The Goddess of Don Pablo
Chapter 43: New Proposals and Findings

"You look beautiful tonight .I'm sorry.my work has busied me to forget you, dear..."

"Our baby's problem.I'm not a bastard like the man out there, my dear Chantel..I will marry you. Just be patient a little.I...", Ferguso said to Chantel while holding the woman's chin. Chantel appeared slightly more graceful than usual. She wore a tight, knee-length dress with a fairly open cleavage, which is different from this woman, she appeared a little more natural in her makeup. Usually he likes the color red flame or maroon for his lip makeup. But this time he chose a much softer nude pink color.

"You haven't forgotten our troubles, have you, Ferguso ? I .. I'm afraid Fernando, my brother will find out about our baby.", said Chantel with a whining face. Despite looking spoiled with that whimper, Chantel still looked sexy with her face. It's not just Fernando that he's afraid of. But Chantel was tired of being Juan's mistress. If it wasn't for the rich old man being his brother's co-worker, he wouldn't have sold himself to that old fucking guy! Juan did spoil her with his luxurious facilities. However, Chantel has no love for the man. For him Juan was just a mistress who had financed his life.

" Yes, dear.I promise I will propose to you.I will meet your brother, Fernando.I will marry you and take you to live with me...", said Ferguso, then kissed the woman's lips, 'Bas on Fernando the fucking asshole! If not my sister-in-law, I would have kicked you out of this world!, Ferguso said in his heart. He hugged Chantel tightly. He loved that girl very much. It was a big deal for him. But Chantel was the only woman he had ever slept with. Even though he was drunk at the time. But he loved that woman. Chantel pulled himself out of the man's arms.

"You promise, dear Ferguso ? I don't want my distended stomach to be more visible.you have to marry me immediately.", Chantel said. Ferguso simply nodded as he stroked the woman's cheek with his hand.

"I promise.I'll marry you soon".", the man answered briefly.

"Now spend it, your food.then I'll drive you home" Ferguso said calmly. They eat food that has been served for a few minutes. Ferguso takes the woman to a pretty fancy restaurant. Restaurant with a classic feel and decorated with piano twangs displayed directly there. Fergus went deeper than usual just for this sumptuous dinner with Chantel. But he doesn't regret it. He knows his position. He's the one who's guilty of this woman. He has to be responsible as a man. Fortunately, he is not a playboy like most men who are his profession. Women's problem, Ferguso is arguably clean of playboy records and stamps. And, most importantly for him, he fell in love and was infatuated with the woman before him.

They spent the pasta and red wine served. As said earlier, Fergusu drove Chantel to his house in a taxi he had booked.

***

Nun's away at a police station...

Ray was holding a memo he thought belonged to Simon. It contains code that he still does not understand. Suddenly his mind struck something. Laptops. Laptop, yeah. Every cop in their division usually has their own work laptop. They tend to use laptops for more flexibility and security reasons because they can be taken anywhere. Instead of a PC that might be seen and borrowed by many people and then rung in his office. Divisions usually deal with data in the form of softcopy to be analyzed and sought correlations with crime and global syndicates that may attract professional actors who can cross the legal area. Reports of field arrests and access to the data of criminals or recidivists who have been arrested and become criminals of the world's interpol also owned by his division team. Due to data security reasons, most of his teammates choose laptops as digital devices in the interest of this work.

Ray finally realized. Stupidly he, why not ask for a working laptop owned by Simon and Jessie. Maybe there's another clue that can solve the mystery of both deaths. Although the police have officially issued the forensic results of the deaths of the two colleagues, inexplicably Ray believes the death of the two is not just an ordinary death. But Ray feels sure the deaths are part of a premeditated murder, which he doesn't yet know what the motive is. Merely, Ray felt confident the deaths of the two were related to the work and tasks they were holding at that time.

Ray walked towards Richard's room. He knocked on the glass door of his superior.

