The next day when Harley opened the television, Tessa's father held a conference at the hospital with the law enforcement answering questions. A conference room with a podium was placed in front of the reporters, and Franklin Dunst sat there with the doctor and a local chief of police. Other police officers and a couple of the FBI agents were on the background standing silent and looking grim.
He turned on the volume and sat back to listen to the press conference.
“I’m happy and relieved my daughter is alive.” Tessa’s father said. “This has been a horrible ordeal.” His clothes were crumpled, his hair a mess as if he had pulled his fingers through it several times before entering the press conference. He had bags under his eyes, and his face was pale and tired looking.
The reporters shot questions rapidly asking next about the abduction and if the criminal had been caught.
When the chief of police hesitated and glanced behind him, one of the federal agents in a dark suit stepped forward and answered, “No, we don’t know where the abductor is.” And: “Yes, there are several leads.”
“No, we can’t reveal his identity or any other details of the kidnapping.”
“Tessa is recovering. We will do our best to make her feel safe,” Tessa’s father added. His voice break when he answered, “Yes, it is true that her feet were mutilated.” He choked and hid his face in his hands.
Everyone knew his thoughts: If I had given him the ransom without the color⁓
“No, we can’t reveal any details,” the FBI agents replied with a stern face.
The media fired questions one after another like busy bees buzzing around the conference room, but Tessa’s father or the FBI did not give out any details of the abduction. Their general reply was, “The investigation is ongoing. We’ll have several leads to follow, and we’ll capture the culprit eventually.”
“Sure, several leads. Like what?” Harley snorted and muttered. “I bet you don’t have any leads.”