Chapter Eighty
Liam sat alone in the dimly lit living room, his thoughts consumed by memories of Samantha. He had barely left the house since her death, preferring instead to wallow in his grief. But when a knock at the door broke the silence, he felt a spark of curiosity ignites within him.
Rising from his armchair, Liam made his way to the entrance and opened the door to find Lucas, a man he had once called a friend, but who had been distant ever since the case of Emily had come to a close.
As they exchanged pleasantries, Liam could sense that something was different about Lucas. He seemed troubled, weighed down by something that he couldn’t quite put his finger on. It was only after they had spoken about their shared losses that Lucas revealed the true reason for his visit.
“Just when I thought I had found love again, someone took it away from me,” Liam said, his voice laced with bitterness.
Liam felt a sense of kinship with Lucas that he hadn’t felt in years. “Grief can be a merciless beast,” he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.
Liam added in agreement, his eyes staring off into the distance. “I mean Samantha,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I thought we had a future together, but now she’s gone, and I can’t rest until I find out who took her from me.”
Lucas felt a chill run down his spine at the mention of Samantha’s name. He had heard about her death in passing, but he hadn’t paid much attention to it. But now, with Liam standing before him, he couldn’t help but feel drawn into the mystery.
“Who do you think is responsible?” Lucas asked, his eyes searching Liam’s face for a clue.
Liam’s eyes narrowed as he spoke. “I have my suspicions,” he said, his voice low and intense. “But I need more evidence before I can be sure.”
Lucas’s mind raced as he tried to piece together the puzzle. “Have you gone to the police?” he asked.
Liam scoffed. “The police? They couldn’t find their way out of a paper bag. I need someone who knows how to get things done.”
A thrill ran through Liam’s veins as he realized what Lucas was implying. “Are you asking me to help you find out who killed Samantha?” he asked, his voice low and intense.
Lucas nodded a hint of desperation in his eyes. “I know it’s a lot to ask, Liam. But I don’t have anyone else I can trust.”
Liam felt a sense of trepidation wash over him. He knew the risks involved in getting involved in an investigation like this. But he couldn’t ignore the sense of justice that burned within him.
“All right,” he said, his voice steady. “I’ll help you find out who killed Samantha. But we need to be careful. We don’t want to put ourselves in danger.”
Liam grinned, a flicker of hope in his eyes. “Thank you, Lus. I knew I could count on you.”
Liamlooked at Lucas with a grateful expression, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. “Thank you, Lucas. I knew I could count on you,” he said, his voice laced with sincerity.
Lucas nodded, feeling a sense of purpose that he hadn’t experienced in months. “Tell me what you know so far,” he said, eager to get started.
Liam took a deep breath, his face serious. “Samantha was killed about two weeks ago. I found her body in her apartment, and the police have been investigating ever since. But they haven’t found any leads yet.”
Lucas’s brow furrowed. “That’s terrible. Do they have any suspects?”
Liam shook his head. “Not that I know of. But I have a feeling that it might be someone close to her.”
Lucas’s interest was piqued. “What makes you say that?”
Lucas hesitated for a moment as if debating whether or not to share his suspicions. “Well, I don’t want to jump to any conclusions, but Samantha was involved with some shady characters. And there was one guy in particular who seemed to have it out for her.”
Lucas leaned forward, his curiosity growing. “Who was he?”
Liam paused as if gathering his thoughts. “His name is Adrian. He’s a drug dealer who Samantha used to buy from. But she stopped seeing him a few months ago, and I think he might be holding a grudge.”
Lucas nodded thoughtfully. “That’s definitely worth looking into. But we should also consider other possibilities.”
Liam nodded in agreement. “You’re right. We need to keep an open mind.”
They continued to talk for hours, brainstorming ideas and discussing potential leads. Lucas shared an experience from his past when he had lost his parents and how he had uncovered the culprit. Liam listened intently, impressed by his friend’s determination and resourcefulness.
As the night wore on, they found themselves laughing and joking, the weight of their grief momentarily lifted. It felt good to have a purpose again, to be working towards something meaningful.
Lucas felt a surge of excitement at the prospect of being involved in something again, of having a purpose beyond his grief. “Of course,” he said, his voice firm. “Whatever you need, I’m here for you.”
Lucas leaned forward, his gaze fixed on Liam. “You must have some leads,” he said. “Anything that could point us in the right direction.”
Liam hesitated, unsure of what to say. He hadn’t even left his house in weeks, let alone investigated Samantha’s death. But then Lucas face saddened, a memory surfaced in his mind, a memory from years ago when he had lost his own parents to a tragic accident.
“I don’t know about leads,” he said, his voice tinged with sadness. “But I do know what it’s like to lose someone you love. And I also know what it’s like to be consumed by that loss, to the point where you’ll do anything to find answers.”Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.
Liam nodded, his expression understanding. “Tell me about it,” he said, his voice softening.
Lucas took a deep breath, his mind returning to the day his parents had died. He had been just a teenager at the time, but he had been determined to uncover the truth about what had happened. And eventually, he had succeeded.
“I spent months digging into their death,” he said, his voice growing stronger. “I interviewed witnesses, I went through police reports, I even hacked into the hospital records. And in the end, I found out that it wasn’t just an accident. Someone had tampered with the car, made sure it crashed.”
Liam’s eyes widened in surprise. “Really? Who was it?”
Lucas hesitated, his mind racing. He had never told anyone the truth about what he had uncovered, not even his closest friends. But now, with Liamsitting before him, he felt a sudden urge to share the truth.
“It was Caleb,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “My own cousin. He had gotten into some trouble with the wrong people, and they had threatened him. So he decided to take my parents out of the picture.”
Liam sat back in his chair, his eyes wide with shock. “Caleb?” he repeated. “Are you sure?”
Lucas nodded, a wave of sadness washing over him. “I’m sure,” he said. “And I can’t help but wonder if the same person who killed Samantha is connected to Caleb somehow. Maybe he got mixed up with the wrong people again.”
Liam’s face hardened, his eyes determined. “Then we’ll find out,” he said. “Together. We’ll dig into Samantha’s death, and we’ll find the truth. No matter what it takes.”