"Come in." said Richard's voice from the inside. He was busy staring at the screen of his laptop.

" Sir..there's something I want to ask..."

"Close the door behind you first" Richard said with a glance at his eyes. He was busy typing in front of his laptop screen.

"Sit down.what do you want to ask?", Richard said unceremoniously in his own raucous, deep voice. It sounded flat this time.

"Umm.sorry to bother you, Sir.but I want to ask you something about Jessie and Simon's laptop. Can I borrow it ? Maybe there's something that helps in the work in our division" Ray said cautiously.

"What do you want to find out about Simon and Jessie's laptop ?" ask Richard. This time he shifted the laptop in front of him, so that he could see Ray's face clearly. Ray looked a little nervous and awkward. But he can control all of that.

"Ma..." Richard looked muttered while thinking. He looked back at Ray's face. Ray was just silently sculpting even though his heart was pounding.

"Well, you can ask the superintendent at the forensics lab for Jessie and Simon's stuff. Those who keep everything included might be his second laptop", Richard replied briefly.

"There's more you want to ask?", Richard asked flatly but sounded emphatic this time.

"Nothing, Sir.", replied Ray, bowing his head as a sign of respect to his superior.

"Then you can get out.and please close the door again" Richard told him. Ray hurried to walk out of the room and closed the door of his superior.

His heart slowly began to slow down. Until finally he felt plong. Like a huge burden slipping from inside his chest. He was not a junior cop, but somehow when he was transferred to Richard's division and asked to replace Jessie, he felt like a huge burden was on his shoulders. Richard is a good boss but he is not a man who is easy to compromise and discuss on the job. He was hard and a little bit sad. Like most of the old-fashioned police of his time.

He is now in a forensic room. At the front was a guard officer watching the room. The forensic room is a big room. Not just what most people imagine. Forensics means the autopsy of a body. Forensics in the police means a room where there are many important data, most of which are digital data with various special software and technologically advanced equipment for the sake of investigation and accuracy of analysis.

"Is there anything you can help, Officer Ray?", said a man looking at the name tag on his police uniform.

"Yes.of course Officer Brent.."reply Ray saw the name tag that was also shown uniformed men in front of him.

"May I ask for Officer Jessie and Simon's laptop.I need it to take some of his second job that might be left there...", ray said when officer Brent gave him a piece of paper the form he had to fill. Forensic evidence request forms are not easy. They have their own procedures. Even though the police are a superior.

" You need all of his laptop ? Or is it just the memory of his disk, Sir ?" asked officer Brent back while holding a pen hand filling out the form Ray had filled out. It ticks the part that should be filled by it.

"Hmm.maybe I need it entirely.I mean in the form of a whole laptop device.", Ray said again.

"Wait a minute.I'll get you what you asked for.", he said again.He ticked the form and put it on the computer in front of him. He went into the storage room. Moments later he returned with two laptop devices that had been given a plastic ziplock with a sticker inscribed with a storage code.

"This.the item you requested.and please return it within 2 weeks.do not be late.", said officer Brent. Ray nodded his head. For Ray, it's like borrowing a book in a big library. All the forensic evidence is kept so neatly with the filing code. Every item or data taken always goes through the procedure and desk of Brent officer. Cannot just any police borrow and use the property in this section. Even this forensic room has a double security system. In addition to passing through the guard room, they used the id card and finger print to enter this room. Until only people who work in it can freely go in and out of this room.

Ray immediately left with two laptops in his arms still in the coded ziplock plastic. He must return it under the same circumstances.

He went back to his desk. His heart was delighted as if he had just found another piece of the puzzle to perfect all forms of analysis and suspicion. But there is one who escapes Ray.he forgets the risk he will bear afterwards, which he may lose everything. The more he knows, the greater the chance of risk he will face. But that's the consequence of a duty and responsibility as a senior police officer. Like it not like it, sooner or later, it will definitely go through this path as well...

***