2025-01-02 01:36:07It was the most stressful day at work yet, and Manchester just couldn't wait to get back, his weary eyes were a testament to the fatigue and his staggering feet just couldn't wait to reach home.
At least he had a family and a home to return to, but if things don't go as planned anytime soon, a home might just be taken out of the equation. As he approached the doorstep, Manchester was taken aback by the voice of his one-year-old crying from inside, "Mel wouldn't leave Nelson crying like that." He thought out loud His exhaustion suddenly vanished as he rushed to the door. He notices that it is locked and decided to knock on it while calling for his wife. "Mel?" When she didn't respond after several calls, Manchester opened his briefcase. Luckily, he always carried the spare key around with him in case of emergencies. "Nelson, it's okay, baby, Daddy home!" He called out, leaving his briefcase at the doorstep and rushing to the living room. The child's crying grew louder, and Manchester's anxiety spiked when his gaze fell on Nelson, lying alone in a crib next to the living room couch. His infant's face was scrunched up in distress, as Manchester scooped him up and cradled him in his arm, hoping to soothe him. "Where's mommy?" He asked whilst looking around the house and calling out for his wife. He checked the bedrooms, the kitchen, and even the backyard, but Mel was nowhere to be seen. "Why the hell would she leave the house without taking Nelson along?" He wondered and looked around the kitchen for Nelson's bottle, an attempt to keep the child busy for a while. "Who knows how long he's been crying for." He hissed and walked back to where he had dropped his briefcase to take out his phone. Mel would usually leave him asleep in the crib and walk into the grocery store down the street to get a few things, and she'd always get back as soon as possible. So Manchester didn't want to get too upset yet, hoping that the story was the same. With a baby in his hand, Manchester called his wife's phone, but the call was disconnected even before it rang. A sense of unease crept over him as he tried her second line but got the same result. "No? She couldn't have." He muttered. Manchester's heart started to race as the reality hit him hard in the face. She has blocked him. It felt quite strange to him because they did not disagree recently, and even if they did, he didn't think of Mel to be so hard-hearted, enough to block his line and leave the house without the child. He rushed back to the room to check if her things were still there. But all her things were gone, the entire wardrobe was cleared, and even the makeup drawer was empty. As if sensing his father's distress, Nelson began to cry, throwing the bottle that he was sucking on to the ground. But Manchester quickly tried to comfort him. "It's okay, Daddy is here." He whispered, trying to keep his panic at bay. His mind raced with possibilities. Had Mel been planning this for a while? Was she in trouble? He just didn't know what to believe. He dialled his mother-in-law's number very quickly, hoping that she might know something, and the phone rang a few times before someone picked up. "Hello?" A familiar voice answered. Manchester's heart skipped a beat as he heard Mel's voice from the other side of the line, "Mel, where are you? What's going on?" He asked, trying to keep his voice as calm as possible. There was pause on the other end of the line, before Mel spoke up, but hesitantly. "I'm gone, Manchester," she said, "I've left you and your son." Manchester's grip on the phone tightened, and he could have sworn that his heart dropped for a moment. "What do you mean you've left us? Where are you going?" "I'm done with the marriage, Manchester!" Mel answered, her voice cold and unyielding, "I am done with the lies, the broken promises, and the constant stress. I wasn't born to be married to a poor man. Managing is not my thing." Manchester felt like he had been punched in the guts. His body started to shake slightly as he reflected on the words that came from his wife. "Lies? Broken promises? What are you talking about, Mel? We've had our ups and downs like any other couple, but I thought we were working through our issues." "You don't get it, do you?" Mel cut him off, "Look, keep your child, I won't go with him, but I can't be with you either, so please don't try to call my phone or bother my mother, thank you." Manchester bit back his tears as the reality dawned on him. Certainly, he may have neglected his family once in a while but for a good cause, it takes a lot of effort from him to keep up with the piles of bills, and his little detective job wasn't yielding so much result. "Mel, please don't go. We can work through this together. Just come home. Let's talk, please." Manchesters begged, his voice cracking with emotion. "Don't beg me, Manchester." She snapped, her words were final, and she didn't intend to change her mind. "I am not coming back. Just have a nice life. You are his father, and I am very sure you can take care of him without issues. I might invite you to my next wedding, if there is any need to." "Mel, wait, Mel... Mel, damm it!" Manchester tossed his phone on the couch after she had disconnected the call. Never did he imagine coming back home to this. And to make matters worse, Nelson was trapped in this whole situation, a one-year-old who still needed his mother, so Manchester was caught in a web but he couldn't even think of a possible way out at the moment.
Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
I-Mode: Becoming A Famous Detective With A System 2. I- just lost my job
Manchester trudged through through front door of the police station, his 1-year-old was strapped securely on his hips. It was the first time bringing his child to work and he was already running late because of all the preparations. He had tried calling Mel again numerous times forgetting that she had blocked him, even on a social media account Manchester couldn't reach her. He sent a long apologetic message to her email, and one to his mother-in-law's phone, hoping that she might read them and have a change of heart. He also drove to her parent's house that same evening since he suspected her to be there, but they asked him to leave, stating that Mel did not have any business with him. She did not come out to see him and he wasn't allowed to go in and see her. Manchester lost his mind, he was unable to sleep throughout the night, and caring for a one-year-old was not an easy task. The constant crying wasn't something he's used to, plus they didn't even help him to know what the
I-Mode: Becoming A Famous Detective With A System 3. I- almost killed my son
Manchester lay in the hospital bed, his body aching from the incident. He had been lucky to escape with only minor injuries but his mind was consumed by the worry of his one-year-old son Nelson. The second his eyes shot open, his heart skipped a beat, knowing that he was involved in a car accident and his son was strapped behind on a child's seat. "Nelson?" He muttered and ignored the tubes that were connected to him, he pulled them out forcefully and made his way out of the ward, fear and worry etched all over his face. "Sir you shouldn't be out here," a nurse tried to get his attention and hopefully get him back to the ward, but Manchester couldn't be stopped. "Where is my son?" He asked, limping his way from one ward to the other and stealing a glance at the window "Where is my son, Nelson?" He called out, forgetting that the baby couldn't speak and wouldn't respond. "Nelson?" "Sir, I am very sure that your baby is fine, he should be somewhere in the pediatric ward. If only
I-Mode: Becoming A Famous Detective With A System 4. I- took expired pills
Manchester felt as if he had been punched in the guts, he couldn't believe what he had just heard. Mel, the mother of his child, the woman that he had shared his life with had moved on so quickly and was even engaged to someone else without getting a proper divorce. Something wasn't right, it was either all of these had been going on behind his back, or Mel was just lying to keep him away for a reason that he was yet to understand. "What did I do wrong?" He really couldn't get an answer, he wasn't the poorest man, especially when compared with a lot of people he had seen in the city. Manchester was living very comfortably and he was quite the provider no matter how hard things got. If there was anything he could point out that Mel disliked about him then it was his temper, getting very agitated could be a turn-off for a lot of women but he was working on that as well to save his marriage, only to end up losing it. It just didn’t make any sense and how she left as well wasn't addi
I-Mode: Becoming A Famous Detective With A System 5. I- pray this is not a dream
A few minutes passed and Manchester's eyes fluttered open, the room was still blurry and a wave of dizziness washed over him. He just lay down there staring at the kitchen ceiling that he could barely see, his mind reeling with thoughts."Am I dead or alive?" He remembered taking a pill to relieve himself, but at the moment he felt worse, his head hurt so much and he couldn't tell if he was hallucinating but a holographic screen flickered to life before his eyes.Manchester wasn't startled, he just closed his eyes and tried to relax, whatever that thing was he knew it wasn't something to worry about. But then all the incidents over the past two days flooded his mind and Manchester suddenly remembered why he had come back home in the first place.He sat up Immediately, holding his aching head and hoping that his vision was better. He could thank God now that he was alive and had learnt a valuable lesson about pills. But then again why was this holographic screen still in front of him?
I-Mode: Becoming A Famous Detective With A System 6. I- don't trust Atkinson
In a few minutes, Manchester arrived at Bellvue Manor, a grand estate nestled in the heart of the city in a simple vehicle similar to that of a police officer. His driver was also dressed in uniform making it appear as though it was official police business.Along the way, Manchester had gotten a couple of messages from what appeared to be a research team who were ready to support him through the investigation, and as weird as it may seem, Manchester played along.After speaking with the security guard at the entrance to the manor, Manchester was directed to the living room by a butler, and there he met the wealthy man who seemed to have been waiting for him. "Detective Duke," He exclaimed,"It's such a relief that you are here." The wealthy businessman man with a receding hairline stood on his feet, stretching his elderly hand for a handshake which Manchester received with a warm smile."How does he even know my name... ""Sit down." Mr. Richard Langley gestured to the couch that
I-Mode: Becoming A Famous Detective With A System 7. I- will tell you what I heard him say over the phone
Mr Richard Langley led Manchester to the security room and asked the butler to wait outside while the detective did his job. Manchester could see a glint of anxiety in the butler's eyes and he took a mental note of that. As a detective, all kinds of reactions were important to him. With the doors closed Manchester was faced with two large monitors hanging on the walls, a desk with a keyboard and mouse, along with two chairs. He sat down and Mr. Langley did the same, watching the young detective skillfully scroll through the visual images on the screen. //Transferring security footage via wireless network// //Transfer complete // // You may select footage Vid_123 // Manchester scrolled down the screen and as soon as he spotted the videos, he clicked on it. It was a two hours long footage so he put it on fast-forward until he spotted someone in it. This footage was from a surveillance camera in the garden, and it was ten minutes to the hour of theft, it captured someone lurking be
I-Mode: Becoming A Famous Detective With A System 8. I- begged him
