Marine Snow's
Ep. 03: The Next Step
They looked at me cautiously. I didn't pay much attention to what they were muttering a few minutes ago. But as long as I worked here, the two of them never discussed anything other than me. Yes, that's the only topic that can bring them together. Not infrequently, they argued fiercely in front of me. And I don't like it.
“Say, Aiden. What case will we handle this time?” dominic asked as he dragged his chair closer to my desk.
I snorted loudly. Still feeling angry about the pizza he didn't share, so I got out of the apartment for an extra dinner. Since that night, four days ago, I've been ignoring her a lot. Especially when Dominic starts discussing dinner. I don't want to share food with him anymore.
I immediately got rid of the tragic dinner that ended in a rumbling stomach, then focused on the wide-open red map on my desk. “Advanced Case Danielle Lincoln. Detective Harold sent it to me this morning. He sent someone to Memphis yesterday and got a surprise. She asked me if I also found this fact.”
Natalie seems to be interested. The woman snuggled herself to her desk. “What facts does Detective Harold know, Mr Johnson?”
“Organization,” answer. While repeating the paragraph about the description of a pickpocket named Harry Dixon in the brain, I looked at my two colleagues in turn. “Memphis has an organization that houses criminals. Harry Dixon, the pickpocket, did not dare to say the name of the organization even though Detective Harold's man had lured in some money.”
“Great organization?” ask Dominic.
I shrugged my shoulders. “Until now, we've only investigated Danielle Lincoln's money-lending efforts. I think there's something we can take from there. Are Danielle's account records still in your files, Miss Carter?”
“I'll look for a copy,” Natalie said, then pass and disappear behind a large closet containing archival copies of cases we handled.
“I think Danielle is also involved in that organization,” Dominic said suddenly. He did not look at me anymore, but instead turned towards the curtained window that was behind me. “Do you remember if his efforts ever dimmed in 2010? But Danielle has survived this year. There must be an injection of funds from outside.”
“That organization that supplied funds to Danielle Lincoln until finally she was able to rise and become independent half this year,”.
Dominic nodded. He leaned against the back of his chair as he stared at Natalie's ruffled file cabinet. “True. We better assume that.”
I'm not arguing. Such an assumption did occur to me when I read the file that Detective Harold had sent. If the criminal organization is involved in it, this problem will be even more complicated. I can't guarantee everything will be resolved in one hit.
Especially if the organization really protects a lot of criminals like Harry Dixon said. That means we're going to face all of Memphis's criminals, and it could be that the entire Tennessee ─Fact revealed that Memphis has a high figure in the criminal field. It sounds like this news ─if proven-will be a headline that will suck the attention of all Tennessee citizens. Even the United States.
“This is Danielle Lincoln's account record. Sorry, the file was tucked away in the archive last year,”, Natalie said as she placed a piece of paper on my desk. He then came back saying. “Will Danielle Lincoln be charged with another charge? I mean, charges for cooperating with a crime organization.”
Neither Dominic nor I answered Natalie's question. I was busy sorting out Danielle Lincoln's account, and Dominic was staring at me without blinking. He often does it if I'm seriously working on something. This is one of the evidence underlying Natalie Carter's statement about our alleged relationship.
I stopped at the eleventh page of the file. Quickly, my eyeballs combed through the early to late months of 2010. And only found some suspicious transactions. The first and second transactions are made in mid-October, two days apart, from different senders. The amount of money transferred into Danielle Lincoln's account amounts to 50 million dollars each.
I showed my invention to Dominic and Natalie. “50 million dollars in mid-October. What do you think?”
“A very large number!” peekit Natalie's. I think he was imagining money piling up in front of him.
Dominic did the opposite. He was silent for a few seconds while closing his eyes. Then, the man muttered. “Son Danielle Lincoln had an accident on April 20 and was pronounced dead three days later. It made him shock and stopped business temporarily.”
Until mid-October.
Danielle Lincoln's dozing account woke up after that initial transaction. Money entry is recorded as much as 4 times with a total amount of less than 100 million dollars to 4 different accounts. At the end of 2010, it was also noted that 4 accounts had deposited a sum of money plus interest. I can tell from the amount of money that Danielle transferred to those account numbers.
With all four loans paid off, Danielle Lincoln was able to pay off her 100 million dollar debt. That's why, on December 31, 2010, 100 million dollars went out of his account to that supplier's account. In other words, the owner of the account did not collect interest. And to me, this reality is very strange.
“Nona Carter, check who the account number owner who deposited 100 million dollars into Danielle Lincoln's account,” my orders were responded to with a slow nod of Natalie's. I turned to Dominic. “You know what you have to do, don't you?”
“Sure. Cooperate with Detective Harold,” Dominic replied.
I'm shaking. He was wrong this time. “Memphis. I need you to call the Memphis Police to ask about the alleged existence of a criminal organization there. And I'll see Detective Harold.” myself
“Why didn't you contact Memphis Police?”
Suddenly, I snorted loudly. He should have known, I don't want any more contact with Memphis. Everything about Memphis is an enemy to me. I have limited myself. After Danielle Lincoln's trial yesterday, there will be no more Memphis around. And I think I should make another exception.
“Go, and call them,” I said as I stared intently at Dominic. “I'm not in the mood to argue with you.”
Dominic stood up from his chair, snorted like me, and folded his arms around his chest. “Memphis is our past, Aiden. You must learn to accept it to step into the future.”
“Only you have a future in Memphis!” I wouldn't have realized that my screams were loud enough, if Natalie hadn't turned her head quickly towards me. But I don't care. Dominic started it.
“The girl you love and your family are there! Don't you think I don't know if Mrs Miller sends you tens of thousands of dollars every month in cash! Then there are Christmas and chocolate gifts on Valentine's Day from the girl who lives there! Only you have a future in Memphis! Just you, Dominic Miller!”
My weakness. Dominic always had a way of reminding me of Memphis and all the bad memories there. And without being able to prevent it, I often screamed and scolded her. I'm not outrageous. Dominic is the one who behaves that way.
“Good, it's up to you,” he said calmly. There is no emotion in it. Dominic often responds to my screams in a nonchalant manner. But I knew he was tempering his own emotions and trying not to get hooked on my rude remarks.
Natalie and I looked at Dominic who was walking to his desk, picking up his black backpack, and then stepping towards the door. Before he decided to leave, he turned around. Alternately, the man wearing the dark green shirt looked at us.
“Memphis is our home, Aiden. You won't be able to change it. And someday, I'm sure you'll be back,” Dominic said.
I'm petrifying. That sentence I've heard before. It's like Deja vu. There is no addition or subtraction in the parts. Even spoken with the same expression, emotion, and situation. But the one who says it is much different.
That sentence belongs to Victoria Black, my step-sister.
