Eric's face contorted in a mix of shock and confusion. "Max, is this another one of your jokes?" he asked, a hint of desperation creeping into his voice. "I know we had our fun back in school, but this isn't funny anymore."
Max's expression remained stoic, but deep down, he wished it were just a joke. However, the information he had received about a murder, coupled with Eric's address, left him no choice but to proceed with his duties, no matter how difficult it was to investigate his friend.
Max's silence spoke volumes, his piercing gaze locking onto Eric's eyes with an unspoken seriousness. Eric's eyes searched for any hint of humor, but Max's face remained a mask of professionalism. The realization dawned on Eric that this was no joke.
A bead of sweat trickled down Eric's forehead as he nodded, his voice barely above a whisper. "Okay... you can search the house."
The rain-soaked streets were empty, save for a lone woman walking down the road, her features obscured by a nondescript coat and umbrella. Her voice was low and husky as she spoke into her phone, her words barely audible over the patter of the rain.
The man's voice on the other end of the line was smooth, almost menacing. "Have you done everything I told you?" he asked, his tone dripping with expectation.
The woman's response was hesitant, her voice laced with a growing sense of hurt. "I've planted the bodies in the house... and I've alerted the police."
The man's laughter was like a slap in the face, sending a shiver down the woman's spine. "If that's true," he said, his voice dripping with sadistic pleasure, "I'll keep my promise. But if you're lying... you know what will happen."
The woman's emotions boiled over, her voice cracking with anger and despair. "Shut up!" she spat, her words tumbling out in a furious rush. "I hate you! You're heartless, you, monster!"
The man's laughter grew louder, more menacing, but the woman cut him off, ending the call with a swift jab of her finger. "Animal," she hissed, her chest heaving with rage.
As she stood there, the rain pounding against her umbrella, the woman slowly regained control of her emotions. Her breathing slowed, her eyes narrowing into a cold, calculating gaze. With a quiet determination, she continued walking, disappearing into the rain-soaked streets like a ghost.
The search of Eric's house had been underway for over half an hour, with the three officers scouring every nook and cranny. Despite their thoroughness, they had yet to find any evidence of wrongdoing. Eric had remained by Officer Max's side throughout the search, trying to make sense of the situation.
Max, however, was bound by duty to keep the details of the investigation confidential. He longed to have a heart-to-heart talk with Eric, just like they used to in the good old days. But that was only possible if Eric was indeed innocent, and the information they had received was false.
As the search seemed to be winding down, Max couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. Maybe, just maybe, Eric was telling the truth. But just as they were about to conclude the search, a faint cry echoed from the other room.
"Officer Max, you need to see this!" Kamsi, one of the other officers, called out, his voice trembling with a mix of shock and trepidation. Max's heart sank, his relief short-lived. He exchanged a wary glance with Eric before hurrying to Kamsi's side, his mind racing with the possibilities. What could they have found?
As Max entered the game room, he was met with a sight that made his blood run cold. Two small, lifeless bodies lay on the floor, their tiny forms brutally mutilated. Kyle, the two-year-old, had a look of frozen terror on his face, his small chest cavity torn open, exposing his tiny heart. Tanya, the three-year-old, had a grotesque gash on her forehead, her bright blue eyes frozen in a permanent stare.
Eric's world seemed to crumble around him, his vision narrowing to the horrific scene before him. Max felt a wave of disappointment and betrayal wash over him, his mind reeling with the impossibility of it all. He thought back to the Eric he knew, the kind and gentle soul who would never harm a fly. But the sight before him told a different story.
Max's internal struggle was palpable, his mind torn between his loyalty to his friend and the gruesome reality before him. He couldn't help but wonder why Eric would commit such a heinous crime. The Eric he knew couldn't have done this... but the evidence spoke for itself.
Eric's eyes widened in confusion as Kamsi and Jordan, the two officers, restrained him. A thick, crimson rope was tied around his wrists, binding them behind his back. Eric knew the significance of the different colored ropes used by the authorities. A blue rope signified a suspect arrested under normal circumstances, with no resistance. A bright yellow rope was used for suspects who resisted arrest. But a red rope... a red rope was reserved for those who were deemed guilty before trial. It was a preemptive judgment that condemned him, regardless of the trial's outcome.
As the officers held him in place, Eric's gaze desperately sought out Officer Max, his eyes pleading for understanding. "Max, what's going on?" he asked, his voice laced with panic. "I don't know what's happening. Someone must have done this... they're still out there!"
Officer Max's expression remained impassive, his eyes fixed on the crime scene as he signaled for the officers to take Eric away. The silence was deafening, a stark contrast to Eric's increasingly frantic pleas.
As Eric was dragged away, he continued to demand answers from Officer Max. "Do you think I could do something like this?" he asked, his voice cracking with desperation. "Tell me! Do you really think I'm capable of this?"
The only response was Officer Max's silence, a silence that spoke volumes about the gravity of the situation. Eric's cries grew fainter as he was taken away, leaving Officer Max to contemplate the horrors that lay before him.
As they approached the front door, Eric continued to plead with Kamsi and Jordan, his words tumbling out in a desperate bid for understanding. Kamsi's patience was wearing thin, his voice firm but warning. "Don't resist any further, Eric. You know what will happen if you do."
Eric's struggles ceased, his chest heaving with exertion. "This is a mistake," he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper.
Kamsi's expression remained unyielding. "Save your words for the King," he advised, his tone devoid of emotion.
Eric's shoulders slumped in defeat, his gaze drifting downward. His mind reeled with the events of the day - the murdered children, the missing wife, and now, the humiliating red rope binding his wrists. How could things get any worse?
His eyes wandered to the left, and his gaze locked onto a woman in a coat, her features obscured by the hood. Their eyes met, and Eric felt an inexplicable jolt of recognition. The woman's gaze darted away, but Eric's eyes remained fixed on her.
She tried to sneak another glance at him, thinking he had looked away. But Eric's gaze never wavered. Their eyes met again, and this time, there was no mistaking the shock and recognition that flashed across their faces.
Eric's voice was barely audible as he whispered, "Ashley?" The woman's hand flew to her face, and she turned to flee, her eyes welling up with tears. Eric called out her name again, but she had already vanished into the distance.