Chapter 159

Chapter 159
[Marcus's POV]

Five o'clock sharp.

I leaned against the observation room wall, rubbing my temples. The headache was back. Like a blunt instrument hammering against the inside of my skull.

Inside the interrogation room, Adrian sat in the metal chair, hands folded on the table. His posture completely relaxed. Occasionally he frowned. Occasionally he sighed. But he never spoke.

Sarah had just finished the seventh round of questioning. She emerged from the interrogation room exhausted, sinking into the chair beside me.

"It's useless," she said. Her voice hoarse. "He won't say a word."

Mike stood before the one-way mirror, shaking his head. Tony flipped through the record book, finding nothing of value.

We'd been interrogating for six hours.

Six hours of silence.

"Marcus." Sarah turned to me. Her tone no longer polite. "You shouldn't have brought him in so impulsively."

I didn't answer.

"If it turns out Adrian's innocent," she continued, "even if you don't resign voluntarily, the chief will put you on forced leave. Probably unpaid."

"I know."

"You know?" Sarah's voice rose. "Then why—"

"I have a feeling, Sarah." I cut her off. My gaze still fixed on Adrian through the mirror. "He will be brought to justice."

The words sounded unconvincing. Even to me.

Sarah frowned but didn't argue further.

The observation room fell silent.

I watched Adrian. Eyes closed, seemingly meditating. Chest rising and falling rhythmically. Breathing steady.

He was waiting for us to give up.

Then my phone rang.

Caller ID: Claire.

I answered.

"Marcus!" Claire's voice burst through, excited and urgent. "I found key evidence!"

I snapped awake from exhaustion. "What evidence?"

"I'll tell you when I get back to the station," she said. Her tone barely containing excitement and tension. "I'm on the road now. I'll be there soon!"

"Claire, you—"

The call ended.

I lowered the phone, letting out a helpless laugh. A smile that held both relief and exasperation at her dramatic timing.

"Claire says she found key evidence," I turned to the team. "She's on her way."

Sarah raised an eyebrow. "She didn't say what?"

"She wants to tell us in person."

Tony closed his notebook. "Did she say when she'd arrive?"

"Should be soon."

We continued waiting.

Time crawled. Every minute felt like an hour.

In the interrogation room, Adrian maintained the same posture. Occasionally opening his eyes to gaze at the ceiling. Completely unaffected by the outside world.

5:20 PM.

5:25 PM.

5:30 PM.

My phone stayed silent. Claire sent no updates on her location.

Sarah stood, poured herself coffee. Mike leaned against the wall, scrolling his phone. Tony reviewed case files, searching for missed clues.

I stared at Adrian.

His silence like a wall. Solid. Impenetrable.

We needed whatever evidence Claire had found.

Because right now, we had nothing.

5:40 PM.

Footsteps echoed in the hallway.

Then Claire's voice: "Where's Marcus? I'm back!"

I quickly opened the door.

Claire stood in the doorway. One hand raised high, waving a yellowed, aged-looking paper. The other held an evidence bag.

Her face bright with excitement. Eyes shining.

Samantha stood behind her, expression serious and professional.

I stared at the items in Claire's hands.

This was her evidence?

A piece of paper?

My gaze moved between the yellowed paper and the sealed bag. Trying to gauge their value from Claire's expression.

Sarah, Mike, and Tony emerged from the observation room, standing behind me.

All eyes focused on what Claire held.

"Marcus," Claire said. Voice trembling with excitement. "We found Benjamin's complete journal. And this letter."

She held up the yellowed paper.

"What is it?" I asked.

"A letter Benjamin wrote to Adrian," Claire said. "Found where he hid the key. Marcus, this letter..."

She paused. Took a deep breath.

"This letter might be the key to breaking through Adrian's psychological defenses."

I reached for the paper. Carefully. As if it might crumble in my hands.

The paper was old. Edges torn. But the handwriting clear.

Benjamin's script.

I quickly scanned the content.

Adrian, I know you from the beginning approached me to gain knowledge and experience in writing...

My throat tightened.

But I want you to know that over these years, I have always considered you a true friend...

I looked up at Claire.

Her eyes glistened. But her expression remained firm.

"The journal?" I asked.

Samantha handed over the sealed bag. Inside sat a thick leather-bound diary.

"Complete," Claire said. "Starting from ten years ago. All the dreams. All the fears. Everything that led Benjamin to isolate himself."

I held the letter and journal.

These two items felt heavy in my hands.

Not just physical weight.

The weight of hope.

Sarah stepped beside me, looking at the letter. Her expression shifted from skepticism to shock.

"Is this real?" she asked quietly.

"CSI needs to verify it," I said. "But if it is..."

I glanced toward the interrogation room.

Adrian still sat there. Silent. Closed off.

But now, we had a weapon.

A real weapon.

Not accusations. Not assumptions.

Truth.

Benjamin's own words.

"Marcus," Claire said. Her voice pulled me back to reality. "We also found the key. Opened the hidden compartment in Benjamin's basement study."

She paused.

"There was only this journal inside."

I nodded. Mind racing.

This evidence changed everything.

Or at least, gave us new possibilities.

"Alright," I said. Voice steadier than expected. "Samantha, please take the journal to CSI. I need complete handwriting analysis and paper dating."

Samantha accepted the sealed bag and left.

I turned to Claire.

"This letter," I held up the paper. "Do you think Adrian will react to it?"

Claire nodded without hesitation.

"He will," she said. Tone confident. "If he had even the smallest bit of real feeling for Benjamin, this letter will hit him."

I looked into her eyes.

Saw her conviction.

Also saw her exhaustion.

Dirt on her hands. Dust on her clothes. Face pale.

But she stood straight. Gaze steady.

"You did excellent work," I said. Voice gentle.

Claire's expression softened. "Can we win?"

"I don't know," I answered honestly. "But now, we at least have a fighting chance."

I turned to the team.

"Sarah, arrange for tech to copy this letter. I want the original and duplicates."

"Mike, contact the prosecutor's office. Tell them we have new evidence."

"Tony, prepare for a new round of interrogation. I want to try again before tonight."

Everyone sprang into action.

The observation room came alive again.

I held the letter, reading it once more.

You saved me, Adrian. Even though you may have never realized it.

Benjamin's words echoed in my mind.

He trusted Adrian.

Valued Adrian.

And Adrian killed him.

I took a deep breath.

Time to make Adrian face that truth.

I looked at Claire. She still stood in the hallway, awaiting my next instruction.

"You should go home and rest," I said.

She shook her head. "I want to stay."

"Claire—"

"Marcus, please." Her voice soft but firm. "Let me see this through."

I hesitated.

Then nodded.

"Fine. But stay in the observation room. Don't enter the interrogation room."

"I promise."

She walked into the observation room. I followed.

Through the one-way mirror, I saw Adrian maintaining the same posture.

But soon, he would face Benjamin's words.

Face the truth of his betrayal.

I gripped the letter tight.

Anticipation and doubt intertwined.

We'd found hope.

Now, to see if that hope was enough.