Adam sat at his desk, the documents detailing Damian's arrest spread out before him. With each page he turned, anger intensified in his eyes. His fists clenched tightly, and pheromones rose into the air, creating a thick, tense atmosphere. His fist slammed down on the solid wooden desk, cracking it. The wood splintered, symbolizing the fragility of the situation and his ferocity.
A cry of fury echoed through the room, vibrating off the walls and into Adam's bones, demonstrating the pain of the possible betrayal that consumed him.
"Could he have deceived me? A farce!" Adam thought, the thought echoing in his mind like thunder.
He picked up his personal communication device and dialed a number. The voice of the interlocutor sounded on the other end of the line, but Adam was lost in his own thoughts, trying to remain calm as anxiety took hold of his being. He took a deep breath, but the feeling that something was wrong persisted. Suspicion crept into his mind like a dark shadow, and his Alpha Prime instincts warned him. Damián. The name echoed in his mind like a treacherous whisper.
"He asked too many questions," Adam muttered, his eyes narrowing as memories of his recent interactions with Damián surfaced. Damián interest in asking questions about the investigations, his eager support in uncovering every detail… It all seemed so innocent, but now, in light of recent events, it looked like a carefully woven web.
"But in the end, had the little omega revealed himself to be a cunning vulture, lurking and waiting for the right moment to take advantage?" he thought, disbelief turning into a bitter certainty. After all, it was about espionage, advantages, attempted assassinations, and murders…
"It can't be true," he said aloud, but the doubt had already taken root deeply. His perfect utopia was beginning to crumble before him.
Breathing heavily, his fists clenched as he tried to regain control, Adam muttered, "Damián… If this is true, you will be punished," he said to himself. His eyes burned with a fierce intensity. He knew he needed proof, but every fiber of his being questioned all the possibilities.
As Alpha Prime, he had always considered himself above evolution, a rare species that didn't make mistakes. But now, he was disoriented by doubt, his position was uncomfortable. How would the Kadman Family look to the May E and Phillips Families?
Loving Damián made this uncertainty even more unbearable. He had always felt invincible, but the potential betrayal of the omega he loved was a devastating blow.
Standing in his imposing Kadman Presidency room, towering like a titan over the city that stretched below. The panoramic view confirmed his position at the top of the world, the apex of the hierarchy. He was the epitome of genetic perfection, imbued with the most powerful pheromones imaginable.
"Could I have been deceived?" Adam wondered, feeling a chill run down his spine. Doubt eroded his confidence and made him vulnerable in a way he had never experienced before.
While Adam grappled with his suspicions, the tension also mounted at the Central Police Station.
Central Police Station
Captain Lawrence Whitaker and Commissioner Farver stood positioned in the interrogation room. The tension in the air was thick, as cold as a snowy night. Damián, Aster, and Mason sat before them, attentive and alert. The atmosphere was austere, with harsh fluorescent lights and bare walls that seemed to absorb all the warmth from the room.
Captain Whitaker began the conversation with a more neutral tone. "Good morning, gentlemen. It's understandable that you're apprehensive, but we're here to clarify some facts. You have been mentioned in an investigation into a serious crime, and our priority is to find the truth."
He looked directly at Damián and Aster. "Now, let's get to the specifics of Fredrick Lund's accusation," the Captain began, picking up a document. "Fredrick Lund, an employee at the Kadman Hotel, claimed to have a relationship with Reese Davis. According to him, Reese got involved with dangerous people, including you."
The Captain's eyes narrowed as he continued, "Fredrick alleged that you, Mr. Bowes, and Mr. O'Conell, paid for espionage on Adam Kadman's whereabouts. You, being dominant omegas, wanted to attract Mr. Kadman. With the information extracted through Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Bowes was able to stimulate Mr. Adam's pheromones and force an involuntary bond caused by heat. In which Mr. Aster also benefited with Mr. Callum Campbell."
Whitaker paused, letting the words hang in the heavy air of the room. "Did you use any drugs or stimulants during this encounter?"
Aster, unable to believe what he was hearing, exclaimed, "Are you listening to yourself? It sounds like a teenage scheme, don't you think, Captain?"
