Chapter 22

"Let no one enter here." Bryan whispered to the men with him. He waited for them to nod their understanding at him before he moved into the crime scene. He frowned as he looked at the blood splashes on the desk, wincing at how hard the object had to go in for the blood to be much. 

He felt pain at what the old man had had to endure. He knew Matthew and had tricked his way at the department for the case to be handed to him. He would stop at nothing until the culprit was caught.

Steve, his partner walked beside him, his eyes roving over the crime scene. "Who do you think it could be? I believe you know more of Matthew than the rest of the cops here."

Bryan shook his head. "I have no idea who it could be. Matthew has a lot of enemies and likewise a lot of friends. He could have stepped on a lot of toes."

Steve nodded. "That seems likely."

"Have you gotten any thing from the security?"

"They are still checking the footage." Steve replied. "They will get back to us when they are done."

Bryan nodded. "That is good. Let's check everywhere till we find some clues."

Veronica sobbed as she stared at her father, motionless and almost lifeless on the bed if not for the ping of the heart monitor. She held on to his hand, rubbing at it gently and willing him to open his eyes.

"Dad, I'm right here." She sobbed.

Adam stood beside her, hating the feeling of helplessness crushing his bones. The woman he was married to was in pain and yet he could do nothing to help. He sighed, cracking his knuckles. He rubbed at her shoulders, loosening stiff joints.

She glanced up at him and mouthed her gratitude. He could also see the fear in her eyes. Her voice shook as she looked up to him. "Are you sure he is going to be okay?"

He nodded, squeezing her shoulders again. He clamped down on a growl. He wanted to hold her in his arms and hold her tight till they could both feel their demons running away. He hated the feeling of wanting to get close to her but unsure of how she would react if he tried to act overly familiar with her. 

His phone rang, saving him from the turmoil in his heart. He excused himself from her side. She nodded, staring at her father as he walked away.

"Hello," Adam said into the phone.

"Adam." Bruce's deep voice echoed out of the phone.

"My man!" Adam sighed, relieved to hear a familiar voice in all the stress he had been feeling all through the day. His eyes misted as he thought of Matthew and he hoped he woke up for Veronica's sake. He hoped he woke up and was okay.

He knew how crushing her fear was. She was about to lose her only family, the one person in the entire world she could be sure loved her. He had felt the same way when he had lost his family but he knew he would survive even then because he had Bruce and he loved him.

At that moment, he wished their marriage was real so she could feel comforted that she still had someone who loved her in the world..lt was a scary thought to think you were alone in the whole universe.

"Are you still with me, man?" Bruce asked, worry seeping through his voice.

Adam jumped. "Yeah, I am. I am sorry it felt like I zoned out."

Bruce chuckled. "Yeah, you did. I asked you a question but you wouldn't reply."

"What was that?"

"I asked if Matthew was doing alright."

"Oh yeah, he was." Adam replied. "The surgery was a success but he still hasn't woken up and they are not sure of when he is going to do that."

Bruce groaned. "That sounds bad."

"It really does." Adam agreed.

"How is Veronica, by the way?"

"How you think she is."

"Shit." Bruce cursed. "I just wanted to check up on the two of you. Okay, don't let me keep you away from her too long."

"Thank you, Bruce."

"You are welcome." He cleared his throat as he remembered something. "Sandra will be at the hospital shortly."

"How did she know Mathew was attacked? I don't think the blogs have published the news and Veronica hasn't been in a frame of mind to call everyone. She told me I was the only one she hs called and she would call the others when she was done. Moreover, she said Sandra had an appointment and she wouldn't want to distress her."

"I told her."

Adam chuckled. "I didn't know you talk so well."

"Well, we do after the day Veronica got drugged by Erica."

"Bruce!" Adam teased.

Bruce smiled. "That was why I needed to clear my throat before I talked. I knew you would be this way."

"Is there anything you would like to know?" Adam teased.

"Your father in-law lies motionless few meters away and yet you can tease me about what I have no idea of." Bruce rebutted.

Adam shook his head. "Don't try to avoid the issue, man. You are not one to engage in conversations with ladies, most especially younger ones without a professional reason. I almost thought you had sworn to yourself to receive an award of the most celibate champ and was a bodyguard instead of a monk because of the money."

"She is interesting."

