I am not liking it. Calm yourself and take this seriously.” Ben started and opened his car.
“I’m sorry if I am inexperienced like you and I am not taking it seriously. I am the one who’s throwing punchlines here.” He sarcastically said he got in the car. He even slams the door.
“I never underestimate you, Nick. But you prove me wrong just now. Don’t pull up a tantrum now.” He started the engine and didn’t receive a response from him.
He stopped when he heard a faint long beep.
“Get out.” He said and jumped out. The strong force pushed them farther and it was burning hot behind them with the terrifying sound of an explosion.