Commissioner Farver, with a stern tone, interjected, "This is no joke. Confidential information was being stolen from the Kadman family. We have missing persons and murders. How many people had access to this information?"
Farver then presented the photos of Reese Davis and Fredrick Lund. "Gentlemen, we have information that indicates you may be involved in an espionage plot against the Kadman family. Fredrick Lund, before he was murdered, mentioned Mr. Bowes's name as one of the participants."
Aster's gaze fixed on the photos, and he couldn't help but confirm. "Yes, we knew Reese Davis. He did some marketing work for our gallery, but we didn't have a close relationship with him. We don't know anything about his illicit activities."
Damián, trying to remain calm despite the growing tension, replied, "With all due respect, sir, I don't know what you're talking about. I've never been involved in espionage or with Mr. Fredrick Lund."
Commissioner Farver raised his voice, the intensity of his words piercing the air. "How many people had access to this information, Bowes? How many?"
Damián, feeling the pressure mount, maintained his apparent composure. "I'm not part of these accusations. Mr. Adam Kadman and I were fortunate in our encounters, it was just the goodwill of the universe. Any other event is a lie."
Commissioner Farver, unconvinced, pressed again. "But you had contact with Mr. Reese Davis, right? According to our information, he was a key player in this plan."
Aster, trying to divert the focus, reaffirmed, "Mr. Davis did some marketing work for our gallery, but we didn't have a close relationship with him. We don't know anything about his illicit activities."
Commissioner Farver, visibly irritated, stood up abruptly. "Gentlemen, this is serious. People are missing, and murdered. And each of you is directly under suspicion. Don't underestimate the gravity of the situation."
The interrogation room fell silent for a moment, each of those present feeling the weight of the accusations and the growing tension.
As the tension mounted in the interrogation room, the door burst open. Two federal agents entered, their serious and determined expressions cutting through the heavy air. Agent Reynolds, tall and imposing, spoke in a firm voice that echoed through the room:
"Commissioner Farver, Captain Whitaker, we'll take it from here. This investigation is now under federal jurisdiction."
Commissioner Farver, visibly annoyed, fixed a defiant stare at Reynolds. "This is unacceptable! We are in charge of this investigation until all protocols are followed!"
Captain Whitaker intervened, trying to maintain calm in the tense room. "Commissioner, we need to cooperate. The feds are here to clarify international connections and serious crimes beyond our local jurisdiction."
As the federal agents took control of the interrogation room, four others silently observed from an adjacent room, monitoring every word and movement of Damián, Aster, and Mason.
The already tense atmosphere intensified with the presence of the federal agents, marking a new phase in the investigation that now extended beyond local borders, involving crimes of a different magnitude.
The federal officers entered the interrogation room with an aura of authority and efficiency. Agent Reynolds, tall and imposing, led the initial presentation. He was accompanied by another agent, Agent Bomer, a cybersecurity specialist with sharp eyes who meticulously observed each suspect's movement.
Reynolds began with a direct and serious tone, handing some documents to the suspects:
"Gentlemen, we understand that this situation is delicate, but we need your cooperation. We are investigating a series of serious crimes involving espionage, the Kadman Family, and other related incidents. Fredrick Lund was murdered, and all evidence points to a sophisticated cybercrime operation."
He continued, explaining that the security cameras at the scene of Lund's murder had been tampered with, and the recordings erased. Similarly, all information on Reese Davis had been completely deleted from all systems, reinforcing the suspicion of a cybercriminal network.
"Reese Davis is our prime suspect. He has been missing since recent events, and we are trying to understand his role in these crimes. The accusation mentioning you two as part of this plot has given us a crucial lead."
At this point, the tension in the interrogation room peaked. Mason, despite trying to maintain composure, felt deeply uncomfortable with the presence of so many officers. He avoided eye contact, conscious of his troubled past with the law, feeling as though he was in hostile territory.
The young men were seated in the interrogation room when Agent Reynolds began the conversation:
"I hope you young men don't mind answering a few questions. Or would you prefer to have your lawyers present?"
Damián, looking at the others, calmly replied, "We don't have lawyers yet, but we don't mind cooperating with the authorities."