Adam grinned. He felt his heart light up at the thought of Bruce getting into a relationship. Hearing a good news while he was emotionally wrecked would do a lot to boost his psyche. He believed it would help Veronica as well. Maybe he would tell her as soon as he got into the ward.

"Do you like her?" He asked Bruce.

Bruce chuckled. "Don't be ridiculous. She is just fun to talk to and we haven't been speaking like that. She only called today to exchange greetings and i thought to inform her of Matthew's attack so she would know to comfort Veronica. You have only been Veronica's husband for some weeks but she has been her friend for years."

"Thank you, Bruce."

Bruce smiled. "You are welcome so don't tease me about Sandra again. Moreover, it is not a big deal to be friends with the friend of your wife."

Adam grinned. "I never said it was."

"Get yourself some rest, boy and leave me the hell alone."

Adam snorted. "I will just go and be with my wife."

"You do that, son." Bruce said and disconnected the call.

Steve shouted for Bryan as he took a turn at the desk. He stared at the hair on the floor, scoffing at himself for not seeing it immediately he entered the office.

He beckoned to Bryan, pointing at the hair as the man walked up to him. "What colour is Matthew's hair?"

Bryan laughed at his question. Almost all the citizens in the state knew who Matthew was and the colour of his hair. "What are you getting at, detective?"

"Just answer the question, detective." Steve smiled at him.

"Matthew's hair is black with a hinge of grey." Bryan responded.

"Then that means this hair on the floor is not his." Steve smiled.

Bryan rolled his eyes. Obviously. Anyone with a good idea of who Mathew was would know the hair wasn't his. Steve had a flair for the dramatic. 

"Exactly my point. Same as the hair in his hands. It seemed like he had had a tuggle with the assailant." Bryan said, smiling at the thought of Matthew fighting with the culprit and proud of him. That was the old man that he knew. Strong and fearless.

"Who do you know that has the same hair colour and texture as the one here among those he knows?"

Bryan frowned, staring at the curly brown hair. The only person he could think of at the moment was Adam, Mathew's son-in-law. He shook his head, trying to think of another person hoping he was wrong.

Steve grinned.  "Are you thinking what I am thinking?"

Bryan nodded. "Let's go visit the suspect."

Steve yelped. "Whew!" He said, throwing a hand into the air. He told the forensic department to gather whatever it was that they needed.

The two headed out of the office, discussing details of the assault on their way. They shuffled their feet as they got to the hospital, guilt eating them up about making it seem as if they were accusing Adam while he was stressed about the attack of his father-in-law.

Sandra held Veronica's hand while Adam stood by them, leaving the seats to them. "You will be fine, babe."

Veronica smiled back at her. "You didn't have to come, you know? You said you had a busy day."

Sandra scoffed. "I love Matthew as well and I see no reason to not be here when you will need me." She noticed the cops. "Oh! Even the detectives are here to say hi."

Scott smiled. "Good day, Mrs. Livingston."

Veronica nodded. "Thank you. Any news on my father?"

Bryan shook his head. "Nothing much. We are still going to run some tests and get back to you."

"Okay, thank you, detective."

Scott spoke up. "We would like to ask you some questions, Mr.. Livingston."

Sandra and Veronica looked up, wondering what was going on. "Hope no problem?"

"Nothing that can't be sorted out with some investigation. We re just doing our job."

Adam frowned. "I was at the office."

"Are there people who can attest to that?"

"Of course, my secretary."

Scott grinned. "The one who is your friend."

Veronica growled.  "What are you driving at, detective?"

Bryan swallowed, discomfort ringing in his body. He really wouldn't want to be here if he had his way but Scott was right. They needed to explore every options possible. He cleared his throat before speaking. "We found some hair strands that looked like your husband's own and we are trying to gauge all the options we have."

Veronica frowned. "What?"

Scott nodded. "It seems like your father struggled with the attacker and he lost some hair, leaving them behind on the scene without his knowledge."

Adam shrugged, unbothered. "The hair isn't mine. I didn't go anywhere near Mathew's office for the day. I had a really packed schedule which I had to cancel them all to be here. I told Veronica when she called me that I was at the office."

Veronica nodded. "Yes, he told me he was at the office."

Adam could see that they didn't believe him. "I can give you the company security footage for the day to prove to you that I wasn't there. I didn't go out."

Scott and Bryan glanced at each other. It seemed Adam had an alibi and their search just got twisted