Chapter 3
The old detective stood silently in the doorway.
Rainwater dripped from the brim of his hat onto the polished floor.
He looked tired.
Older than his years.
But his eyes were sharp.
They had the look of a man who had spent a decade chasing ghosts.
He removed his badge.
"My name is Detective Samuel Grant."
"I investigated Daniel Carter's murder."
Olivia stepped aside.
"Please... come in."
Victor remained frozen.
The moment he saw the detective...
His face turned completely white.
Grant slowly placed a worn leather folder on the coffee table.
"I retired three years ago."
"But I never stopped looking."
He glanced toward Victor.
"Because something about this case never made sense."
Olivia whispered,
"My husband told me Daniel abandoned me."
Grant shook his head.
"No."
"He never had the chance."
The detective opened the folder.
Inside was an enlarged photograph.
Daniel.
Alive.
Smiling.
Captured by a security camera outside a small jewelry store.
Timestamp:
6:42 p.m.
He was holding a small velvet ring box.
Grant smiled sadly.
"He bought the ring that evening."
"He told the cashier..."
'Tonight is the happiest night of my life.'
Olivia covered her mouth.
She broke down sobbing.
Grant turned another page.
A map of the city.
One location circled in red.
The alley where Daniel died.
"The meeting with Victor was scheduled for ten o'clock."
Grant pointed to the report.
"But Daniel was attacked just before eight."
Olivia frowned.
"So..."
"He never even reached the meeting."
Grant nodded.
"Exactly."
Victor suddenly spoke.
"I've told the police that for years."
Grant looked at him.
"I know."
Victor stared back.
"I didn't kill him."
Grant remained calm.
"I never charged you with murder."
Olivia looked confused.
"But..."
"You believed he ordered it."
Grant slowly shook his head.
"No."
"I believed he knew more than he admitted."
The detective reached into his folder again.
This time...
He removed a tiny silver flash drive.
"I found this last month."
"It was hidden inside Daniel's old apartment."
Olivia frowned.
"What is it?"
Grant answered quietly.
"A backup from Daniel's laptop."
Victor looked genuinely confused.
"I've never seen that."
Grant nodded.
"I know."
He connected the drive to the television.
A video file appeared.
Recorded:
Ten years earlier.
Daniel appeared on screen.
He looked nervous.
But excited.
"Hey, Liv."
"If you're watching this..."
"I probably already proposed."
He laughed.
"Or maybe I chickened out."
Olivia smiled through tears.
It was the first time she had seen his face in ten years.
Daniel continued.
"There's something weird happening."
"A man contacted me."
"He says he represents someone who wants me to leave you."
"I almost punched him."
He laughed again.
"But then..."
His smile faded.
"He showed me photographs."
Daniel held up several printed pictures.
Olivia's heart stopped.
They showed her.
Leaving work.
Walking home.
Shopping alone.
Someone had been following her.
Daniel's expression became serious.
"He said..."
'If you refuse the meeting... she gets hurt.'
Olivia gasped.
Victor stood up abruptly.
"What?"
Daniel continued on the screen.
"I'm only going tonight because I want to know who's threatening her."
"If anything happens to me..."
"It wasn't because I stopped loving you."
"It was because someone wanted to use me to reach you."
The video ended.
Silence filled the penthouse.
Olivia could barely breathe.
Daniel hadn't gone for money.
He had gone...
To protect her.
Grant quietly unplugged the flash drive.
"This changes everything."
Olivia slowly turned toward Victor.
"You knew about this?"
Victor looked horrified.
"No."
"I swear to you..."
"I never threatened you."
"I only sent someone to offer him money."
Grant studied Victor carefully.
For the first time...
The detective looked uncertain.
"If you're telling the truth..."
He paused.
"Then someone else attended that meeting."
Olivia frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Grant opened the final page of his investigation notes.
One sentence had been underlined in red ink.
The suspect seen fleeing the alley was approximately 5'9".
He looked directly at Victor.
"You're 6'3"."
Victor stared back.
Grant continued.
"The eyewitness never described a man your height."
Olivia felt her heart race.
For ten years...
She believed there was only one villain.
Now...
A terrifying possibility emerged.
Someone had orchestrated everything.
Someone who knew about Victor's offer.
Someone who wanted Daniel dead.
And someone had successfully convinced everyone...
To blame Victor.
Just then...
Grant's phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed instantly.
"What?"
A long silence.
Then he slowly lowered the phone.
Olivia whispered,
"What happened?"
Grant looked at both of them.
His voice was barely audible.
"We've identified the fingerprints..."
"...on Daniel's engagement ring box."
Olivia's pulse thundered.
"Were they Victor's?"
The detective slowly shook his head.
"No."
May you like
"They belonged to someone..."
"...who attended your wedding today."
