Chapter 99 - Suspicions

The car that stopped in front of the house was not familiar to Andrzej, but the man who got out of it was. At least one of them. The face and silhouette of a second, slightly shorter, brunette in a suit he knew, but he didn't know where from. He didn't look like one of the Bambus's boys, but since this one had brought him here, it meant he could be of use.

He had barely opened the door when Bambus burst into the house.

"How long has he been gone?" He asked looking around the living room.

"At least an hour."

"Are you sure he didn't go out alone?"

"Are you kidding?"

"Calm down. I brought a specialist. This is Robert Adamski, police inspector ..."

Andrzej looked more closely at the shorter man with a fierce expression on his face. Adamski, Adamski, hell, he knew that name from somewhere.

"Nice to meet you, Andrzej Nowicki. Thank you for agreeing to help. Have you been introduced to the topic?"

"I only heard about the possibility of kidnapping."

His voice, businesslike and harsh, sounded familiar too.

"Do you know the name Dominik Śliwiński?" Andrzej asked.

"Is this the actor for which the article on police errors and incompetence was published?"

Andrzej gritted his teeth. He didn't like this cop.

"This is his home," he ignored the comment. "When I got home from work an hour ago, the door was open, and the lights were on in the living room and kitchen, but he was nowhere to be found. I checked everywhere. His phone lay under the thigh by the gate as if it had fallen out of his pocket there.

The inspector frowned.

"So this package wasn't a prop?"

"We came up with it on the spot. More specifically, his ex-manager."

"Who sent the package?"

"The name was false," Bambus said, "So was the address. Some kid delivered the package to the courier company. When asked for a description of the person who gave it, he said, 'Some guy.' On this the trail was cut off.

The policeman looked at him as if he was slimy. It was obvious that he had no sympathy for Bambus.

"Letters," he turned to Andrzej.

"There was only one."

"Please."

Nowicki disappeared and after a while he returned with a sheet of paper. He noticed that the policeman was wearing blue nitrile gloves and that he had taken an evidence bag from his pocket. His expression was still sour.

"How many people had it in their hands?"

"Three," said Andrzej. "Me, Dominik and Werner."

"Werner?"

"Maciej Werner, screenwriter and director. They had an appointment when the package arrived. Today too." He frowned. It was a strange coincidence. Very strange.

The policeman apparently thought the same, or so it seemed to Nowicki after the change of expression on his face.

"I talked to him several minutes ago" Andrzej explained. "He was at some bar. He said he left before six."

"We will check" said the inspector, examining the text of the letter and putting it in the bag. "I'd like to take a look around the house."

"Yes of course."

"Were there any threatening calls?"

"No, none."

"Ransom demand?"

"No."

"So how can you be sure that Mr. Śliwiński did not leave the house alone? Maybe he just forgot to turn off the light?"

Andrzej, who accompanied him on his tour, gritted his teeth.

"I just know. Dominik ... had very difficult experiences some time ago. He knows how worried I am about him. He wouldn't leave just like that without leaving me a message. Especially not today, when we were supposed to celebrate the first day of my new job."

"These difficult experiences did not contribute to emotional disturbance?"

"They did," he admitted glumly. "But if you're suggesting that he might have broken down and run away from home, then it's impossible. Impossible," he repeated emphatically. "Besides, Werner said the meeting went off as normal and they agreed a lot. Dominik was doing great when Werner left."

"No sign of a break-in," said the inspector. "Are you locking the house?"

"Yes. And the gate has a code lock."

"Does anyone besides you have access to codes and keys? The cleaner? Security firm? Friend?"

Andrzej thought for a moment.

"No," he said firmly. "Some time ago I asked Dominik about it. I'm the only one he gave the keys to. Although the wicket can not be closed. It does not latch automatically and does not trigger any alarm. Werner might have left it ajar when he left."

"There is still a door. If Śliwiński left this house with the participation of third parties, most likely it was someone he knew or who could gain his trust and to whom he opened it. Anyone you can think of?"

Yes, Marczak, he thought, gritting his teeth. Dominik wanted so much to have this relationship completely behind him that he could let him in to discuss everything. Marczak had a violent temper and despite assurances that he regretted his earlier act, he could do something to Dominik. But he couldn't just tell the policeman that name without arousing his interest as to why he immediately thought about it.

"It could have been someone from his former agency or someone he knew. Dominik is a bit… too trusting. But on the other hand, there's no reason to be afraid of anyone he has had a business dinner with or worked on a movie with. We don't have any visitors, but he would let anyone in so he wouldn't be rude. Even a peddler."

"And do you think of anyone who might want to hurt Mr. Śliwiński?"

"Want to hurt? No…"

Suddenly Andrzej felt sick. After all, Marczak did not want to hurt him, and despite everything, he hit him, knocked him to the ground and tried to ra*e him. After all, almost every crazy fan carries in his mind the belief that only his love can make the object of their feelings happy.

Nowicki sat down heavily. His knees buckled as he realized what a kidnapper might want from Dominik.

"No, not hurt. I am afraid the opposite may be the case."

"The question I am going to ask you may be indelicate, but it is necessary. What about Mr. Śliwiński's love life? Can a lover be female involved, or… a male lover?

Andrzej shook his head.

"Dominik doesn't have a girlfriend and when it comes to his previous relationship ..."

Bambus spun on the heel.

"I'll let the boys know what's going on," he said, and went outside.

"Mr. Nowicki, do you want to find Śliwiński or not?"

"Can I trust you this will stay between us?"

"As far as the investigation will allow."

"I guess… I have no choice. Dominik had a long-term relationship with his manager, Marek Marczak. The parting was turbulent, to say the least. Recently they started to come to an agreement, but ..."

"Do you suspect him?"

"Yes. No. I do not know. Marczak has an explosive temperament, and there are no signs of a struggle ..."

"We'll check this lead. Is there anyone else who, now or in the past, could have an intimate relationship with Śliwiński?"

"Just me…"

He said it! He really said it! He confessed to himself and to someone else, this serious-faced policeman with a stern gaze that seemed to see criminals and crime everywhere. Even Nowicki felt guilty under him. He had the impression that when Adamski looked at someone, no secret was hidden from him.

"Hmm," he muttered. "I didn't think you would turn this way, Mr. Nowicki. Although your morals and sense of honor have always been twisted."

"You know me?" Andrzej felt anxiety. The face and name were familiar to him, but he was unable to anchor them in space and time.

"I have a memory for liars, even if they're just high school bastards."

Adamski! Yeah! He remembered now, although, truth be told, he would rather forget everything completely. So that was that boy, the prosecution witness in the case against Bambus. But he wasn't going to take revenge on that now, was he?

"Relax," the inspector guessed his thoughts. "I am a policeman. A professional. I will do everything in my power to find Śliwiński. After all, part of my job is to protect victims."

***

It was nearly eleven o'clock in the evening when Andrzej made a decision. He took Śliwiński's phone and dialed Marczak's number from memory. The voice on the other end spoke on the third ring.

"Dominik! I'm so glad you're calling ..." Marczak's voice was really overjoyed.

"It's me, Nowicki. We need to talk."

"Why are you calling from Dominik's phone? Where is he?"

"That's what we need to talk about."

"I'm still at the office. Do you know the address?"

"I know."

"I'll tell security to let you in. I am waiting."

Andrzej hung up the phone. He had no idea what to make of Marczak's reaction. He answered cheered, as if he actually expected Dominik to call him. In that case, he was either pretending very well, or he really had nothing to do with Śliwiński's disappearance.