"My father, before he passed away... He gave it to me," Ryan answered, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Where were you today?" Daniel asked, his tone accusing.
"When?" Ryan questioned defensively, his legs and voice still shaking.
"When Aiden asked you to bring me back. Where were you?" Daniel said from between his teeth, emphasizing every word. Daniel's eyes blazed with fury.
"Give him a break," Aiden said, before he walked away. His steps echoed in the hallway. "Daniel!" Aiden called out.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
After two hours, Daniel and Aiden walked back into the station. Ava and Ryan awaited them. All four of them sat around a chair, Ryan looking down, Aiden's gaze drifting away.
"You may not believe this... but," Ava started to speak, "this gun belongs to... Ryan." The name dwelled in the room. Nothing but silence could be heard and yet, Ava had a severe headache.
Not a single word was spoken. Ryan didn't object either. Aiden gave a long, painful sigh before closing his eyes.
Ava managed to remain awake and conscious.
She stood up, her gaze drifting away,
"As a proof, the gun seller gave me—" She was cut off by a knock on the door. She was breathing heavily, trying to take in every bit of oxygen.
"Come on in," Daniel said, smirking. Not paying heed to Ava or Ryan.
A man with messed-up hair and a single scar on his eyebrow was brought in by the constable. His hands were tied to his back.
"He confessed," Ryan said, finally looking up.
"Confessed what?" Ava asked, she was still standing. Her one hand on the chair.
Aiden lowered his head.
"You are under arrest, Miss Ava Elizabeth," Daniel said, handcuffing her. "You have the right to a lawyer and the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you in court."
She wanted to object, but she didn't.
Daniel's smile, which once dwelled on his face, was now gone. "Take them to—" Aiden started speaking. Daniel nodded and left before Aiden could finish the sentence.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
After 15 minutes, Aiden walked into the room. It was still the same: a black room with a small light coming from the bulb.
"Last time I was here with George. He confessed—" Aiden said, his voice only audible to his own ear. Then he took his words back with a slight shake of his head. "He said something that made us believe he was the killer."
His eyes absorbed the whole room. His voice was barely audible.
He was in no position to complain about anything. So he just went and sat in front of Ava. The brown wooden table was placed between them.
"I never" Ava coughed "thought my ex-husband would do this to me," Ava said, trying to emotionally blackmail him.
"You did this to yourself," Aiden said calmly. The pacing between his words was even.
"Me and Daniel, we both went to the gun seller. We met Henry before you. We tapped him and recorded your conversation. I will play the recorder for you." Aiden placed his phone on the table.
"Oh, hey Ava! Long time no see," Henry, the gun seller, said in his British tone.
"He bought this gun from you and gave it to me," Ava said.
"Yeah, I know," he replied with a little laugh.
"It's the 'murder' weapon, and we are supposed to frame Ryan for it." Ava said.
"Why Ryan?" Henry gave a short laugh.
"He is a fool, and..."Ava spoke, but was cut off by Henry: "I know, I know. I will edit the CCTV camera footage. For now, take this receipt."
The recorder stopped playing. After a long moment Aiden spoke
"Ava Why?"
"Why not? I was paid generously," Ava said, smiling. No one spoke, so she continued: "Love and time. The two things that I needed."
"So, who is your lover? The true killer?" Aiden questioned again, keeping his emotions aside.
"Why don't you ask Ryan or Daniel?" Ava countered.
"Daniel knew me, didn't he?" Ava said before she started coughing. A white, foamy substance escaped her mouth.
"She's been poisoned!" Aiden shouted.