A Moment in Destiny

Chapter 860 The Clue

Instead, Marcel Hopkins smiled and said, “Mr. Raphael Gill, only you and Joanna Salinas knew what happened between the both of you last night, aside from being known by that person…”

Just after he finished saying so, the sound of door knocking pierced the air, he then stood up and walked towards the door to listen to the reports delivered by the person at the door , there was coldness in his eyes, at some point of the conversation he frowned and turned back to look at Raphael and Rae Baxter, soon he returned and asked Raphael, “Mr.Gill, you returned to NY Villa last night again didn't you, how would you explain this?”

Raphael frowned for a while but immediately he remained calm, he then smiled and said, “Captain Hopkins, I went home last night, I don’t know what you are talking about!”

Rae was disappointed instead , ‘Did he went out last night?’she thought.

‘Would he?’

Marcel smiled and said, “Mr.Gill, do you think that you have the authority to simply access the security cameras as you wish just because NY Villa is a part of the Raphael family industry? The video records of Green Villa Area and NY Villa last night were both 5 minutes shorter, are you trying to tell me that this is a coincidence Mr.Gill?”

Raphael shrugged his shoulders and said, “Is this not a coincidence?”

All of a sudden Marcel’s voice became deep, “Mr.Gill, please stop wasting your time, it would be more beneficial for you to tell the truth! Or else...” he did not finish his sentence.

Lawyer King suddenly stood up with full of righteousness he said to Marcel, “Captain Hopkins, what you said towards my client just now can be regarded as a threat, we will take legal actions for that!”

Marcel returned with a smile and said, “It seems like it did not say anything!”

“You better keep it that way!” replied Lawyer King.

In the meantime Rae was staring at Raphael, her eyes were full of concern.

Raphael later said, “Captain Hopkins, I can only say that I have nothing to do with Joanna’s death!”

Marcel nodded and said, “Right now I only hope that Mr.Gill could tell me who it is he is defending for?”

Raphael remained in silence.

Marcel then said, “Last night around 11.15pm to 11.20pm, the CCTV at Green Villa Area lost signal for about 5 minutes! 5 minutes, is just enough to move a car from the villa’s garage and drive out towards Green Villa Area, I tested it out with my colleague, right at the corner of Green Villa Area, there is dead corner which is a blind spot for the CCTV on the street, you could have switched cars there!”

Marcel’s interpretation caused Raphael to be expressionless, Lawyer King was anxious. “Captain Hopkins, you will need to prove your statements!”

“You don’t need to remind me, I am a police officer, I understand that. ”Marcel said with confidence.

Instead Rae was thinking, ‘She called Raphael many times last night, she even texted him but he didn’t reply, did he not bring his phone along with him? Or is it inconvenient for him to bring his own personal phone?’ she thought.

‘Was Raphael really covering for someone? Who would it be? Who is that worth for Raphael to defend? Raphael’s reputation is pretty well-maintained when he was at home, even the whole City B was full of young masters, all dressed handsomely, many women was obsessed with him, Raphael just changed his partners very often, nothing else, his was pretty good at doing business and even did quite a number of charities as well.Even if there was such a person, who would it be?’

Rae still couldn’t think of anyone even after she racked her brain, ‘Who could it possibly be?’ she thought. Related to Joanna and someone Raphael knew! As for Marcel, his words caused her to evaluate Raphael once more, ‘Was she really wrong?’ she thought. ‘No, Raphael is not that kind of person, at least he won’t kill anyone! What on earth is he hiding?’

Meanwhile Marcel said, “You switched into a black poker car with plate number of A33128 right at a corner of Green Villa Area, afterwards, you drove back to the villa and a person showed up in the video which was your assistant, Edward Fisher! It only took 10 minutes for this car to move from Green Villa Area to NY Villa. It was at 11.30pm, the video between 11.30pm to 11.35pm at NY Villa was lost. This 5 minute gap is just enough for you to drive towards NY Villa to park outside of Joanna’ house, our informant was being questioned by the security once around 11.32 pm, which means within this 3 minute time gap, someone came out from Joanna’s house and left with your car. ”

Marcel illustrated with such confidence and fluency, even Rae was shocked, ‘Where did he acquire all this evidence?’ She thought. However, he indeed did gathered the evidence such as the camera videos for both NY Villa and Green Villa Area, even the part where the video was lost within that 5 minutes was found by the technician in such a short period of time, Rae had no choice but to admit her partner’s work efficiency in certain times which was outstanding indeed!

Raphael slightly looked down, his expression was still full of honesty, he did not seem worried at all, Rae had no choice but to remain suspicious.

With full confidence Marcel said again, “Buick car drove to your company there is a video proof for that, someone even saw your father took a ride in a BENTLEY to Green Villa Area around 12am. There were three person in the car, your assistant Edward, your father Mathew and you Mr.Gill! The person that you are protecting is your father Mathew! ”

At this point, Rae noticed that Raphael’s long eyebrows started to frown slightly, nearly unnoticeable,

however when she stared at him she could see small changes on his face!

Mathew?

