SWNOVELS Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Even though they had their doubts, Karla was convinced. However, she too wondered if the information she had been given had been embellished in any way.
“By the way, Karla, where did you hear the name Rowan?” Una suddenly remembered to ask her.
Karla wasn’t sure how to answer and deftly changed the subject. “Let’s not get into that right now. Based on this info, can you dig up anything else about him?”
“Why not just go straight to this Charles guy and ask?” Una said bluntly, clicking and opening the personal profile on her computer. ‘Look, there’s an address. Since he wrote the article, he’s got to know something.”
Karla leaned in to see the profile picture of Charles–a man in his forties with a kind smile that suggested a good nature. The account’s location was pinned to a villa in the prestigious Eastside Estates, a neighborhood known for its affluent residents.
“Is there a contact number?” Karla inquired.
Una nodded, “I can find it for you if you want.”
“Great, send it to me later. Oh, and has there been any news? It’s been days since the story broke, and no family has come forward?” Karla suddenly remembered to ask, and Una shook her head in reply, “Nothing.”
After a moment of silence, Karla felt a sudden urge to see the skeleton. As soon as Henry noticed she was leaving, he followed.
When the skeleton had been discovered, it was dressed in a suit and overcoat, with a red scarf–clear signs that the incident had happened in winter. The coroner had estimated the height to be around six feet.
Karla tried to recall Rowan’s stature. He must have been about six foot two, quite tall. But for now, it cannot be confirmed that the remains do not belong to him.
After lunch at the police station, Karla decided to pay a visit to Charles‘ residence. However, given the odd nature of the situation, she preferred not to drag Henry along, lest he become privy to the mystery and bombard her with questions when she herself was still trying to make sense of it all.
So, she hailed a cab on her own, as her own car was in the shop after a nasty rear–end collision.
At two in the afternoon, Karla arrived at the grand gates of Eastside Estates and, following the address Una had provided, stood at the doorstep of Charles‘ lavish home.
She rang the doorbell and after a short wait, a middle–aged man matching Charles‘ profile picture emerged, glasses and all, though he didn’t resemble Rowan.
Chapter 9
Karla had initially suspected that this Charles might be Rowan’s son, but records showed Rowan was a bachelor, and she dismissed the thought.
Charles opened the gate and inquired, “May I help you?”
“Hello, I’m Karla, from the police department.” Karla presented her badge, which Charles inspected briefly before inviting her inside.
Following him into the foyer, Karla took a seat as Charles offered to make coffee. She used the opportunity to scan the surroundings.
The villa was magnificent, with a long staircase reaching up to the ceiling, reminiscent of an art gallery, opulent and grand. The polished high–end maple flooring made the entire foyer seem to glow.
In such an expansive mansion, Charles appeared to be the sole occupant. Karla asked, “Mr. Charles, do you live here alone?”
He chuckled, the lines by his eyes deepening. “Yes, but this place isn’t my home. I’m just house–sitting for someone.”
As he handed her a cup of coffee, Karla took a sip before inquiring whether he had heard
about the recent news.
Charles nodded, “I have, but it has nothing to do with me.”
“From your memory, has anyone from your Howell family ever gone missing?” Karla pressed a little further.
Charles took a sip from his cup and then revealed, ‘There is one–his name is Rowan, my cousin. But he disappeared at sea.”
“So you do know Rowan!” Karla exclaimed, thrilled.
“His stage name was Johnson, right? Since you know him, you must also know why all his records were wiped clean?” Karla thought she was close to the truth, but Charles shook his head, indicating ignorance.
“I don’t know much about my cousin’s disappearance. I was just a teenager at the time. However, he did ask me to look after his house before he disappeared,” Charles shared.
Karla was stunned. This place was Rowan’s?