An elderly man walked calmly through the artificial forest that remained damp from yesterday's rain, but wanting to clear his mind from work, he didn't mind walking alone.
That's when he saw a young man feeding some cats who were soaked due to the surrounding humidity. Curious, the elderly man walked towards a metal chair on the side of the road and, after wiping it with a handkerchief, observed this amusing scene unfolding before his eyes.
He knew the boy, his name was Jacob, and he was the son of the familiar Barber family. He didn't know the boy's father well, but they had crossed paths on a few occasions due to their cases.
"Oh, Mr. Anderson, sorry I didn't greet you earlier, I have to go as I'm running late. See you." Jacob turned slightly and bid farewell to the elderly man who seemed to be alone like him. They had known each other for some time, as they would occasionally sit on the same bench for hours.
"Don't worry, kid. Be careful on your way back." Said the elderly man named Anderson. After Jacob left, he continued to watch the cats with an indistinguishable interest in his old yet astute eyes, as if it were a beautiful and profound painting.
...
The lawyer Anderson, a man of experience and cunning, was near the crime scene when he saw Jacob being put into the police car along with his twin brother. His penetrating gaze and sharp instincts indicated that something else was happening behind that desolate image.
Without hesitation, Anderson quickly approached the crime scene, leveraging his knowledge of the area and his reputation among the police officers. With his imposing presence and firm voice, he began asking crucial questions to understand what had truly happened.
Gradually, the puzzle pieces started to come together. Anderson listened attentively to the witnesses, gathered relevant details, and managed to obtain key information about the true sequence of events. He discovered that Jacob was not the aggressor but had acted in self-defense and to protect his twin brother, Ethan.
Aware that Jacob's future was at stake, lawyer Anderson realized the gravity of the situation. He knew that if he didn't act swiftly and with utmost seriousness, Jacob could face an unjust and disproportionate conviction under such negative circumstances.
Without wasting a single second, Anderson headed straight to the police station where Jacob was being taken. He knew he had to arrive before irreversible decisions were made and before the distorted version of events became the only accepted truth.
With his reputation and experience working in his favor, lawyer Anderson made his way through the doors of the police station and headed to the interrogation room. There, he found Jacob's brother, with eyes filled with distress and the weight of uncertainty on his shoulders.
Knowing this was Jacob's brother because he recognized the clothes he was wearing from their previous encounter, what surprised Anderson the most was that Ethan was sitting outside the interrogation room.
"What happened? Where is your brother?" Anderson asked with a voice filled with seriousness.
"Who are you?" Ethan looked at this elderly man in a suit with surprise and some fear.
"Your parents are on their way. I will be the lawyer who will protect your brother and you. Tell me, what did you tell them?"
Under the weight of Anderson's words, Ethan stuttered and finally said, "I just told the truth... Ja... Jacob killed that student with a knife. He did it."
"What?!" Anderson shouted, breaking his composure. This foolish child had just sentenced his brother. "You useless kid!"
Without wasting any time, Anderson rushed to the interrogation room, where they were likely interrogating Jacob without the presence of his lawyer. This was common among the cunning movements of the police and detectives.
...
The detectives were notified almost immediately, and two of them, who were assigned to this case, were waiting in the interrogation room, looking at the young man in front of them shortly after interrogating his brother and the other students.
After the police interrogation, additional interviews were conducted to gather more information about the incident.
The male detective, alongside a female detective who was his partner in this case, began to speak: "Jacob, I'm Detective Neal, and this is my partner, Paula."
"Jacob, as the law states, it's important that we ensure we're on the same page. Before we begin, let me remind you of your rights. You have the right to remain silent, the right to have an attorney present, and the right to have anything you say used against you in court. Do you understand these rights?"
Jacob nodded solemnly and said in a weak voice, "Yes, I understand my rights."
"Now that I've read you your rights, I would like you to elaborate on what exactly happened during the fight. What led to the confrontation and how did it unfold?"
Jacob, still affected by the events, recounted the moments leading up to the altercation, describing the growing tension and the sense of imminent danger. He explained how they tried to distance themselves from the conflict, but the bullies pursued them, ultimately leading to the fight.
"They started it... They were attacking my brother, and I only stepped in to stop them, but honestly, they wouldn't have stopped under any circumstances. My twin brother's life was in danger..."
Detective Neal looked at his partner, Detective Paula, and then focused his gaze back on Jacob. "I understand that you were in a threatening situation. Can you explain why you acted in that specific manner and what was at stake for you at that moment?"
"Why is that even a ridiculous question?!"
Boom!
Jacob was on the edge, his heart racing a mile a minute, and when he heard the question to which he had already given a satisfactory answer in his previous words, he couldn't hold back his anguish.
Paula intervened immediately and pointed out, "Jacob, you need to calm down and carefully consider everything you're doing. We just want to know the truth, and it doesn't mean you're the guilty party."
Jacob took a moment to gather his thoughts before responding, "It was a moment of panic and survival. My only intention was to protect my brother and myself. There was no room for reasoning or evaluating the consequences at that moment. I just wanted to stop the threat and ensure we came out of that situation unharmed."
Detective Neal continued with detailed questions about the dynamics of the fight, seeking clarity on the events that led to the tragic death.
Neal delved deeper into his intentions, "Jacob, is there anything else you'd like to add? Any additional detail that may help us better understand what happened?"
Jacob spoke sincerely from the depths of his heart, "I deeply regret what happened and the life that was lost. I never intended to cause harm of that magnitude."
Detective Neal nodded, acknowledging the sincerity in Jacob's words.
Paula smiled slightly and said, "Jacob, our goal is to uncover the truth and ensure that justice is served. We will continue investigating all aspects of this case to get a complete picture of what occurred."
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Right at that moment, the door was forcefully knocked, and before anyone could get up to open it, an elderly man opened it and said, "Gentlemen, from now on, I would like to have a deep conversation with my client."
"Anderson, I never thought I'd see you in this place at this hour..." Neal looked at the old man with a slight headache.
"And I never thought you lived in the station, taking advantage of a child who now can only feel fear," Anderson replied as he entered the interrogation room.
"The situation for Jacob is not good. Even his brother confessed that he was the one who killed that young student," Paula stated as she exited the interrogation room.
"I will ensure that justice is served, Mrs. Paula." Without looking back, Anderson entered the interrogation room.