Chapter 27

"I'll take you back to the hospital. We can chat on the way," Robert said gently.

"Hey Robert, can you give me a lift?" Ryan chimed in. "I need to talk to Sophia about something important."

Robert hopped into the driver's seat. Sophia hesitated for a second before sliding into the passenger seat, and Ryan settled in the back.

Leaning forward, Ryan started talking about his work. "I did an autopsy on that body and knew right away he was drowned on purpose."

He added, "I made a cut on the other body and instantly knew she was definitely hung after she died."

Robert glanced at Sophia and noticed she had turned slightly towards Ryan, listening closely and occasionally nodding. She didn't seem as distant and resistant as she did with him.

Robert decided to drop Ryan off at home first. Ryan, deep in conversation, soon arrived home. He reluctantly exchanged contact info with Sophia before getting out.

"Tony caused Kurt and Lyra's deaths. I believe he'll get what's coming to him soon," Robert said, and Sophia listened quietly.

"Those old villains end up taking each other out. They got what they deserved," Robert sighed.

He went on, "Today, when we went to arrest Tony, he burned off his own fingerprints. You could hear his screams through the door. He was in so much pain he almost passed out. It must have been brutal."

Robert thought Sophia would be happy to hear this.

The culprit finally felt the burning pain Ella endured 16 years ago. But even that pain wasn't a tenth of what Ella suffered.

"Thanks for telling me," Sophia said, smiling like a kid who just got their wish granted.

"But I have a question. Why didn't you tell me fingerprints could distinguish twins too? That way, I wouldn't have given Tony the chance to destroy his fingerprints."

Sophia's eyelids fluttered, then she said, "I forgot."

Robert nodded.

"Officer Davis, did he give you the answer to the question I asked?" Sophia looked at Robert with hopeful eyes.

Seeing her pure and innocent eyes, Robert hesitated for a second before telling her the truth, "16 years ago, they did change their age by one year."

Robert continued, "Tony's cousin's husband admitted that Tony's cousin used blank old medical records from the hospital to alter their birth records."

The car fell silent, with only Sophia's slightly heavy breathing breaking the quiet. After a long while, Sophia murmured, "What a pity."

It was a pity the police didn't find the evidence of their age alteration back then, or they would have been punished long ago.

"It's a shame your dad didn't live to see this day," Robert said. "Sophia, I'm really sorry about what happened back then, but our justice system is getting better. Regrets like that won't happen again."

Sophia stayed quiet until Robert parked in front of the hospital dormitory. She thanked him and got out of the car.

As Robert turned the car around, he saw through the rearview mirror that Sophia didn't go upstairs but walked in another direction.

She walked alone, her thin figure surrounded by an aura of loneliness.

At that moment, Robert felt a slight pain in his heart and even had the urge to hold her and protect her. He turned the car around and stopped beside Sophia.

"Where are you going? I'll take you. It's not safe for a girl to be out alone at night," Robert said, rolling down the window.

"I want to go to Pines Eternal Rest Cemetery."

Her parents were buried there. The car was quiet, and the atmosphere was heavy. Robert played some soothing music, hoping it would make her feel better.

When Sophia got out of the car, Robert followed. Sophia looked at him in surprise.

"Officer Davis, I can go alone. I don't want to trouble you."

Robert smiled gently. "It's no trouble. I'll keep you company and take you back to the hospital when you're done. You won't be able to get a cab at this hour."

"Thank you," Sophia said gratefully.

She hadn't expected Robert, who initially doubted her the most, to be the one who cared for her the most now.

Her parents' grave was in a remote location, far from the entrance.

After climbing many steps, Robert stopped. "I'll wait here. Take your time; I'm not in a hurry."

Robert knew she had a lot to say to her parents tonight. He parked in a spot where he could see her and ensure her safety, but far enough away that he couldn't hear her words, allowing her to relax and release her feelings.

Robert watched as Sophia walked alone towards the gravestone, her small figure evoking a sense of pity. He sighed and took a few steps back.

Sophia reached her parents' gravestone and looked back. In the distance, Robert had retreated to the steps below, out of earshot.

Sophia knelt down and couldn't help but caress the photos of her parents. Memories flooded back, and a wave of sadness overwhelmed her. She choked up but bit her lip to hold back her tears.

After a long time, she calmed down and said, "They've all been punished. I'll take care of myself. You can rest in peace now."

Then, Sophia leaned her head against the gravestone and murmured, "Dad, you were right."

'Evil people always have a demon inside them. I just throw out the bait, and their growing desires drive them mad, making them turn on each other,' she thought.