Page 51 of All He Sees
She needed a minute to organize her thoughts. She stepped back into the interrogation room and closed the door behind her. Charles looked up at her, aghast.
"No drink!"
"Shut the hell up, Medina," Nicky said as she sat down. She really was getting sick of his shit. She didn't believe he was innocent. His dead wife looked like the victims. He had a boat that went near the docks where Mira was taken. He knew George Fischer; he'd paid to use the Onlooker before.
Everything pointed to him.
So where were those damn girls?
Nicky grabbed a file and opened it up, pulling out a picture of each missing girl. Clara. Erica. Mira.
All their names ended with A, too. So did his wife, Francesca's.
Nicky slid the photos across to Charles. "Do you recognize these girls, Charles?" she asked through gritted teeth. "Do they look familiar to you?"
He frowned, sliding the photos toward himself. "Oh, my..." A wistful smile crossed his lips. "This one here, in the middle. Ah, she looks just like my Francesca did when she was a young girl."
Nicky paused, glancing at Ken. He wasn't denying it?
"They all do, in a way," said Charles. "My Francesca was a swimmer. She had a swimmer's body."
"Charles," Nicky said. "We believe you've been taking these girls because they look like your late wife."
But Charles just laughed. "Ms. Lyons, was it? Honey, I am telling you. I have never seen these girls. I have not taken anyone. And I know that you can't keep me here forever when you have nothing on me."
"You seem awfully calm," said Ken.
Charles shrugged again. "That's just how I am. I tend to take things as they come. And I tell you, it will be a waste of time to keep me here. I can't help you."
Nicky sighed. Maybe Charles really didn't know. Maybe no one did.
"How did your wife die?" she asked.
Charles gave her a hard look. "What kind of question is that?"
"Did she drown?"
His eyes flickered with something he couldn't hide. Sadness. "No. She died in an accident."
"Did you kill her?"
"No!"
"Did you love her?"
"I--"
"Did she love you?" Nicky asked.
Charles frowned. "Yes. Of course. We were madly in love."
"Is that why you took the girls? Because you loved her?"
"No! I loved Fran, I would never have hurt her!"
"That's not how it seems," Nicky said. Was he being honest with her? His eyes were that of a desperate man now. He was finally taking this seriously. "What would Francesca Medina say if she saw you now?" Nicky pressed on.
"She would tell me that I've lost my way," he said, lowering his head. "Oh, Francesca... I was so lost without her. And Chad did... not take it well."
