The Birthday Party: A totally nail-biting and addictive crime thriller packed with jaw-dropping twists by Wendy Dranfield

Author:Wendy Dranfield [Dranfield, Wendy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781800199873
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2022-01-06T16:00:00+00:00

Thirty-Three

Chase sits at the table opposite Mitch Hamilton in the windowless interview room. With no breeze and no comforts, it’s a room designed to make people want to talk fast in exchange for getting out. Detective Brown is next door, watching through the camera that’s positioned high in the corner. He’s listening for anything Chase might miss and he’ll provide a second opinion of the guy’s behavior.

“You sure you don’t want a drink?” Chase asks. “Not even water?” He could do without this guy passing out from thirst. It’s just gone 7 p.m. on what has been the warmest day this summer yet, and with no A/C in here, the room feels oppressive.

Mitch shakes his head. “Let’s just get this over with.” He looks downcast. There’s no bravado or claims of innocence. Instead, he looks disappointed in himself. Is that because he hasn’t been clever enough?

Chase has done a criminal background check on both his names: Mitch Hamilton and Mitch Bowers. There are no convictions and just one arrest—stealing from a grocery store as a teenager—but the charge was dropped. “Just confirm what you said on the way here: that you’re happy to talk without your attorney present, and that you understand you can have an attorney present at any point.”

“I understand that I’ve waived my rights for now. I want to hear why you’ve brought me in before I decide whether I need my lawyer.”

Chase nods, then sips his own water before saying, “You told me and your wife that you had been working all day on Saturday, and that’s why you couldn’t collect your daughter from the birthday party.”

Mitch doesn’t look up. He must know what’s coming.

“So why don’t you tell me exactly where you were all day, because I know you didn’t visit the contractors you mentioned. Despite your attempts at convincing the foreman to vouch for you, he did the right thing and told us he didn’t see you at all that day.”

Now he has the guy’s attention. Mitch shakes his head. “This isn’t something I really want to discuss with you.”

Chase laughs, incredulous. “Well, this may come as a shock to you, Mr. Hamilton, but suspects in a child’s abduction don’t get to pick and choose who they talk to.”

In a surprising display of anger, Mitch bangs his fist on the table. “I was not involved in my daughter’s disappearance!”

He’s obviously rattled, which is exactly how Chase wants him.

As he leans back in his seat, Mitch’s demeanor changes again. “You dated my wife, didn’t you? She said she knew you from high school, but I can tell by the way you look at each other that there was more to it than that. Is that why you’ve brought me in here? Some stupid high-school crush keeps you up at night, and now you’ve decided to frame me for this?”

Chase feels his hands clenching. He doesn’t anger easily, but this guy has hit a raw nerve. “You’re the one being questioned here, not me.”

Mitch is persistent.

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