Emily entered the interrogation room with a mix of determination and weariness. It had been a long day filled with dead ends, but she wasn't going to let this case slip through her fingers. The suspect—middle-aged, scruffy beard, and wearing a tired expression—sat in the chair, his hands cuffed to the table. His eyes were full of a strange cocktail of guilt, defiance, and resignation. He wasn't saying much, just waiting for the inevitable.
Her heels clicked sharply against the floor as she took a seat across from him, sliding the file onto the table. It was a thick stack of papers, filled with reports, autopsy results, and witness statements. The case had dragged on for too long, and it was time to close it.
"So, you're the one who killed Alex,"
Emily said, her voice steady, though there was a slight edge to it. She wasn't sure how she felt about this moment. Alex had been a part of her life for years, and she'd trusted him. The idea that his death was tied to something as petty as a business deal still unsettled her.
The suspect didn't flinch. His eyes dropped to the floor, and he slowly nodded. "I did it," he said, his voice low and hoarse. "I had a business deal with him, and he scammed me. I lost a lot of money. It wasn't supposed to go this far, but… I was provoked. He took me for a fool."
Emily felt a flicker of surprise cross her face. A business deal? A scam? She had been expecting something more personal—jealousy, anger, even revenge. But this? This was about money.
"You killed him over a business deal?" she asked, her disbelief evident in her tone. She couldn't wrap her mind around it. How could someone be driven to murder over a simple betrayal of business interests? Was that what Alex's life had come to? She swallowed her emotions and focused.
The man's eyes shifted, his voice quiet but tinged with regret. "I didn't mean for it to happen like this. But he crossed a line. He took my money, promised me a deal, and then—nothing. I confronted him and the bastard just shrugged me off like I was nothing. I was angry so I decided to pay him a visit. And… well, I just lost it."
Emily's stomach twisted. She'd known Alex for years, worked alongside him, trusted him. He wasn't perfect, but to think someone would kill him over a shady deal? It seemed absurd. But what troubled her even more was the cold, almost indifferent way the man spoke about it. He didn't seem sorry, at least not in the way someone who had truly taken a life would be. There was guilt, sure, but no real remorse.
"Did you think about the consequences before you acted and why would you pay him a visit at my house, how did you even know where he was?" Emily pressed, trying to keep her voice steady.
The suspect shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his eyes flicking around the room. "I didn't think. I just... acted and yes, I stalked him. You should be grateful to me cop. We both know I saved your life that night. God knows what could have been your fate if I hadn't pull that trigger" He gave a shallow shrug, still maintaining his composure.
Emily sat back in her chair, the weight of the case pressing down on her chest. She should be feeling satisfaction that the case was solved—that she'd found the answers she had been looking for—but instead, she felt numb and she knew the murderer had a point.
She had been close to Alex that night, and part of her couldn't help but wonder what might have happened if the suspect hadn't killed him. Alex had been dangerous, yes, but so had the situation. What if she had been the one in his place that night, vulnerable and alone, facing a man like this?
A cold shiver ran down her spine. She had barely escaped that night—and this was the man responsible. But she couldn't focus on that now. Not when there was still a case to close.
"Take him back to his cell," she instructed, standing up abruptly. Her mind was already shifting to the next task. She couldn't afford to linger on this, to think too deeply about the twisted circumstances. She had a job to do. She walked out of the room, and her footsteps echoed in the hallway as she tried to clear her head.
Once in her office, Emily sat behind her desk, the day's events swirling around her. The files were stacked neatly, the case nearly complete, but the sense of finality eluded her. She couldn't shake the disquiet in her chest, the nagging feeling that there was more to this story—more she didn't understand.
"Hey, Liam," she called, her voice flat. She wasn't in the mood for a conversation, but something about the mundane seemed like a necessary distraction. "Can you please get me a snack to cheer me up?"
There was a long pause before Liam responded, his voice laced with sarcasm. "You think I'm your personal errand boy?" He didn't even glance up from the pile of paperwork he was sorting through. "If your boyfriend was still alive, I'm sure he'd be more than happy to cater to your every whim. But since he's not, you're stuck with me, and I don't do snacks."
Emily flinched at the mention of Alex. It was a small comment, but it hit harder than she cared to admit. She hadn't expected the jab to sting so much. She was still grieving, still wrestling with the aftermath of his death, but she didn't want to be reminded of it, not in this moment.
"If my boyfriend was alive, I wouldn't be asking you for something as small as this," she said, her tone cool but betraying a hint of vulnerability.
Liam glanced up from his papers, his expression unreadable. There was no sympathy, no understanding. Just the same biting sarcasm that he always wore like armor. "Oh, spare me the drama. You're not exactly in a position to be making demands, considering you're still reeling from your boyfriend's death. Maybe you should focus on getting your life together instead of relying on others to coddle you."
Emily felt the burn of his words, though she fought to keep her composure. The last thing she needed was to lose control in front of him. She was used to his sharp tongue, but it didn't make it any easier to hear. She didn't know if he was trying to push her, test her, or just be his usual insufferable self. But it didn't matter. Not right now.
She stood up abruptly. "I'll get something myself," she muttered, leaving the office to escape the tension. She needed a moment, needed to breathe. The case, Liam's words—everything was closing in on her, and she needed space.
When she returned, she was surprised to find a small, fancy nylon bag sitting on her desk. Her curiosity piqued, she opened it slowly, wondering if it was some kind of mistake. Inside, she found a selection of snacks—chips, chocolate bars, and even some fruit.
Her eyes softened. It wasn't much, but it was unexpected. She didn't know if Liam had left it there, or if it was someone else. But at that moment, it didn't matter. She reached for a chocolate bar, peeling it open and taking a small bite. She chewed slowly, savoring the sweetness, feeling the tension in her shoulders begin to release.
When Liam came back into the office, his eyes immediately went to the bag on her desk. His face didn't betray any emotion, but Emily was sure he'd noticed. She decided to tease him a little.
"Thanks for the snacks," she said with a smirk. "It's not like Alex used to do so much more for me when he was alive."
Liam glanced at her, and for a brief moment, his expression faltered, but only for a second. "Don't get too excited," he said, his tone still sarcastic. "It's just a snack. Don't think it means I'm going soft on you."
Emily chuckled, feeling the warmth of the chocolate spread through her. "You're getting better at staying around me, Liam. Maybe there's hope for you yet."
Liam's face remained stoic, but there was something about the way he nodded—almost imperceptibly—that made Emily feel as though she had crossed some unspoken line. Maybe, just maybe, Liam wasn't as unaffected by her as he liked to pretend.
"I'm just doing my job, Emily. Don't read too much into it," he said, his voice softer than usual.
For the first time in a long while, Emily felt a small flicker of hope. She didn't know what it meant, but in that moment, it was enough to lift her spirits, even if just for a while. The darkness of the case still lingered in her mind, but this—this small kindness—was a reminder that not everything in her life had to be clouded with tension and conflict.
As she sat back in her chair, the snack in her hand, she allowed herself a brief moment of peace. For the first time in days, she didn't feel entirely alone.