Chapter 16: Friends and Killers

Olivia's eyes sparkled. "Gabriel's already twenty-seven. If he's got a girlfriend, he's probably thinking about marriage! That's why Lucy's been pinching pennies. She's saving up for her son!"

William nodded. "We haven't talked to Gabriel directly yet since Lucy hasn't been officially arrested. According to his friends and coworkers, he is an honest and simple person, though a bit inarticulate.. People set him up on dates, but nothing ever sticks."

Olivia nodded. "Being honest is great, but women these days have their standards. In a place like Shadow City, no girl would marry him if he doesn't have a house!"

Lucy made a few thousand bucks a month, and even if she saved every dime, she couldn't afford a house in Shadow City. So, she had a motive for murder.

"Plus, I found out that on the 19th, Aurelia withdrew $20,000 in two transactions. Lucy said she didn't know where the money went, but the next day, she took out the remaining $3,000 from Aurelia's account. The contradictions are too obvious!" Olivia pointed out.

What she couldn't wrap her head around was how Lucy could kill someone over just $20,000.

William added, "I had our team in Shadow City check Gabriel's account. On the 20th, Gabriel got $100,000 from Lucy, who told him it was for his wedding."

With the evidence lined up, the next step was to break down the crime.

Henry stood up and played a video on the screen.

"Check out these two videos. See any differences?" Henry asked.

Olivia had watched this video a million times. At first, she didn't catch anything. But when she zoomed in, she jumped up from her chair. "The scarf around her waist! When she left, she had a red scarf around her waist, but when she came back, it was gone!"

Henry gave Olivia an approving nod, signaling she was spot on.

To get Lucy to confess, Olivia had an idea: bring Gabriel in to help with the investigation.

This was the third time they were grilling Lucy. She was more jittery than before, not even daring to look Olivia in the eye.

Olivia sat at the table, silent for a long time.

"Lucy, your son is coming in today to help with our investigation," Olivia said.

Lucy suddenly looked up, her face full of fear.

Lucy now looked pitiful, with gray hair and deep wrinkles, seemingly on the verge of a mental breakdown.

"Don't drag my son into this. It has nothing to do with him. I did it all. Please, leave my son out of it!" Lucy cried miserably.

Lucy was pitiful, having been through two marriages without meeting a good husband, raising Gabriel on her own. But she was also hateful, having murdered her best friend Aurelia for money.

"Why did you kill Aurelia? Walk us through the crime," Olivia demanded.

Lucy wiped her tears. The police never bought into tears.

Lucy's story mostly matched up with what Olivia and the team had figured out, with just a few minor differences.

"Aurelia said once she gave the money to her son, she'd never come back to that house. I thought, if those people didn't care about her, she might as well lend the money to me! She knew my son was getting married and needed more money, but she refused. Despite our good relationship over the years, she wouldn't help me, so I..." Lucy started.

"Just because she has money doesn't mean she has to lend it to you. And if she doesn't, you think killing her is justified? Lucy, listen to yourself. Does that sound like something a reasonable person would say?" Olivia cut in.

Lucy covered her face and cried. After a bit, she recounted the crime.

"I didn't plan to kill her at first. I just wanted her to help me. I even made a nice meal for her. I begged her, but she refused. She'd rather give the money to her ungrateful son than help me, her best friend. I was so mad that I secretly put sleeping pills in her soup. When she fell asleep, I got scared. If she woke up and found out what I did, she'd definitely call the cops. So, I put her in the car, took her to the river, and threw her in! Honestly, I've been terrified of the police coming after me since that day, but I didn't expect it to happen so soon," Lucy confessed.

After hearing this, Olivia sighed and asked, "Do you know you dropped your red scarf?"

Lucy's pupils contracted as she realized that the lost red scarf might be the only clue left behind. It was the gift her beloved son had ever given her, and in her haste that day, the scarf had drifted away, never to be found again.

Olivia had mixed feelings. The case was solved, but Lucy's actions were self-destructive. She didn't gain anything; the money went to Gabriel, and she lived a poor life. Ultimately, she ruined her own future by committing murder.

After leaving the interrogation room, Olivia handed the records to William and stepped outside for some fresh air.

The cold air gradually calmed Olivia's emotions. Suddenly, she smelled tobacco. Surprised, she turned around to see Henry standing at the door, leisurely smoking a cigarette.

When Henry smoked, he had this lazy vibe that Olivia couldn't take her eyes off.

"Haven't seen enough?" Henry raised an eyebrow and looked at Olivia.

Olivia awkwardly lowered her head, tucked her hair behind her ear, and turned to head back to the office when Henry blocked her way.

"Your mom's here, in Mr. White's office," Henry informed her.

Olivia's eyes widened in surprise, and she rushed into the office building. If Autumn was here, things were about to get chaotic.

"Benjamin, if Olivia doesn't leave, I won't leave. I'll stay in your office, and I'll call your wife and tell her you're bullying us!" Autumn said.

Benjamin was very anxious. "Autumn, you're making things difficult for me. Olivia is doing a great job. She recently solved a big case that was even turned into a textbook example. She did it all herself, and I gave her all the credit. This will greatly support her future career!"

His words only made Autumn angrier.

"Support her career? Benjamin, don't think I don't know what you're trying to do. You want Olivia to inherit her father's badge and keep putting herself in danger. I'm telling you, that's not going to happen unless I'm dead!" Autumn snapped, tears of anger streaming down her face. Olivia stood at the office door but didn't go in.

Autumn knew everything. Because of Olivia's father, Austin Smith's death, she was determined not to let Olivia attend the police academy. But Olivia had secretly gone anyway. Olivia remembered that Autumn cried every day back then.