At that moment, Agent Bomer entered the room and informed them, "There are several lawyers waiting for you outside if you wish."
Aster, determined, declined: "We don't need them; we are not guilty. We have clean lives, nothing to fear."
Agent Reynolds nodded and responded, "Okay then. Let's proceed."
The agents began asking questions about the lives of the three, marveling at how two young men already had a successful art gallery. "How did you two, being so young, manage to establish a successful gallery? That's truly commendable."
Damián and Aster exchanged brief glances before Damián responded, "Hard work and dedication. We are passionate about what we do."
Agent Reynolds continued, "Understood. But we are following a trail of breadcrumbs. We will need to collect genetic samples from you after the interrogation."
He pulled out a folder with detailed information about the three young men and started flipping through the documents. "Mason, you come from a prominent family. We could release you, so why are you here?"
Mason, holding Damián's hand, claimed, "I'm afraid of my family. I prefer to stay here."
Agent Reynolds observed the scene and commented, "I understand. Let's get to the point. We need answers. We are looking for details. You are our best chance of finding a psychopath, cybercriminal, and murderer who has been on the loose for a long time. He had insider information, like the kind you had, to get to the Kadman Family."
Damián, exasperated, responded, "I thought you were a good guy, officer. We've already said, we have no involvement in anything illegal."
Agent Reynolds, remaining calm, retorted, "Sure. But I have information about you. You arrived in country Y at 16 with Eleanor Forest for treatment. Eleanor passed away three years later, and as far as I know, she left no inheritance. After all, Eleanor was the caretaker of the orphanage, and her illness consumed many resources."
Aster decided to use the truth as his best defense and responded, "Yes, it's true. We arrived with Eleanor, and she did everything she could for us. When she passed away, we were on our own, but we decided to move forward and make something of our lives."
The room fell silent for a moment as the federal agents processed the provided information.
Agent Reynolds, keeping his calm, retorted, "Sure. But I have information about you. You arrived in country Y at 16 with Eleanor Forest for treatment. Eleanor passed away three years later, and as far as I know, she left no inheritance. After all, Eleanor was the caretaker of the orphanage, and her illness consumed many resources."
Agent Bomer, with a more direct tone, interjected, "Furthermore, we have reports that you received millions from an account in country M, under the name of a small service company called Gump. This company is registered to Joseph and Spen Gump."
He opened another folder, revealing the identities of Joseph and Spen Gump. "It seems Joseph is actually Damián, and Spen is Aster. Can you explain this?"
Damián nodded and replied, "Yes, it's us. And the company is ours."
Aster continued, "Our father found us lost and took care of us. We lived in a remote, cold area near the mountains. No one came looking for us. Our father started the adoption process through the orphanage, but there were documentation issues due to his advanced age at the time.
That's when Eleanor helped him. By the time we were teenagers, our parents had passed away, and Eleanor took guardianship. By then, our documentation was ready. Eleanor was from country Y and was recovering in a quieter area. When our parents died, she wanted to help. But when she had to return to country Y, as our guardian, Eleanor thought it would be better if we had citizenship in country Y. So, we changed our names."
Damián added, "Aster chose our new names because he likes aster flowers, an old story, a fable about a Cherokee Indian tribe."
The room fell silent for a moment as the federal agents processed the provided information.
Agent Bomer immediately asked, "And… the millions received? Can you explain that?"
Aster took a deep breath before starting, "When Eleanor died, we were in college, and yes, we were broke. It was a desperate situation."
Damián interjected, his voice firm yet calm, "One day, by chance, I heard they were looking for stunt doubles for a skier role in a movie. We had a good skiing experience. We decided to try our luck and auditioned."
Aster continued, "We got the roles. We started working as stunt doubles in films and commercials over time, gaining recognition. The Gump company was set up to manage our earnings and investments. That's how the millions came into our accounts."
Damián concluded, "The Gump company was our way of legalizing and organizing our earnings. There was nothing illegal or illicit about it. We simply seized an opportunity and worked hard to get where we are."
The federal agents exchanged glances, processing the detailed explanation. Aster and Damián's sincerity and clarity in their story created a reflective pause in the room as everyone awaited the next question.