SHE

Chapter 2

The next morning, Olivia and Ethan arrived at the precinct early, their unresolved feelings hovering in the background but not distracting them from their work. They had a murder to solve, and they were determined to crack the case.

"Let's go over the suspects again," Olivia said, spreading the photographs on the conference table. "Who had the most to gain from Charles Madison's death?"

Ethan pointed to a photo of a stern-looking woman. "His business partner, Angela Reed. They've had public disputes over the direction of the company. She stands to inherit a significant share."

"Right," Olivia nodded, "and what about personal connections? Family, friends, anyone with a grudge?"

Ethan shuffled through the files. "His wife, Linda, claims she was at a charity event all night, but we haven't corroborated her alibi yet. And there's his son, Tyler, who recently had a falling out with Charles over some reckless spending."

They decided to start with Angela Reed. As they drove to her office, the tension between them eased into a comfortable silence, both of them focused on the task at hand.

Angela Reed's office was as austere as the woman herself. She greeted them with a thin smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"Detectives, to what do I owe the pleasure?" she asked, her tone icy.

"We have a few questions about your business partner, Charles Madison," Ethan said, his voice professional but firm.

Angela's expression didn't change. "I assume this is about his murder. I've already told the police everything I know."

Olivia leaned forward slightly. "We understand, Ms. Reed, but we need to verify some details. Can you tell us where you were the night of his death?"

Angela sighed. "I was at a business dinner with potential investors. You can check with them."

"We will," Ethan said. "Did you notice anything unusual about Charles's behavior recently? Any threats or unusual interactions?"

Angela's eyes flickered with something akin to frustration. "Charles was always paranoid, but recently he was more agitated. He mentioned something about being followed, but he wouldn't elaborate."

After wrapping up their questions, Olivia and Ethan stepped out of the office. Ethan's phone buzzed with a message.

"It's the lab," he said, reading the text. "They've found traces of an unusual substance on Charles's computer. Something that could have wiped the security footage."

Olivia's eyes widened. "That narrows our suspect list. Let's head back and see what else they found."

Back at the precinct, the lab techs confirmed that the substance was a rare type of digital cleanser, often used by professional hackers.

"This means our killer had access to some serious tech," Olivia mused. "Someone with both motive and means."

As they pored over the new evidence, a realization struck Ethan. "What if it wasn't just about the money or business rivalry? What if Charles discovered something that made him a target?"

Olivia nodded slowly. "Maybe he stumbled onto something bigger, something that put him in real danger."

Their investigation took them deeper into Charles Madison's life, revealing a web of deceit and hidden connections. Late one night, as they worked side by side in the office, Olivia couldn't help but glance at Ethan, his brow furrowed in concentration.

"Ethan," she began softly, "about what you said last night..."

He looked up, his expression open and vulnerable. "Yeah?"

"I feel the same way," Olivia admitted, her heart pounding. "But I'm scared. I don't want to lose what we have."

Ethan reached across the table, taking her hand in his. "We'll take it one step at a time. We're good together, Liv—both as partners and maybe something more."

Their moment was interrupted by a sudden breakthrough in the case. The lab techs had traced the cleanser to a known hacker who had recently been in contact with Tyler Madison.

"It's time to pay Tyler another visit," Ethan said, a determined glint in his eye.

As they drove to Tyler's apartment, the city lights flickering past, Olivia felt a sense of clarity. Whatever lay ahead, they would face it together, not just as partners in law, but as partners in life.