The next day Elizabeth woke up and took a day off to meet Liam to discuss her mother's case. Once in a while, whenever they met she used to share her thoughts with him. Liam was aware of the incident that had happened years ago. He was Elizabeth's senior at school when she joined the tennis club. Liam was like a mentor to her who always guided and supported her. But Aaron never liked Elizabeth's interaction with Liam. That was the time when he slowly started to understand the feelings he had for her. He was a teenager and he never liked any guy approaching her. After Aaron left to states, Liam was the one who supported her in her hard times. The girl lost her parents and the one she trusted and loved left her without saying a word. In a way, people whom she loved the most left her alone all at once. People started to treat her as if she was an untouchable human because she was the daughter of a murderer. When the investigation was going on, the reports only showed that Hailey and the lady who was killed were very good friends. That lady's neighbors often saw Hailey visiting her. Elizabeth really hoped that the prosecutor would help her but the case was closed while the investigation was still going on stating that, Hailey Carter killed her friend, Margaret Winds, because of a personal grudge she had on her friend and also due to mental stress because of her divorce with her husband. The prosecutor who dealt with the case tried his level best to gather more information but due to unknown reasons he was forced to give such a statement. She tried to meet him and ask why he couldn't do further investigation, but in vain. As the time passed people started to forget about the case except for those who lost their loved ones. Elizabeth often spoke to Liam and told him that she wanted to reveal the truth at any cost. She had to listen to the cursings of the people and those days were not less than a nightmare for her.
"I am a rookie prosecutor, Elza. I don't know if I can reopen a case which was closed years ago but I will try my best," said Liam to Elizabeth.
"Thank You so much," Elizabeth said.
"Can you recognize the person who dealt with your mother's case?" he asked her.
"Yes I can recognize him very well," Elizabeth answered.
"Good. Because few cases are kept confidential from other prosecutors but if we approach that person and take his help, we may find clues," Liam answered.
"I wonder where he is now. Wish I knew his name," Elizabeth sounded regretful.
"That's alright, you don't have to worry about it. But let me make one point clear to you, your mother was the one who killed that lady," he said.
"I know and I don't deny it but I'm sure she had a reason for that and I want to prove it to the world that she is not the kind of person who would betray and kill her own friend," Elizabeth replied with a hint of melancholy.
" And what makes you say that?" asked Liam.
" Because... because… She is my mother, and I know her more than anyone in this world. There was a time when I looked at my parents and thought how lucky I was to be their child." Elizabeth was lost in her childhood memories.
Hailey and William met at a hospital where Hailey worked, fell in love and got married. A year later an angel entered into their lives and they named her Elizabeth. Elizabeth was everything to them. As the company grew, William started staying abroad a lot. He could barely attend the family functions. Years passed and differences started to arise between them. They thought that living separately and spending their life like they wanted, would be better for both. William Carter was not in the country when Hailey was arrested. He wasn't even informed about the incident. After he returned to the country, he was devastated by the horrendous news about his wife with whom he was yet to divorce. He was even more shocked when he came to know that his own daughter gave the testimony against her mother. He knew Hailey better than anyone. There was no way for a woman like her to kill another person, but the proofs were against her. Even though they had numerous arguments, he loved her once upon a time. The fact that the person he once loved was no more in this world made his heart weaker and weaker as the days passed. The man blamed himself that it was because of him Hailey turned into a murderer. Within a month after Hailey's death, William also died. John Carter, William's younger brother took over his brother's company. John blamed Hailey for his brother's death. He hated the woman to such an extent that he started to treat Elizabeth like she was an untouchable person just because she reminded him of his brother's wife. But at the same time, he took care of her because of his brother's last wish. William knew that he might not be able to live with his daughter for too long. He was the one who asked his brother to take care of her before his death.
"I understand, Elza. Truth is hard to accept sometimes but you have to believe the proofs too."
"Proofs can be morphed too," she replied.
"Sometimes but not always," replied Liam.
"Liam, you know that you are my only ray of hope right now, but if you too feel that my mother killed because of a personal grudge and due to mental stress, then I don't want you to even try and reopen the case," Elizabeth said gritting her teeth.
"I never said that I feel your mother killed that lady because of some personal reasons. I only said that you need to accept the truth even though it is bitter sometimes. Let me ask you a question, what makes you think that your mother had another reason to kill that lady? Is it because of the letter?"
" My instincts," said Elizabeth confidently, " my instincts say that my mother was forced to kill herself and that lady named, Margaret Winds."