Mathew’s impression to her was he was a strict,elegant yet handsome old man, despite being in his 60’s, he was still energetic without looking old at all, he often showed up in the TV screen as one of the most powerful man of city B, he was even the model of a successful businessman!

If Raphael was defending someone, and that someone was his father, everything makes sense!

He would only defend till the end if that someone was his beloved person.

Rae suddenly felt sorry for him, he chose to remain in silence even though he was currently being suspected, ‘Which means that his father might be the suspect?’ She thought.

Raphael did not say anything.

Lawyer King spoke again, “Captain Hopkins, fabricating the truth and accusing others intentionally is a serious issue that can be regarded as a libel, further investigations would be carried out.”

Instead, Marcel laughed confidently and said. “I’m sorry Lawyer King but we do have proof!”

Lawyer King’s face darkened, he wanted to say something but words did not come out.

Meanwhile Raphael said, “Captain Hopkins, it seems like my suspicion has been cleared right?”

Marcel nodded and said, “However you could still be found guilty for covering up the details!”

Instead, Raphael replied, “My father can be regarded as a successful man in city B, how would he know such an insignificant person like Joanna? ”

Marcel replied, “Mr. Gill is also a successful person in city B, however but you also knew Joanna, we have no idea how the old master came to know Joanna, but he did stop by Joanna’s house did he?”

Ralph smiled and said, “Based on Captain Hopkins so-called evidence, within that few minutes there might be more than one person leaving Joanna’s home isn’t it?”

“Does that mean that you admit that your father did stop by Joanna’s house last night?” Marcel was making use of every advantage he could get from their conversation.

Raphael had no choice but to admit Marcel’s keenness and talent in speaking, he then mocked and said, “Captain Hopkins ability to seize the opportunity is impressive indeed.”

Until now Rae already understood, Raphael was protecting someone indeed and that someone might be Ralph's father. ‘What about the suspect? Would he be the murderer? Or was there someone else at the scene?’ She thought.

“Is Mr. Gill admitting indirectly?” Marcel asked back.

Raphael shook his head and said, “No, I don’t know anything! Just like what officer Hopkins said, except me! Plus you already have evidence for my alibi, so this has nothing to do with me, right?”

Marcel did not nod or shake his head after hearing what Raphael said, he only slightly smiled and said, “Rae and I are hoping that you could cooperate with us as a witness!”

Raphael shook his head. “I have the right to not cooperate, do I?” He said.

Marcel stopped for a while and nodded, “Yes! You have the right to do so! But you can still be found guilty sometimes for not cooperating!”

Raphael looked at Rae, she wanted to say something but she chose to hold it back.

All of a sudden Raphael gave a gentle smile and said, “So just wait for the statement then, I still have some other business to take care of, can you leave now?”

He stood up as he said so.

The evidence that Marcel acquired half way managed to prove Raphael’s absence at the scene, the time gap for Joanna’s death did not match with the time when Raphael left, so he was not the murderer. What about Mathew? He may still possibly be the murderer! This might just sound like an assumption, but it still didn't fully prove that Mathew wasn’t there or he didn’t kill someone!

Marcel knew that nothing he said would make Raphael change his mind to cooperate with them, at that moment he was feeling confident instead, he was just waiting for the time to pass and new evidences, there were still some details in the case, he got a rough idea of the situation through his interpretations and assumptions.

For now he can only let Raphael leave.

“Alright you are free to leave,” Marcel said.

Raphael took a look at Rae but she still held back from saying something.

Raphael nodded at them, opened the door and left, till now his actions were still noble, his figure was tall, straight and handsome, even looking at the back, it was like a beautiful painting.

Rae felt reluctant to let Raphael leave, she still had a few questions for him!

She turned to Marcel and said, “Captain Hopkins, I’ll be right back!”

Immediately she ran after Raphael after saying so without bringing along her record book!

Marcel slightly frowned and watched as she ran away, he then tidied up the records and took them away by himself.

It only took a few steps for Rae to keep up with Raphael who was already outside the office building, the driver was already holding the door open at the entrance awaiting Raphael's arrival.

Just when Raphael was about to hop into the car, Rae yelled, “Wait a minute, Raphael!”

Raphael stopped his action and tilted to look at Rae, he then said something to Lawyer King, Lawyer King entered the car and shut the car door, the car moved for about 20 metres and came to a halt.

Rae ran over and stood in front of Raphael, gasping for air.

Raphael gave Rae a gentle look and waited for her to question him.

Rae didn’t know how to start, upon all words she finally chose to ask him directly, “Raphael, was it really the old master?”

Raphael shook his head.

Rae felt disappointed.

“I don’t know!” Raphael whispered, “Rae, he was indeed at the scene, however I didn’t see what happened to Joanna, I don’t even know how she died! So, I don’t know whether it’s my dad or not!” This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

Rae quickly rose to look at Raphael, she didn’t expect him to tell her the truth that easily. His unexpected honesty took her by surprise.

There was confusion in her eyes when she looked at him, he was also looking at her, none of them said anything but they knew each other’s mind.