As the meeting continued, the details of Benjamin Williams' dark past slowly emerged, bringing forth feelings long locked away in a trapdoor, protected by a large padlock, concealing a fearsome giant of shadows and darkness. It was an adrenaline injection into his emotions.
The investigation department agent explained about the cross-referencing of data and indicators, about the psychopath who was after Clarice Phillips and Taylor May, claiming to be from another world. The evidence found linked him to the disappearance of La-Heri Williams.
Special agents from the Federal Investigation Department (DFI) were involved in the initial investigation. The suspicious house connected the two crimes, and they found blue rose petals and a shiny powder among the dust. The house showed signs of use at different times, suggesting that the criminal had been using it as a hideout for years.
"We found blue rose petals and a shiny powder at the suspect's house. These items were carefully packed for forensic analysis," Special Agent Tom Hayes informed us during the meeting. "Cross-referencing the data, we identified the remains of two employees who were working at the boarding school on the day of La-Heri Williams' kidnapping. This leads us to believe that there is a connection between the two events."
Benjamin Williams listened attentively. A mixture of emotions crossed his face. The presence of a psychopath, now somehow related to his family, made the case even more urgent and personal.
Meanwhile, new twists were happening. The people identified as suspects in La-Heri Williams' disappearance appeared at the scene of another crime, where three criminals were found executed. The remains were later identified, revealing crucial points for the investigation. There was a possibility that the killer was connected to the Kadman or even the Phillips families.
The day of the attack showed signs of insider information: Adam wasn't working, Taylor was off-duty. The suspicion was that someone inside the Kadman or Phillips Mansion had leaked information. General Hunter Jackson, along with federal investigators, identified the connection between this crime and the kidnapping of Benjamin's son.
The discovery of the remains raised the high possibility that the same criminal was behind both cases, showing interest in the children of important families.
"Let's focus on finding this individual as soon as possible. We can't allow him to harm anyone else," Benjamin declared, his determination clear in his voice.
General Hunter Jackson agreed, concluding the meeting with the promise that all forces would be mobilized to find the person responsible for the crimes.
At the end of the meeting, after years of intense effort by investigative authorities, few clues were found about La-Heri's whereabouts. His son was lost forever.
Months passed since his disappearance, and Benjamin held onto the hope of finding La-Heri alive for a long time. However, as the months turned into years, the flame of hope began to fade. The investigation stalled, with no development.
Benjamin's son had departed forever, and he was struggling to come to terms with it. He shut down his emotions, burying the pain deep within his soul.
Every year, during the 9th month, Benjamin faced a terrible time. It was hard to think about La-Heri, but at the same time, he couldn't avoid it. Remembering his son kept him connected to him, at least in thought.
Benjamin needed some alone time to clear his mind. He mounted his horse and rode off towards the vast lands of the gigantic ranch. The fresh air and the sound of hooves pounding the ground brought a moment of peace amidst the whirlwind of emotions that consumed him.
Arriving at the place where Tristan was buried, Benjamin dismounted and approached his companion's grave. With a choked voice and teary eyes, he spoke aloud, as if he were venting to Tristan himself.
"Tristan, my love... I was wrong. I shouldn't have left our son alone. I should have been with him to protect him. I know it's too late to ask for forgiveness, but I wanted you to know that I'm sorry. I'm so sorry that I couldn't bring La-Heri back home, alive or dead."
A Revelation...
Damián entered the Stonehenge Gallery with a serious expression, accompanied by Mason, whose tense posture did not go unnoticed. Aster was already there, waiting anxiously for news about Clarice.
The private meeting room of the Stonehenge Gallery was enveloped in a heavy atmosphere. The valuable works of art, illuminated by soft light, seemed to lose their luster in the face of the tension that hung in the air. Damián, Aster, and Mason sat at the table, their faces serious and expressions laden with worry.
"With a serious tone, Damián began the conversation; I feel like I wasted time," observing Aster's heavy expression. "Despite my efforts, I couldn't find any clues." He paused significantly. "However, it seems that Clarice has lost her memory."
