"I'm telling you, there's nothing weird, everything was normal aside from Josephine being missing when we got here," Charlie replied, his frustration evident.The detective nodded thoughtfully. "I see. Did your grandfather have any pre-existing medical conditions or diseases he was suffering from?"Charlie furrowed his brow, trying to think. "I don't know if Grandpa had any illnesses he was dealing with. He's a very strong man, aside from his asthma, and he's always carrying his inhaler with him."The detective's eyes lit up with interest. "Asthma, you say? That's important to note. Did he experience any severe attacks recently?"Charlie shook his head. "Not that I know of. He's always been careful with his condition, and Josephine was always there to help him manage it."Detective George nodded sympathetically at Charlie and Alice. "Okay, Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, thank you for the information. The doctors will determine the cause of your grandfather's sudden death. My officers are curr
Alice stood tall, her eyes locked on Mr. Thompson, her voice laced with a mix of apology and pleading. "I know you don't like me, sir, but please, I ask you to forgive him in his behavior. This is a hard reality for him to accept."Mr. Thompson's expression remained stern, his eyes unyielding. "You don't have to convince me, Alice," he said, his voice firm but hinting at a deep sadness. He turned and walked away, leaving Alice standing alone.Just then, Leo rushed towards her, his face etched with concern. "Alice, what's going on? I just got a call from Charlie and he sounded upset."Alice sighed, her shoulders slumping in defeat. "It's a long story, Leo. But basically, his grandfather was murdered, and Charlie didn't take it well."Leo's eyes widened in shock. "I'm so sorry, Alice. That's devastating news." He reached out and took her hand, offering a comforting squeeze. "Are you okay?"Alice nodded, her eyes welling up with tears. "I'm trying to be, Leo. But it's hard to see Charlie
As soon as Leo spotted a nearby restaurant, he pulled into the parking lot and brought the car to a stop. "I'll be back," Charlie said, his voice low and gentle, as he opened the door and stepped out onto the pavement.Despite the lingering pain of his grandfather's sudden passing, Charlie's concern for his wife and unborn child remained unwavering. He pushed aside his grief and entered the restaurant, determined to get Alice the food she needed.As he walked in, the females in the restaurant couldn't help but stare. Whispered comments and admiring gazes followed him, "He's so cute," "Look at those piercing eyes," and "What a charming smile." But Charlie remained focused on his mission, tuning out the distractions and making his way to the counter.His rugged good looks and charming presence commanded attention, but he remained oblivious, his mind fixed on Alice's needs. With a quiet intensity, he placed his order and waited, his eyes fixed on the door, eager to return to his wife's s
Charlie's footsteps echoed through the silent hallway as he made his way to his grandfather's room. The funeral had just ended, and the weight of his grief was crushing him. He pushed open the door and stepped inside, his eyes scanning the familiar space. The room was a testament to his grandfather's life, filled with memories and mementos. His gaze landed on a framed picture of his grandparents, taken in happier times. They were smiling, their eyes shining with love and joy. Charlie's heart ached as he walked closer, his fingers reaching out to touch the glass. He traced the outline of their faces, his mind flooding with memories of the stories his grandfather used to tell him.He remembered the way his grandfather's eyes would twinkle when he spoke of his grandmother, the way his voice would soften when he talked about their love. Charlie's eyes welled up with tears as he remembered the laughter, the adventures, and the quiet moments they had shared."Grandpa," he whispered, his
Mrs. Thompson approached the group, her footsteps announcing her presence. Fiona, Leo, and Alice turned to face her, their expressions a mix of curiosity and apprehension. Alice, showing respect, bowed slightly. "Hello, Mother. I'm so sorry for your loss...I pray his soul rests in peace," she said, her voice sincere. Mrs. Thompson's response surprised everyone. Instead of her usual cold demeanor, she smiled warmly at Alice. "Thanks so much, Alice. I hope you're doing well?" she asked, her tone gentle. Alice nodded quickly, "Yes, ma'am." The group exchanged surprised glances, astonished by Mrs. Thompson's unexpected kindness. Her words were laced with a hint of warmth, a stark contrast to her usual icy tone. "That's great, I was sure Charlie would have taken good care of you," she continued, her expression softening. The scene was filled with an air of unexpected warmth and tension, as if the group was holding its collective breath, waiting to see how long this newfound cordiality wo
Charlie approached Leo and Alice, noticing the worried expressions on their faces. "What's going on here?" he asked, his tone laced with concern. "Why do you both look so worrisome? It's like the world is about to end. Just because everyone is down about Grandad doesn't mean you both should look like that," he said, his eyes scanning their faces.Alice scoffed, her expression unchanging. "I don't know what's wrong with Mrs. Thompson," she said, her voice tinged with frustration. "She's been behaving weirdly. First, she was nice to me, and then she left with Fiona, looking like the weight of the world was on her shoulders."Charlie scoffed, his eyes rolling in disbelief. "Nice to you?" he repeated, his tone incredulous. "That's a first. What did you do, Alice, cast a spell on her or something?" he teased, trying to lighten the mood.But Alice just shook her head, her expression unchanging. "I'm serious, Charlie. Something is going on, and I don't know what it is. But Mrs. Thompson's be
Leo's eyes blazed with determination as he confronted Detective George. "So what are we going to do? How are we going to find out what happened initially?" he demanded, his voice firm and urgent.Detective George scoffed, a hint of amusement playing on his lips. "No matter how smart a criminal is, there's always a trace of them," he replied, his tone confident and experienced.Leo's gaze narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. "So did you have any other evidence?" he pressed, his eyes fixed intently on the detective.Detective George nodded, a small smile creeping onto his face. "Yes, we found something at the scene where Josephine's body was discovered. The person seems to have been wearing a bracelet, which got broken and was left behind. Maybe they forgot it or didn't bother to take it with them."Charlie's eyes widened, her interest piqued. "That's quite interesting," he said, his voice laced with curiosity. "Can you tell us more?"Detective George's eyes sparkled with a hin
As they arrived at the station, Detective George led them to a secure room where the evidence was stored. "Hold on, Mr. Charlie," he said, his hand reaching for the key in his pocket. He inserted it into the padlock, and the door creaked open. With gloved hands, he carefully retrieved a small box from the shelf, his movements precise and deliberate.He approached the table, the box held gingerly in his hand, and opened the lid with a gentle touch. Inside, a broken bracelet lay on a soft cloth, its fragments gleaming in the fluorescent light. Detective George's eyes met Charlie's, his expression serious. "This is the broken bracelet," he said, his voice low and measured.Charlie's eyes narrowed as he took a closer look, his mind processing the significance of the evidence. The bracelet's broken links seemed to tell a story, a tale of force and violence. He could almost imagine the scene - the struggle, the fear, the desperate attempt to break free. His gaze lingered on the bracelet, hi