not struck him as a particular person. Also, during the fight, Daniel had not taken much time to admire his looks. It helped that all the faces of all the sailors had been sketched on their ‘personnel file’. After wading through papers for about an hour, Mr. Confrey held one sheet of paper in his hand.
“This is, or rather was Daro Jinkel. He joined the company eight years ago and left two years ago. The captains of the Tzuy Two and Tzuy Five that Jinkel has worked on both complained about his lack of respect towards them and the other crew,” Mr. Confrey read out loud.
Daniel read the page also. There was no denying it: the man who had attacked him was no employee of Huajo’s firm anymore. Mr. Confrey could not have tampered with this paper, he was certain, as the other papers all were made the same way.
Mr. Confrey got his papers together, put them in the bag and bid them a good day.
“Seigner Dogom ko Tzuy,” Daniel said as they were alone again. “Thank you for your patience. There is one more thing I have to ask you.”
“Please ask, Mr. Zacharias.”
“Where is Rayko Dandra ko Galem?”
Huajo looked surprised. “Wasn’t it your job to find that out? Why do you ask me?”
“I have done some investigating, Seigner. And I have a strong reason to believe you are involved in her disappearing. I have found evidence that she was held prisoner in one of the sheds behind your warehouses.”
Huajo grew pale. “What do you say, sir? I am not sure what sheds you mean, but… this is a serious allegation.”
“Kidnapping, sir, is a serious crime,” Daniel retorted. “As is having crates with what could be drugs in the same sheds.”
“I agree. And I want this all resolved as much as you do, Mr. Zacharias. Would you please show me these sheds?”
An hour later, Daniel and Huajo were at the sheds. Huajo himself had called for two policemen and a few of his own people. One of the men was opening the lock on the second shed. Huajo looked at Daniel, wonder on his face, but holding back the evident question.
The inside of the shed had not been touched. Whoever it was that had kept Rayko there, had not seen the need to do anything about it. The policemen agreed that the substances and pills on the floor looked suspiciously like drugs. As Daniel pointed out the sack, with the imprint of a body still on it, the two police officers got to work and discovered a few ropes that had blood on them as well.
Things were not looking well. Huajo claimed he knew nothing of this all. Daniel watched the man from a bit of a distance and somehow he concluded for himself that Huajo was indeed innocent of what had been going on here.
“It is clear that someone has been held here, against their will,” one of the officers said. “It is not possible to tell who, of course.”
Daniel thought of the evidence he had in his apartment and considered bringing that up, but for some reason he did not fully understand he held it back, knowing he would be obstructing the proceedings. He could do that afterwards. First he needed these things for something else.
The next step was an overwhelming amount of paperwork that had to be dealt with at the police station. Daniel almost felt sorry for bringing up the whole thing. Now he was suffering this as much as Huajo was. Most difficult was the part where he had to invent something when the police officer asked him how he had found out about the shed.
Finally they were free to leave again. Once outside the police station, Huajo turned to Daniel. “Mr. Zacharias… at first your visit appeared very aggressive and hostile. But I must say that I am now very grateful that you came to my house and brought this whole affair to my attention. I will alert some of the people who work for me and do a thorough investigation on what may have happened in that shed. I hope, really, that it was not little Rayko who has been kept there. It is not a place for such a fine lady.” The big man shook his head.
“I must admit, Seigner, that this all turned out rather differently than what I had expected. But something good seems to come from it. I hope you do not feel offended by my rude behaviour earlier.” Daniel offered his hand.
Huajo shook it. “Not at all sir. Not anymore, I should say. And if you feel the need to see me, do call again. You know how to reach me.”
Daniel waited until the man and his people had left in the carriage they had summoned. Then he took his hydger and looked for the identification to call Warlem. Suddenly an idea grabbed him and he found the small black triangle. He called it. There was no response. It did not surprise him. He called Warlem, told the young man he had something to show him and they arranged a time to meet.
After a trip home and a quick bite to eat, Daniel called for a carriage to take him to Maliser Park, the same place where the cloaked figure had stunned him. Warlem had asked him for a good place to meet, and this park was the first thing that had come to mind.
Daniel had found a bench that gave him a good overview of the park. He’d come early, to make sure things were ‘normal’. As far as normal would go lately, anyway.
Warlem leisurely strolled through the entrance, looked around and saw Daniel. He walked over and sat down. “Hello, Daniel. I’ve been worried since you contacted me.” He eyed the strange, rough sack that Daniel did not take his hand off.
“I hope I am wrong, Warlem. I really do. Please brace yourself. This is not going to be a pretty sight.” Daniel observed the poetic young man, whose pale face seemed to become even whiter.
“Let’s get this behind us, my friend,” Warlem said. He got hold of the bench and kept holding it as if he could fall off at any moment.
Daniel nodded and reached into the bag. “I am going to show you a shoe, Warlem. Maybe you know it. Maybe not. Just so you know.”
Warlem nodded and watched Daniel pull something from the sack. As he saw the shoe, his eyes almost popped out of his head. “Oh no…” Immediately sweat appeared on the man’s brow, which told Daniel enough.
“It’s one of Rayko’s, right?”
Warlem nodded. “Is she…” He could not finish his question.
“This is just her shoe, Warlem. I don’t know how she is. Or where. As far as I know, she is still alive. I have another thing here. Maybe you recognise that also.” He pulled the bloody rag from the sack.
“What’s that?” Warlem asked. “I’ve never seen that before, Daniel.” He stared for a moment. “What is that reddish colour?” Awareness seemed to kick in right after asking it. “It’s blood, isn’t it?”
“Yes. It is blood.” Daniel put the rag away again. It was obvious that this was too much for Warlem, who was already depositing his lunch next to his shoes.
“I do apologise, Daniel,” said Warlem as he was able to speak again. He tossed his now thoroughly soiled handkerchief in a basket next to the bench. “I was not prepared for this.”
“I understand, Warlem.” Daniel was certain that there was no way Warlem could have been prepared for this. The man just had no stomach for such things.
46. When things blow up
Daniel tried to assure Warlem that the blood on the rag did not mean it was his sister’s.
“But you did find it with her shoe, Daniel. How could it not be hers?”
It was hard to find a reason against that. “Maybe she bit and scratched the person that took her.”
“She doesn’t do things like that. I think.” Warlem’s confidence was faltering slightly. The amount of blood was considerable.
“She plays that semi-violent ball-game also,” Daniel reminded him.
“True. She does. I tend not to think of that,” said Warlem. “So you think there is a good chance that she is still alive?”
“I am positive,” Daniel said. “I think someone took her to ask for a ransom. And they are keeping her to scare the family.” He put his hand on the shoulder of the man next to him. “If there is any word from someone on Rayko, I
