Flavian’s POV
We arrived at the location Jefferson had pointed out. It was a small farm on the outskirts of the city. The nearest house was about two hundred meters away, but on the side, there was a narrow dirt road that led to the highway - probably the path the young man took when returning from college, which was how he noticed the activity.
After parking at a distance, we could still see Calvin entering the house. We quickly surrounded the entire place, and it took less than five minutes from parking to having the thugs subdued. Then we entered the house. The door was unlocked; I pushed it open and saw Calvin and Rita standing in the living room.
"What did you do, Rita?" He was yelling at her just as we opened the door.
"Both of you, hands up, walk slowly to the wall," I called out loudly.
"What kind of circus is this? Who are you people?" Calvin asked, and while he was focused on me, two officers came from behind and subdued him and Rita, who flashed a cold smile.
"Police, you idiot!" I answered as I approached.
With Rita and Calvin subdued, we searched the entire house. There was no sign of Manu, but I was certain she had been there, as there were food wrappers, an unmade bed, and signs of occupation in a house that seemed to have been uninhabited for a long time. I returned to the living room in desperation.
"Where is she?" I grabbed Calvin by his shirt collar.
"Easy there, young man! I have no idea what you're talking about." He had an ironic little smile on his face.
"Of course you do!" I was furious.
"No, I don't. Now let me go. You have no idea who you're dealing with. I'm going to report all of you for this farce." Calvin was calm, too calm.
"I'm not playing games. Where is Manuela?" I asked without loosening my grip.
"You must be the boyfriend," he stated, challenging me. "Look, young man, I don't know about Manuela. I was here precisely to ask Rita when my fiancée is coming back home."
"Your fiancée my ass!" I lost it and punched him in the face, and he fell onto the couch laughing.
"Quite the hothead!" He rubbed his chin and adjusted himself on the couch. "Go ahead, search, look all over the property and see if you find any trace of her. You won't find anything! So, this circus here is nothing but abuse of authority. I suggest you leave my property before I report you all."
At that moment, Breno appeared at the entrance and signaled to me. Something was happening outside. I looked at those two in front of me and regretted not being able to arrest them.
"Let's go, gentlemen, she's not here. But I'll be keeping an eye on both of you." I called the officers and left the house.
I spotted a police car outside that wasn't part of our convoy and saw the detective who was supporting us talking to another man. Breno came up beside me.
"You should have notified me, colleague. You're in my city," the man complained.
"Ah, Flavian, this is Detective Roger. He's the city's detective and he's upset because we didn't reach out to him," the other detective informed me.
"But we didn't have to contact him, Albert!" I replied to the detective accompanying me without taking my eyes off the other one.
"That's what I said."
"But it's basic courtesy, you're in my territory," Detective Roger complained.
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