Aster was shocked, his face reflecting a strong emotion of surprise and disbelief as if opposing origins were colliding.
"She forgot everything?" Aster asked, wanting more details.
Damián rolled his eyes before answering, "No, not everything. It seems that she forgot about me, probably about you too, about the accident... there was no way to ask questions or pressure her, the moment was not right."
Aster could hardly believe it. And with a vibrating voice, he spoke; this result is a strange mix of symbiotic approach, unoriginal victimization, of a failed chemistry between Callum and Clarice.
Mason had been tense since Damián informed him that he would have to return to the Gallery.
Aster continued the tense conversation and got straight to the point, abruptly. "I eliminated Reese Davis," he announced, surprising Damián.
Damián raised his voice, "Why?"
Aster responded, gesturing with his hands to justify himself, "Implications! Reese Davis was an unknown factor, a variable with millions of possibilities. All of them could lead to an infinite outcome, but none favorable to either of us!"
Damián, visibly disturbed by the revelations, looked at Aster, his expression reflecting a mixture of surprise and concern.
Aster took a deep breath, searching for the right words. "There were many unknowns surrounding him, implications, many implications. His actions, his behavior… all of this pointed to imminent danger. I couldn't take the risk."
Damián seemed to ponder Aster's words for a moment before responding. "I understand, Aster. But, we need to think… And it takes work to eliminate a person properly. "Were you careful not to leave any hard evidence or anything that could link us to him?"
Aster nodded, acknowledging the validity of Damián's observation.
Damián then asked, bluntly, "What did you do with the body?"
Aster replied casually, "I buried him in the cemetery. I think that's the last place anyone would look for him."
Damián broke the tense silence in the meeting room with a direct question: "And his accomplice, what did you do with his body?"
Aster, initially hesitant, finally replied: "I... I'm going after him now."
Damián's concern was evident in his changed voice: "Is he alive? Have you left a witness against us"?
Mason intervened, quickly explaining his actions: "I accessed all of Reese's data and erased everything, anything that could link us to him or this place."
However, Mason was aware of the gravity of the situation. He could feel the fear pressing against the wall of his mind. He was approaching his second murder. With an urgent tone, he added: "I erased everything. There is no evidence of our connection to him."
Mason continued: "Yes, I erased everything. Even his connections with other people. I installed an advanced destruction virus."
Faced with the seemingly incomplete solution, Damián did not hesitate to take the next step: "Then let's get him!"
Damián sighed and stopped, visibly concerned. "Okay, OK, I understand. I know you didn't mean any harm. But next time…"
He paused, moved closer, and firmly grasped Aster's shoulders, looking him straight in the eyes. "I don't want you to do this again. I don't want you to dirty your hands, understand, Aster? Leave this job to me, got it?"
Aster nodded and replied, "Okay, I promise. I won't kill anyone else, just Reese Davis's accomplice."
He knew that Aster had always worked within the boundaries, playing it straight. This attitude opened up a range of possibilities that worried him for the first time. His intuition flashed a red light, blinking in front of him.
Mason, who was watching Damián and Aster, thought to himself, "Was it his imagination? No. He saw everything. That CIA Federal Agent, who was supposed to be a good cop, turned him into an accomplice to murder!"
Two days had passed since the meeting at the Stonehenge Gallery.
Clarice was discharged from the hospital and returned home, eager to rest in her own space and process the recent events. Upon opening the door, she was greeted by a comforting and welcoming scene. Her house felt different, positive, and cheerful, adorned with fresh flowers that perfumed the air. It was as if a touch of love and hope had been added to every corner.
Entering the large living room, Clarice was met with warm smiles and affectionate hugs. She felt the weight of the world dissipate, at least for a moment, as she found herself among people who loved her. Lord Robert, her grandfather, and her father, Jared, were there to support her, along with Lady Sarah, Lord Mallet, and the rest of the family.
