Building a Business Empire with my Technological System

Chapter 173: The Detectives

Juliet opened the door to find two police officers standing in the hallway. The taller of the two, a stern-looking man with a closely cropped beard, stepped forward first. His badge shone under the penthouse's soft lighting, and his dark blue uniform was meticulously neat, signaling a formality and seriousness to the situation.

"Good evening, ma'am," he began, his voice firm but polite. "I'm Detective Sandoval, and this is my partner, Detective Abarra. We're here to speak with Mr. Reyes regarding the incident that occurred earlier today. Is he available to talk?"

Juliet nodded, stepping aside to allow them entry. "Yes, he's expecting you. Please, come in."

Detective Abarra, who had remained silent until then, offered a brief nod as she entered. She was slightly shorter, with sharp, observant eyes that quickly scanned the luxurious interior of the penthouse.

"Thank you for letting us in," Detective Abarra added, as they followed Juliet into the spacious living room where Michael was seated. Despite his efforts to appear composed, the tension in his posture was evident.

Michael stood as the officers approached, extending a hand in greeting despite his discomfort.

"Detectives, thank you for coming. I understand you might have more questions about what happened today."

Detective Sandoval shook Michael's hand, his grip firm. "Yes, Mr. Reyes, we're here to gather a bit more information to help us with our investigation. We appreciate your cooperation in this matter."

"Yeah…I was hoping that you'd come sooner," Michael said. "The police are quite speculative you know, they could tarnish my reputation by making up things that aren't proven yet."

Detective Abarra took out a notepad, ready to jot down notes. "We understand your concerns, Mr. Reyes, and we're here to gather facts to build an accurate picture of what happened. Your cooperation can help us achieve that."

Michael nodded, visibly trying to relax. He motioned for them to sit as he returned to his seat, maintaining a posture that minimized the discomfort from his shoulder.

"Let's get to it then," he said, focusing on the detectives with a clear intent to provide whatever information necessary.

Detective Sandoval sat down, his expression remaining neutral yet attentive. "Can you describe in detail the events leading up to the incident? And anything unusual you might have noticed during the event itself?"

Michael recounted the sequence of events, from his arrival at the Peninsula Hotel to the moment he was shot. He detailed his interactions, the layout of the event, and his movements as best as he could remember, but omitted the details on how he located the sniper.

"I didn't notice anyone suspicious at the time, but it was a busy event. I guess it wouldn't have been too hard for someone with bad intentions to blend in."

Detective Abarra scribbled down everything, occasionally looking up to ask for clarification on certain points.

"Was there anyone at the event who seemed out of place to you? Or any recent threats you've received that might be related?"

Michael thought for a moment, his brow furrowing. "No specific threats recently, but you know how competitive industries can get. I can't think of anyone specific who would go this far, though."

"Were you in any dispute with other companies recently that we should be aware of?" Detective Abarra pressed further.

Michael paused, considering how much to disclose. "Well, the nature of our business is quite disruptive, and it has ruffled some feathers within the industry. We've been pushing boundaries, especially with our latest tech advancements. There have been some heated discussions and disagreements, but nothing that I would expect to escalate to violence."

Detective Sandoval noted this, his eyes narrowing slightly. "These disagreements—could any of them have motivated someone to harm you?"

"It's possible," Michael admitted, "but I'd like to believe that our competitors would settle their grievances in the boardroom, not through violence."

Detective Abarra jotted down another note before looking up again. "Do you have any security footage or witnesses who could give us more context about the incident or anyone who might have had access to your itinerary?"

"We do have security cameras at the event, and all footage, well, I think you should talk to the management of the Peninsula. As for my itinerary, it's usually only known to my inner circle and a few key members of my administrative staff."

"I'm one of the administrative staff and the highest one of it," Juliet chimed in. "If you are doubting anything or have any questions for me, I'm here to provide any details you need."

Detective Abarra turned her attention towards Juliet, nodding appreciatively. "Thank you, Miss...?"

"Juliet Schmidt," Juliet filled in smoothly, maintaining her composure under the detectives' scrutinizing gaze.

We appreciate your willingness to assist," Detective Sandoval said. "Could you please tell us about your role and what your duties entail, particularly in relation to Mr. Reyes's schedule and security arrangements?"

Juliet positioned herself more centrally, prepared to give a full account. "As Michael Reyes's Chief of Staff, I manage Mr. Reyes's schedule and coordinate closely with our security team to ensure his safety at all events and meetings. I'm involved in planning and confirming all of his appointments and am typically one of the few who know his exact movements."

Detective Abarra took notes as Juliet spoke. "Was there anyone from the inside who might have had a reason to compromise Mr. Reyes's security or benefit from such an incident?"

"That's a serious accusation," Juliet replied carefully. "We trust our team, and everyone has been with us for a long time. However, given the circumstances, I understand why you have to explore every possibility. I can assure you, though, from my knowledge and what I've observed, everyone in our team has been loyal and professional."

"Thank you, Ms. Schmidt, that's helpful," Detective Sandoval acknowledged. "We may need to follow up with you and other members of the staff later for more detailed interviews."

"Of course," Juliet agreed. "Anything to help. We're also interested in ensuring such an incident never happens again."

The detectives made some final notes before standing up to leave. "We'll be in touch if we need more information. Thank you both for your cooperation tonight," Detective Abarra said, extending her hand to Juliet, who shook it firmly.

After the detectives left, Juliet turned to Michael, who had been listening intently.

"I'll make sure the staff are prepared for any further inquiries."

"Okay, do your thing," Michael said. "I want to get some rest, and then fight another day."