Archer can't comprehend Gabe's state of mind when he called this night a 'Good night'. Hell, it wasn't because the person they thought was murdered walked his way to the Police Station. Then who was the person? Why was he disguised as William? And Dexter, why was he the only one harmed? Sipping the warm ginger tea Archer stared at Gabe in a comfortable position.
"I wonder why Daddy Jared got so emotional?" he broke the silence between them, Archer glanced at his watch. 1 am and they were solving a case whose family must've slept so peacefully at his arrival.
Even if it was late and Gabe's eyes were blinking rapidly, what he said did make sense.
"Right. Didn't he once nearly killed him? And Cole, he didn't let Mr. Jared hug William either." Archer said and then took a pause, nearly all the officers had left. Mr. Nelson had gone to visit his daughter and Ally; she was on her desk sleeping after working till 12:30 am. Gabe stopped her and said it was best if she spent her night here.
"William, I think the boy is hiding something."
"Why would he? It would only expose him to danger."
"And Gabe, I have to tell you something."
Gabe's eyes glimmers and he nodded for Archer to proceed.
"I suspect Miss. Audrey Bell to be Miss. Aurora Denham."
A pause, his lips pursed in a grimace.
"I know, does this connect the dots from all sides?"
"Rowan, I eavesdropped their conversation, the guy must be really mad at her."
"What did you hear?" Gabe wriggled on his chair and Archer recalled Rowan's exact words
"He asked her whether she slept with him to be a chef at the Gray's mansion. He then took her to his car. I didn't hear after that." Archer raised his hands and sipped another sip, the ginger flavor didn't awaken him but made his weariness bearable.
"Then we should interrogate Rowan again." Gabe said. Archer shook his head, smiled a quirky smile and then said,
"No, he would've if he wanted to." Gabe nodded and then blinked blankly staring at Archer, for a solution
"Redressal?"
"Jesus Christ. Love made you dumb."
"Archer! That's not true." he sulked angrily crossing his arms.
"Will you speak up?"
"We interrogate Audrey aka Aurora."
Gabe flashed a cheeky smile, his sharp mind finally unraveled Archer's plan because he nodded. Smiled to himself.
Gabriel's back.
"I will handle it. Tomorrow we call her and William."
Archer's lips parted, amused by Gabriel's plan of calling William along with her. This way, if she would refuse to speak then William will anyway.
"You're a genius."
"Of course, I turned 22 today."
"Wait..." Archer's eyes widened as he opened his phone, the date 10th November.
"Happy Birthday Gabriel."
"I am blushing. You're the only one to remember." Gabe taunted holding his face which was in a pout.
"Your father, did he text you?" Archer asked, reading the files of William's wealth. Glanced at Gabe.
"No. Why would he?" Gabe shrugged his shoulders like he didn't care but he did. Of course, family is important. Birthday wishes from them are important.
"I will treat you to a dinner." Archer smiled and watched Gabe's face lit up with surprise.
"I am an expensive friend."
"I know. Dress less professional." He said pointing at Gabe's night suit which had guns and police cap.
"I don't understand casual." he muttered.
"You're 22 not 62, even they have better fashion sense than you."
"Your words are harsh, remember it's my birthday." Gabe furrowed his eyebrows, dramatically keeping his hand on his heart.
"Guys, you're too loud." Ally complained in her sleepy tone while Officer Becker was still asleep.
"Sorry Ally." Gabe said and she chuckled, her eyes closed as she rested her head on her hands.
"Gabriel is so charming."
"She wished me a happy birthday but in her style." Gabe smiled an awkward smile and Archer wondered if he was really clueless about Ally's feelings. Suddenly he recalled an important statement he received from Harold tonight.
"First, I was suspicious about Harold Jones but turns out he might be the only normal one."
Gabe's eyes narrowed as he leaned closer to Archer, that way Ally could sleep peacefully. He is so concerned.
"I don't remember interrogating him." Gabe pursed his lips.
"We talked outside, when the grays were having their re-union, he told me a big secret about Rowan, Pattrick and Jared's relationship."
"Wow, what is it?"
"You know, Pattrick and Jared are rivals?" Gabe nodded as Archer felt experienced, useful and somewhat important to this case.
"Nobody else is involved in their rivalry surprisingly William and Rowan are best-friends..."
"It's the LV case again. I just don't get it." Gabe scoffed, his hands in his hair.
"They're not rivals, so why are their daddy's?"
'Joanna. I was curious about Harold's past statement when he was so sure it would've been Joanna who killed William or maybe Kidnap."
"Joanna started this rivalry?"
"No. Turns out this is a more complex scenario, a love scenario."
"Ikon's?" Gabe's lips curled up and Archer resisted the urge to hit him, after all he was half asleep.
"Rowan is 24 years while Joanna is 21."
"Hmmm..."
"Back then in 2019, Rowan and Joanna had grown closer at the time, Jared and Pattrick were in a heated argument related to their business." Archer continued "Joanna wanted to get married to Rowan, she was 19 while Rowan was 22, hearing this Jared tried to keep her daughter's happiness above him and approached Pattrick about their relationship, Pattrick at the time after giving it a deep thought also agreed to do the same but Jared had bad intentions after all."
"What kind of?" Gabe raised his eyebrows.
"He planned to kill Rowan once he married Joanna and then transfer his shares to Joanna, Joanna sadly didn't know but someone did." Archer's eyes glimmered as he saw Gabe's slow nod.
"William knew."
"Right!" Archer said and they both looked at Ally, still asleep.
"He then called off the engagement on the gray's behalf, leading to feud between him and his father including him and Rowan's father Pattrick."
"COMPLEX." Gabe muttered
"Joanna tried to find an answer but he refused to tell her and when he found out about her plan to run away with Rowan," Archer inhaled a deep breath at the intensity and hot flashes he felt imagining the circumstances "He got her engaged with Calum, the rich businessman, Jared and she both were against it except Cole, he kept a condition towards Joanna either 'Marry Calum' or 'Run away with Rowan and cut off all her relations with the grays'."
"Cole isn't the bad guy? Joanna wasn't mad at him?"
"She was but Harold said she mostly blamed William for the initiative."
"Why didn't he tell the truth?"
"He didn't want her to find out how low their father could stoop for money."
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I have exams approaching guys so I didn't refresh new chapters. I still have to study so it might get delayed.
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Finding Crimsoned
Mystery / Thriller"The world is cruel, I will be the flower." "Because?" "It has thorns that could cut deep, the only thing that people stupidly hold onto." Archer Brooks is an officer who has lost all his hope after entering into the Frederick Ville's Police Departm...