"I still don't believe you," Manchester's voice echoed off the walls after listening to Emma's seemingly made-up explanation."This is all nonsense especially after you said that you didn't hear anything and now you are saying that Atkinson was speaking with someone about a business deal ... we will settle all this at the station.//Do you wish to arrest the suspects?//"Yes."// Sending in the team //Within a minute, a knock was heard on the door and Manchester opened it to let the team of three cops into the room, and he pointed the suspects out to them. Emma continued to beg, and swear that she was saying the truth while Atkinson willingly offered himself to be taken away."Don't worry Mr. Langley I will get to the bottom of this before the end of the day..."Please do," Mr. Richard Langley uttered before Manchester could finish speaking,"In the meantime, I'd search for something similar in case I don't find it today." "Very well," Manchester nodded before walking out of the roo
I-Mode: Becoming A Famous Detective With A System 9. I- know who it is
"When I was in the garden, I caught her listening to my conversation, and I had no choice but to tell her the truth. However, she was scared of getting into trouble too and wanted to tell Mr Langley. So... I threatened her... or rather I blackmailed her with something I'd rather not talk about if that's okay with you sir."Manchester shrugged, he couldn't care less about the blackmail."This is what I am going to do." He said,"You will remain detained until we find the necklace, since we have your phone coupled with what you just told me, this case would be easier to solve. If what you have just said is the truth, then the necklace must be in the manor somewhere."Manchester was about to leave the room when he remembered something and turned to ask him,"Is there anyone in the manor that you suspect? Someone that holds something against you enough to want to get you fired."Atkinson thought about this question for a while, but he shook his head when he couldn't think of anyone. "I
Latest Chapter
60. I- bought you that time
The courtroom was thick with silence, the kind of silence that weighed in Manchester's chest like a damped wood. His heart raced with every passing second as they all waited for the judge to come in. Once she was in, Manchester was directed to the defendant's table; he took a deep breath and held tightly onto its frame while tapping his foot on the floor at intervals. Across the room, Cain sat with a smug, his arms were folded as he anticipated the result. The judge leaned forward, her expression unreadable as always. She adjusted her spectacles, and after the introduction was made by the bailiff, she read from the paper on her desk. "After a thorough examination of Paternity test conducted by an independent laboratory, and in consideration of testimonies and submitted documentation, the court finds that the child in question, Nelson Wilfred Duke, is not the biological son of Mr Manchester Duke." These words hit Manchester on the chest like an atomic bomb, he felt the explosion in
59. I- swear I'm not trying to buy you with money
When he was close by, Roger noticed a car that had just driven out of where he was going, and he couldn't help but wonder if Valerie was inside it, and with who? But then again, he just kept driving until he parked at the front of her apartment and stepped out. This was the first time he visited her without a gift, not even a flower. He knew that she would ignore them anyway and probably not even let him into the house. Ding dong The sound of the doorbell was heard from inside as Roger pushed the button. He took a deep breath and waited until she unlocked the door and opened it "Valerie," he muttered with his jaws dropped in shock, not because he hadn't seen her in a while, but because there was a child in her hand. 'could she have been married without my consent, long enough to have a child already. But it's only been two months since I last saw her, so this can't be her child, then whose?' "What are you doing here?" Valerie frowned, "Who gave you my address... oh damm
58. I- will be Mr. Mel Brettel
While driving away from Valerie's apartment, Manchester noticed that another car drove in and parked just at the same spot where his car had been. Out of curiosity, he decided to linger a little to see who it was. However, he failed to realise that he was in the middle of the road, even though it wasn't a highway. He kept an eye on the car until a figure emerged from the driver's seat, a man. Before he could begin to ponder who this figure was, a car honked very loudly behind him, causing Manchester's body to jerk involuntarily. "Damm that's too loud." He muttered, before gently releasing the break and moving out of the way. He would have loved to stay a little bit longer to get a glimpse of the person's face, but he remembered his appointment and just drove off. "It might just be someone coming to find out why she moved from her parent's place." He thought. ****** Earlier, in another apartment twenty minutes drive away from Valerie's home, a young lady stood at the door, block
57. I- might pick him up at night
"Here goes nothing," Manchester muttered as he proceeded to press the doorbell after standing at the door for nearly five minutes. There was no reason to be nervous, but Manchester was, and that was why it took him five minutes to press the doorbell that was right in front of him. "Just a second!" Valerie's voice answered from inside. While waiting for her, Manchester took a deep breath; he really hoped that she hadn't moved out of her parent's house just because of Nelson because that would surely make him feel terrible. He just had to wait to confirm from her first before jumping to a conclusion. "Good morning!" Valerie greeted with a warm smile as she opened the door to let Manchester in. She was still dressed in pyjamas, and her hair was still a mess, but she had a cup of brewing hot tea in her right hand. "Classic," Manchester thought. "Uhm, you live here...now? I thought I was coming to pick you up and take you home before leaving Nelson with you." Manchester posed his qu
56. I- watched take a step
With one interview after another, Manchester was finally able to get to the bottom of the case, at least most of it. It turned out that what Alex told him was entirely true, and every one of them didn't know the grandmaster made them such dirty tasks. But still, they had a hand in kidnapping and murdering the manager and must face the law. The consequences of their actions range from a life sentence to a death sentence and is dependent on the magistrates. Through the Interrogation session, Manchester learned about how these four met and became friends even before they met the grandmasters. These four had a very dark history and robbed a few stores and restaurants on their own. They claimed that it was the only way they could survive at the time and that the only reason they gave in to working for the grandmaster was because he accommodated them in his home and promised to protect them. One thing that Manchester still didn't have an answer to is the restaurant owners were abou
