The Red Light Girls (Unsolved Mysteries Book 2) by Kim Knight (most romantic novels TXT) 📗

chuckled. “Why? What does this have to do with the Red Light Girls? And why are you asking?”

Then it happened, Janssen watched closely, it was as if a lightbulb had gone off in the man’s head.

“Oh, wait. Hold up, you think I’ve got something to do with those girls, right?”

Janssen opened her notepad and ignored the question. “Chris, can you tell us your whereabouts last Tuesday?”

“Last Tuesday? I was at work. Why? Hold on. I’m not answering any more of your questions without a legal rep. You can’t just storm in here and—”

“Fine. Mr. Visser if you’ll accompany us to the station, we can organise one for you.” Gibson got to his feet and stared down at Chris.

Chris threw his hands up in the air in protest. “Great. I can’t believe this. I had nothing to do with those girls!”

28

Hot Seat

Chris Visser

At the station two hours later, Chris sat on one side of the table in the investigation room, his legal representative next to him.

Janssen and Gibson were opposite him, pinning him with a stare that made him feel uneasy. He shuffled in his chair and repeated his response.

“Like I said, I can’t remember where I was all those months ago when these girls went missing. Last Tuesday, I went to work, and then came home. And I was home all evening.” He paused for a beat, then glanced from Janssen to Gibson.

From what he could ascertain, neither appeared fazed nor convinced.

“This weekend, I had a date with Madeline Sloane. Other than that, I was at home. Before that, I was at home getting ready. I never went anywhere.”

“Okay, we’ll verify this with your employer. Do you have anyone else who can confirm you were at home?” Gibson asked.

“Look, like I said, I was home. I’ve got no reason to lie. If you must know, I’ve been online looking for love. I was on match.com since Madeline doesn’t want me and Stacey isn’t really my type. I never moved from my apartment all evening.”

Chris felt a wave of embarrassment pass over him. A suffocating heat rose from his neck and travelled up to his ears and cheeks, turning his normally pale skin a rose tinned colour—or so he was sure.

Damn, I sound like some kind of womanizer, he pondered with worry.

He glanced back down at the table, avoiding the detective’s eyes.

There was a silence in the room that made him feel uncomfortable with the whole situation.

In time, he shifted his gaze from the table, finding Gibson and Janssen looking at one another.

Janssen leaned across the table and got closer. “What device did you use that evening while online?”

“My laptop.” He shrugged. “Why?”

“Okay, we’ll need to take it into custody.” Janssen glanced down at her notes. “And this weekend, you left out to meet Madeline Sloane at what time?”

“Just before lunch.”

“And you arrived home at what time?”

“She left me there. Well, after Stacey burst in on us. I got home in the late afternoon. I was there all evening. You saw the mess when you were at my place.”

“What did you do when you got home?” Gibson shifted in his seat.

“Nothing,” said Chris. “I was upset.”

Chris glanced around the room, and then to his legal rep, who nodded at him to continue.

He took a deep breath, then confessed, “I watched Netflix, ordered a pizza, and zoned out. Next thing I know, you’re banging on the door today.”

Gibson sighed with impatience and leaned back. The bulky guy looked over at Janssen and she nodded.

“All right, you’re free to go for now.” Janssen closed her notepad. “One of the officers will escort you back to your place and take possession of the laptop.”

Chris’ eyes darted back to Gibson in amazement. “I need it for business. When will I get it back?”

“Soon. Don’t worry.” Gibson dismissed him, then got to his feet. He cut the tape recording and turned to Chris’ legal representative. “He’s free to go. Please report to reception.”

Chris’ eyes followed Gibson and Janssen out the room.

After they depart, it was like he was finally able to breathe again. His legal representative turned to him and opened his mouth as if to speak.

“I didn’t do anything.” Chris told him flatly “If that’s what you’re about to ask me.”

“It’s okay. I understand accusations are never easy. Let’s go to reception and get this over with.” He patted Chris’ shoulder.

He rose, and so did the legal rep, and the man followed him out of the interview room to meet the uniformed officer outside.

“This way, Sir.” The officer motioned for Chris to follow him, then escorted him to the reception area.

Janssen was waiting for him. “Here.” She handed Chris some paperwork. “This is for the laptop. One of my officers will escort you to your place, and then back to the station with it. If anything else is needed, I’ll be in contact. Don’t go too far.”

The detective turned on her heels, leaving Chris with his heart in his shoes.

29

Bite Sized Pieces

Detective Janssen

Back in her office, Janssen poured herself a cup of herbal tea, then looked over Madeline’s inbox.

Nothing else had come in for the day. The frustration she felt with the case grew with each passing day. And the girls that had gone missing or turned up dead, she felt with a tangible ache in her gut. Only two witnesses, with one sighting, didn’t throw up anything on the CCTV footage. And so far, no significant evidence had turned up on any of the bodies other than one hair found this week on one of the latest victims—Suzy.

That could belong to anyone, she sighed.

She scrolled through Madeline’s inbox again.

An unexpected knock at the door annoyed her.

“Come in,” she called out.

“Hello, Ma’am.” Officer Denz walked in.

She gave him her full attention and waited for the man to speak.

“Detective, I went over to Lucy Hanssen’s house. There was no answer. Nothing.”

Janssen tilted her head to one side, then rolled her eyes. “Great, okay. Try again in the morning.”

“Will do. Also,