As Clarice settled in, she glanced around the impromptu family gathering, something she hadn't expected. Lady Sarah, who had always been a comforting presence during her hospital stay, was there, along with her father-in-law, Lord Mallet.
With them were Henry and Ava, the children of Thomaz and Marguerite Fitzgerald, and Thomaz, Lady Sarah's brother. Mia, Lady Elizabeth's niece, who was close to the other young ones, was also present.
The idea of being with her family, even in such difficult circumstances, brought Clarice some comfort. She was grateful for the chance to be surrounded by people who loved and cared for her. However, Callum's absence from the gathering left a void.
Wanting to fill that void, Clarice asked Lady Sarah, her voice tinged with anxiety, "Lady Sarah, is Callum coming?"
Ava, Mia, and Henry exchanged knowing glances, and Ava casually replied, "Why would he come?"
Clarice looked at Ava, confused.
Before Clarice could ask anything further, Lady Sarah intervened, cutting off the dialogue between the two. "Callum always has important business to attend to, dear. I'm sure he would have come if he could."
The conversation continued for some time, but Ava sensed that something was amiss. It was as if everyone was overcompensating, as if they were trying to hide something from Clarice. However, she couldn't quite grasp what it was.
After a brief gathering, Clarice decided to retreat to her room. Upon entering, she looked around, taking in the feeling of being home. However, something caught her attention. There were no pictures of her or Callum anywhere in the room.
A sense of unease began to grow within her as she remembered Ava's words. On a sudden impulse, she grabbed her electronic device and searched for her name and Callum's. To her surprise, she found news of Callum in a new relationship with an omega.
The cold silence of the room was broken only by the rhythmic sound of Clarice's breathing. Her eyes, once full of life and hope, were now clouded by a mist of sadness and confusion. Memories, like fragments of a lost dream, flooded her mind, bringing with them the bitter reality of a love that had faded away.
Suddenly, a sharp cry pierced the air, echoing through the corridors of the mansion. It was a cry of pain, of anguish, of a heart shattered into a million pieces. Clarice's voice, once sweet and serene, now sounded like a desperate lament, filled with all the pain she held inside.
The guttural sound reached Lord Robert's ears as he sat in his office with his friend, Lord Mallet, engrossed in their conversation. A chill ran down his spine as he recognized his granddaughter's voice, filled with an emotion he had never witnessed before. Without hesitation, he rose and rushed towards Clarice's room, his heart pounding in his chest.
When he entered the bedroom, he found the door ajar, and the scene that unfolded before his eyes left him stunned. Clarice was kneeling on the floor, her hands covering her face as uncontrollable sobs escaped her lips. Her eyes were red and swollen, tears streaming down her face like a rushing river.
Lord Robert approached hesitantly, his heart overflowing with compassion. "Clarice, dear, what happened?" he asked softly, trying to calm her.
But Clarice didn't respond. She continued to cry, her sobs mingling with unintelligible murmurs. Lord Robert knelt beside her, enveloping her in his arms. He didn't need words to understand the pain she was feeling.
The commotion drew the other mansion residents to Clarice's room. Lady Sarah, Jared, Ava, Mia, and Henry rushed in, their faces filled with concern. Seeing Clarice in that state, their hearts tightened with a mixture of sadness and helplessness.
Beatrice approached cautiously and stroked Clarice's hair with some lack of control, her voice shaking. "My dear, what happened?" she asked worriedly.
Clarice finally lifted her face, her eyes brimming with tears. "Callum…" she whispered, her voice filled with pain. "He… he left me."
Clarice's words hit the family like a thunderbolt. A heavy silence filled the room as each one processed the devastating news.
Lord Robert hugged Clarice even tighter, trying to comfort her in her pain. "Don't worry, dear," he said. "We are here for you. You are strong, you are brave, you will overcome this. We are here with you to help you."
In the silence of the room, only Clarice's sobs echoed, a lament for lost love and a cry of pain that still needed to be healed.