LOVE & REVENGE

Chapter 17: A Strange Case

At the outset, he claimed that the findings of this case were unbelievable. He went on to say that this case was among the oddest he had ever encountered. "Snake bites murdered all of the victims." Surprised, Charles cut him off and said, "Murder? What do you mean?"

The detective remarked: The victims were soldiers who once served in the same company in Afghanistan, had been inseparable until the war ended, and all returned to their countries. Then one by one, they were killed by snake bites. And the black hair of a woman, whose DNA belongs to a snake, was found in all the rooms. We also conducted a comprehensive investigation on the two German soldiers who were in your company in Afghanistan and were killed by a snake bite as well. They also had a trip to India and New Delhi, where they watched the dance of snakes next to a temple in one of the old markets, and at the same time, one of the Maharajah's snakes also had gone missing. A few days after their return to their country, both of them were killed by a snake. The Maharajah has lost the same snake and that snake has not returned to him yet.

Charles interrupted him and asked, "You mean that snake killed my friends on purpose and still looking for others?" The detective said sadly, "Maybe that snake has also fallen in love and not returning to the Maharajah."

Laura, who was sitting next to Charles, put her hand in Charles's hand and looked at him with horror.

Charles added, "Perhaps the murderer is the Maharajah, who disguises himself as a woman?" while leaning in his chair towards the detective and paying close attention to what he was saying.

The detective replied, "No, it can't be him because we took a DNA test from him and his DNA was different from what we found on the hair."

The detective then looked at Laura and said, "Excuse me, ma'am. We need to run a DNA test on any women who were associated with the victims or Charles." Both Laura and Charles were upset by the detective's request but saw that it was a way to identify the killer.

That night, Charles went to see Sophia at the hotel where she was staying. Seeing him, Sophia hugged and kissed him. She was wearing a thin cape that covered her white arms. Her room was cold, and the light in her room was dim as usual as she was having headaches from too much light and Charles knew about it.

Charles had asked several times to take her to his doctor friend for some examination and to find out the cause of her headache. But Sophia refused and was not willing to see a doctor.

That evening, Charles stayed with Sophia. Sophia's cape flew off her shoulders as she gave Charles the wine glass. Charles noticed a significant gash on her arm. He asked Sophia how she got hurt, and why she didn't go to the doctor to have her wound treated.

Sophia pulled her arm out of Charles's hands, picked up her wine glass, and said, "I was shopping in a store when suddenly a sharp rod fell from the shelf on my arm and injured me." Then she continued, "Don't worry, I've used some very strong local Indian remedies and it'll be fine soon,"

Then she went to bed and asked Charles to join her. Charles did not ask her anything more and went to her and hugged her. Sophia's body was as cold and damp as ever as if she had just come out of the shower.

A few days had passed and the result of Laura's test was negative. On the same day that the result of Laura's test was known, Sophia was at Charles's apartment. Charles took the opportunity to put the glass in which she had drunk wine in an envelope without her knowing it and gave it to the detective for the DNA test because the only women who were in contact with Charles were Laura and Sophia. Laura was a friend and Sophia was officially Charles's girlfriend. Charles never once doubted that Sophia might be the killer of his friends.

Charles planned to propose to Sophia at a party held at a friend's apartment on Sunday. He even bought a beautiful wedding ring with Laura's help without Sophia knowing it.

Laura didn't like Sophia and constantly felt a nagging fear whenever she looked into her eyes. But out of respect for Charles, she kept everything to herself and merely tried to be nice around her.

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