CHAPTER FOUR

As I read over Edward Rodrigues background that Justin had sent to me, the puzzle pieces had started to piece together. Edward Rodrigues had applied for the student Visa 5 months ago, around the same time that Tristen had mentioned earlier today that Grayson and James maternal family started to reach out to them, to build bonds and well of course to join businesses.

 According to the employee records Edward Rodrigues wasn’t on the night shift the night of the kidnapping so he wasn’t called in for questioning. The camera footage I had been going through placed him at the hotel throughout the day and night, I texted Justin and told him about the potential lead as well as my plans for the night.

The design on the bread knife did originate from Brazil according to our research, it does seem like the twins maternal family would have something to do with their kidnapping, maybe Edward Rodriguez was hired by the Oliveira’s but he had to have had help to haul two men out of this hotel? It didn’t make sense for them to kidnap the twins, if they did have an interest in the business why kidnap them, that wouldn’t help them.

Lilly Hudson, maiden name being Oliveira had passed on at the age of 38 alongside her beloved husband Jeremy Hudson in a tragic car crash in 2007. Lilly and Jeremy met in Brazil, when Jeremy had been touring the streets of Brazil during his summer vacation; they fell in love at the age of 20 and had eloped. They haven’t visited Brazil since, so I doubted the twins knew anything about their maternal family.

They were fortunate enough not to go into the system or be taken in by any family unlike me and they did have each other. I went into the system but was fortunate enough to be blessed with a kind middle aged couple who desperately wanted a child. They gave me the best education and had always been supportive. I was one of the very few children who found good homes in the system, I couldn’t remember much of my birth parents but my adoptive ones never left any stone unturned with regards to my health and upbringing.

Tristen Micheal had been more than willing to co-operate as many of his businesses depended on the twin’s safe return or so he says. I slammed my laptop shut and put it into my work bag, going back into my closet to change into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt I pulled my black leather jacket over my shoulders and secured my gun.

 It was time Edward Rodrigues and I had a little chat.

At approximately 9:30pm, I drove into The Vintage. Edward has been working the nightshift this week, I reached over into the backseat of my baby, a BMW E30 352i an absolute beauty and grabbed my work bag. Handing over my keys to the valet and walking over to the front desk.

“Jessica Rush, I’d like a room on the 6^th floor.” I said as I handed my credit card over to the lady who had the fakest smile plastered on her face. “How long will you be our delighted guest for Miss?” she asked as the fake enthusiasm dripped from her words, “I’ll be checking out tomorrow afternoon” I responded curtly before looking up from my phone just in time to see her drop the fake smile and hand me my key card. I pitied her, at least I didn’t have to fake a smile all day in my field.

The minute the elevator dinged signalling that we have reached the 6^th floor, I made a mental list of the three entrances the kidnappers could have used to enter/exit without being spotted on the CCTV cameras. Unfortunately I hadn’t been looking where I was going and bumped into someone or more like their chest, they reached out to steady me by placing their hands on my shoulders.

The second I looked up into a pair of ocean blue eyes, I locked eyes with no one other than Tristen Micheal “Detective Rush? What a surprise!” he said while giving me a charming smile, A very unpleasant surprise in my opinion.

“Mr Micheal” I nodded in greeting. “Please call me Tristen.” He insisted, his hand still on my shoulder. “I have to get going Mr Micheal, please excuse me” I politely walked away and further down the hallway. Talk about unfortunate, men like Tristen weren’t short of women practically falling at his feet, I was familiar with them, I certainly will not be joining those women. As charming as he was if it wasn’t related to the investigation, I refused to entertain him.

 I swiped my key card at the door, another thing the kidnappers would have needed to access the penthouse, a key card. Other than the managers having access the only other people who would have access to the key cards without drawing suspicion to themselves would be the cleaning crew. Which Edward Rodrigues was part off.

Here’s what we know so far, the twins maternal family had been reaching out for “business”, Edward Rodriguez may or may not have been hired by the Oliveira’s to do their dirty work here in the States, I just need to confirm and we have ourselves a solid lead.

I removed my leather jacket as I picked up the hotel phone and dialled reception, “Hello? I’m in suite 602, I spilled red wine on the bed it would be great if you could send someone up immediately” I said in a slightly panicked voice, then I grabbed the bottle of red wine from the mini bar and actually spilt it all over the bed.

Then there was a knock at the door, perfect timing. I secured my gun and looked through the peephole, luck had been on my side tonight because at the other end of the door had been Edward Rodrigues with a pair of fresh sheets. I made sure to take a few sips of the wine and ruffle my blond curls before opening the door with a panicked expression on my face, “Oh thank goodness, I have no idea how it happened. I can be such a klutz at times, please come in” I said while opening the door wider and inviting him into the room.

I closed the door and turned to look at our newest suspect, who was preoccupied with changing the sheets. “Thank you, Edward” I made a show of looking at his name tag while he smiled politely. “I’ve just been so on edged lately, since I watched the news about what had happened here two nights ago. I would have cancelled my trip if it had not been so important you know?” I said sounding rather worried “Yes Madam, I know but don’t fear as we have great security here.” Edward responded with an accent. Was this really the man responsible for the corpse in the twins apartment? Edward looked to be in his early twenties, with a boyish smile.

 “You have an accent, not from here?” I asked feigning curiosity while twirling a blond strand of hair between my fingers “Yes, I’ve recently moved to Seattle from Brazil actually.” for the first time tonight Edward had really looked at me, noticing that I had a look of interest on my face and while I appeared drunk he may have thought it’s a harmless conversation with a clumsy drunk woman so he continued “I did come to further my studies, as it is said that the United States have the best colleges but it happens to be damn expensive as well so I decided to get a job.”

 He is definitely a rookie, Edward wasn’t the only man involved and I would make sure I hear him say so tonight. If he is the main man, he would have known better than to just reveal details of his life to anyone, especially after the job.

“Really? That’s so cool, I mean of course I’m all for education” I responded with an overly enthusiastic voice while ending with a hiccup to add the drunk persona. I took a step towards Edward while biting my lip, smearing my lipstick on my bottom lip just when he finished making up the bed.

I had to get the information out of Edward this way, if he was involved he wouldn’t give out the details easily let alone speak to a cop and as much as I hated it, I pretended to be interested in this man, I put on a fake smile and pushed out my chest more before attacking my prey.

“Please don’t go, I’d really appreciate the company.” I said while giggling, he looked a bit hesitant but then I saw his eyes roaming my face and body, I knew I peeked his interest. So I passed him a glass of wine and pat the space next to me on the bed while putting on the biggest smile I could muster.