Within the Shadows by J.D MCG (book recommendations .TXT) 📗

tapping his fingers on the table, before moving them towards his mouth and nervously biting his fingernails. Ally and Jacob entered the room. Jacob entered the tape into the machine while Ally informed the recording of all the usual relevant information.

'So, Mr Roberts. Could you please explain for the tape what your altercation was with Mr Hussain earlier today?' Ally asked.

'He came over to my house and started accusing me of murdering my wife,' he explained.

'Why would he do that?' Ally continued questioning him.

'I don't know why.'

'Some of the neighbours heard shouting coming from your house the day before your wife's murder. Could that be the reason why he thought it?'

'Possibly, but...'

'But what?'

'He and my wife were having an affair while I went out running,' he continued to explain.

'How long would you be out running?' Jacob asked.

'Probably about an hour or more,' Jack replied.

'How many times a week would you go running?'

'Pretty much every day, until...' he paused.

'What is it? What's wrong?' Ally asked him.

'Until I came across that man, the one with the disfigured face. Then I stopped going out.'

'And is this man still following you?' Jacob threw a question at him, already knowing the answer, but he wanted Jack to answer honestly for the tape.

'Yes. I saw him earlier today. I think he's the one doing all of this, but I don't know why.' He started to cry.

'Do you have any cameras in your garden or around your property?' Ally asked.

'No.'

'What about your neighbours?'

'I don't know,' he replied.

Jacob started to write down a few notes. One was to make sure they check any of the surrounding houses for cameras. Ally announced to the tape the end of the interview with the current time, before standing up to shake Jack's hand.

'Thank you, Mr Roberts. We'll be in touch as soon as we know more, though we might need you to help one of our sketch artists with the description of our suspect.'

'No problem,' he agreed while shaking her hand.

Ally showed both Jack and Simon out of the room while Jacob remained seated, thinking about what Jack had just said. Ally glared at him.

'Are you coming or what?'

'Yeah, I'm just thinking.'

'Oh yeah, about what?'

'This mystery man. Who is he to Jack?'

'That's what we're going to try and find out,' she replied.

'I just don't believe him,' he admitted.

'Why?'

'It just seems like whenever he's questioned he brings up this man from out of the blue. It just doesn't seem right, that's all.'

'Come on,' she laughed at him, before ushering him out of the room.

The next morning arrived, and Jacob couldn't help but think about the letter his father had left for him. Something didn't add up. He sat inside his car, pondering about the letter. Why did Dad write numbers in words and digits? He read the note again, trying to make sense of it.

"My son.

If you're reading this, then you know I'm gone. You have made me the proudest father in the world along with your brother and sister. There are parts of my life that I have kept secret from you all of these years. You and Adam, my 2 boys. Since your mother died, I am so proud of how you two adapted to carrying the weight of my depression, and helping me and Maria when your little sister arrived. The 3 of you are the best children a father could ask for.

My secret life I tried to keep well hidden from you, but I fear you will soon learn the truth. Barnes will fill you in. He's 1 of the only people I truly trust.

I love all 3 of you very much.

Dad."

Then Jacob remembered the receipt he found in his father’s office. An annual payment for a storage locker. He rummaged through his coat pocket for the receipt. Maybe he's giving me clues to something.

Jacob put his foot on the accelerator and drove to the storage locker. He phoned Ally.

'Ally, it's Jacob. I need your help with something. Meet me at the storage lock-up facility on Clyde Street,' he requested.

'Isn't that where Lily's locker was? What's going on, Jacob?' she asked.

'I'll let you know when you arrive. Don't bring anybody else, this is important.'

He hung up the phone and carried on his journey. He wasn't too far now, and he hoped to get some answers about his father’s secret life.

Ally pulled into the car park not long after Jacob and approached him standing by his car.

'So, what's so important?' she questioned him while folding her arms.

He showed Ally the receipt. 'I found this in my fathers home office.'

'So, he has a storage locker. That's not so odd.'

'It is when Lily had one in the same building,' he explained. 'I need your help. I want to search my dad's locker, but I don't want anyone to know about what we might find. My father has been keeping secrets about his family’s history, that only he and Barnes knew.'

'Barnes?'

'My dad said he's the only one he trusts,' he said while showing Ally the letter.

She took a few minutes to read over the letter. 'What do you think you'll find in here?'

'Hopefully some answers.'

The pair of them entered the building, and a familiar face stood before them.

'Oh, hello detectives,' said Billy, the lock-up's manager.

Both Ally and Jacob had met Billy about a month ago when they investigated Lily's locker. Billy had no idea why the pair of them were stood in front of him.

'Hello, Billy,' Jacob greeted him, holding his hand out for it to be shaken. 'Good to see you again.'

'So, what brings you both here?' he asked.

'I need your help. My father had a locker