55. I- killed him.
"Okay, now that I am done drinking, and not getting drunk, I can deal with these ones," Manchester muttered, bracing himself for one of the longest Interrogation sessions he's going to have in a long time. Speaking with all four men individually and compiling their words to find out if they correlate seems like a lot of work, but he had two hours before it's six o'clock, so why not start now? "Alex," Manchester started with a smile, his eyes fixed on the young man who didn't believe he'd catch the others. "Let me start by saying, I did it! I caught your friends, all of them, in one piece. I don't just say things, I get them done." Alex sighed, his face fell with embarrassment; perhaps this was when the reality hit him in the face; he had been caught, and so were his friends. "Did you attack Hi n BYE on the evening of ... "Yes," Alex replied before Manchester could finish his words, "Yes, I did." Shocked by how quickly he responded, Manchester glanced at his partner, Sop
54. I- would rather be single forever.
They arrived at the station, and all three men were immediately detained; Manchester couldn't believe how quickly he completed this task. Even Sophia Patel's disappearance took longer than a case that appeared to be more difficult. "I can't believe it," Detective Jameson uttered. This is probably the hundredth time he had made that statement, and each time he did, Manchester smiled. "It's for the people," Manchester said, sipping from the bottle of wine that stood on the table separating him from Jameson. He's had quite a hectic day, from the court to fighting with Alex to catching the others. Overall, the entire police department detained twelve men, excluding the trio that Manchester was focused on finding. He immediately wanted to rush in for Interrogation, but Jameson pulled him from the shoulder and forced him to the cafeteria. Bought some bottles of wine, one for himself, one for Manchester and one extra. "Relax," he said, "Seventy per cent of the work is done; no need to
53. I- haven't fought like this in a while
With a deep breath, Manchester dashed into the grand hallway, the echo of gunfire behind him fading beneath the pounding of his own heartbeat. His mind was locked. Every inch of this place screamed luxury, from the paintings in gilded frames to the marble floors, even a chandelier. But Manchester knew could smell the criminal acts that purchased them all.// System Notification: Six remaining hostiles detected. Two on the ground floor and four in the basement.//“System, keep me updated. I don’t want any surprises.” Manchester muttered, bracing himself for the fight he was about to experience. He had faith in the system's strength, but at Level 1, he believed that most of his efforts would be required.As if in response to his statement, the system highlighted a figure moving around the corner just ahead, so Manchester lowered his body and silently advanced. The man stepped out with a silenced pistol, but Manchester was faster. He grabbed a bronze statue from a side table and slammed
52. I- will take all of them
"Number thirteen, Haven Crescent," Manchester muttered as he peeped through the partially rolled-down car window. His eyes glance at the apartment, and the house number that hung near the gate. The apartment was magnificent, simple and classic from the outside, it was obvious that whoever lived there wasn't struggling, and then it occurred to him that Alex had said that it wasn't their home. With a long sigh, Manchester rolled up the tinted glass and walked out of the car. He wasn't alone; two cops were with him, and there were four others on standby in case of emergency. Manchester tapped the doorbell sign on the gate and waited; the gateman, a man in a white shirt and pants, stepped out and asked. "Who are you looking for?" Manchester flashed his ID immediately and replied, "Detective Duke, I would love to speak with the house owner immediately. If he delays or declines, we have a permit to search the house and wouldn't hesitate to do so." At his words, the gateman sneered, s