CHAIN OF TRUTH

CHAPTER V

   Agatha seized the moment to probe further, questioning Mr. Minnal about Roy's murky past. He left the door ajar as he retrieved a weathered letter, passing it to Enola. "I think you should visit the orphanage if you truly wish to unravel the enigma of Roy," he suggested cryptically. "He was undoubtedly a good kid, but he harbored dark tendencies that could prove to be a menace to society."

Expressing gratitude, Agatha bid farewell to Mr. Minnal, and they embarked on their journey to the orphanage. During the drive, Edwin couldn't suppress his ruminations, reflecting on the eerie atmosphere that pervaded the house. "This Roy or Robin, whatever alias he assumed, was never a good fit," he opined, his tone tinged with suspicion. "I don't see a single photo where the family appears genuinely content with his presence."

Enola prodded for more insights, her mind racing with possibilities. With furrowed brows, Edwin and Agatha struggled to articulate their thoughts. Enola interjected, her voice filled with determination, "Not just that, think about it—why would two couples venture to an orphanage so distant from their town just to adopt a child? It seems incongruous, like trying to force a square peg into a round hole."

As they sat in the dimly lit office of the orphanage, the weight of their investigation pressing heavily upon them, Copper's voice crackled through the phone, breaking the tense silence. "Guys, there's something off about this case," Copper's tone was grave, "Mia was raped and killed by only 4 people, while the 5th person stood and shot a video of it." Agatha's sharp mind immediately leaped to conclusions. "Let me guess," she interjected, her voice cutting through the air like a knife, "that person was Mary. She harbored a lifelong hatred for Mia and wanted her gone for good."

Copper paused, stunned by Agatha's intuitive leap. "Yes, but how did you know?" he questioned; his voice tinged with curiosity. Ignoring the inquiry, Agatha pressed forward with her plan. "Listen to me carefully, Copper," she instructed, her tone commanding, "I need you to go to St. Peters High School, where we saved the little girl, and inquire about Mia, Mary, and the other victims." With a nod of acknowledgment, Copper hung up the phone, signaling his compliance with Agatha's directive. The crew wasted no time, swiftly making their way to the orphanage located just outside City High. The building, a weathered and forgotten relic of society, loomed before them as they stepped inside. The father of the orphanage greeted them with a weariness born of years spent tending to the lost and abandoned.

As Agatha presented the photos of Roy, the father's eyes widened in recognition. "How could I forget this boy?" he murmured; his voice heavy with regret. He recounted Roy's tragic tale, a story of innocence lost and darkness encroaching. "Roy was a good kid when he came here," the father reminisced, his voice tinged with sorrow. "But Father Dobber, he saw something in Roy. He made sure the boy never found a home, even as families came to take him away." The father's words painted a picture of a man consumed by his own demons, a man whose death had been shrouded in mystery until Roy's confession. "Roy confessed to killing Father Dobber," the father revealed, his voice trembling with emotion. "But for a 6-year-old, it was hard for anyone to believe his words."

As the gravity of Roy's story settled upon them, the crew knew they were delving deeper into a darkness that threatened to consume them all. But they pressed on, driven by a relentless pursuit of truth and justice in a world stained by the shadows of its own secrets. As Edwin clicked through the disturbing photos, each one revealing a darker layer of Roy's troubled past, Agatha's interrogation intensified. "What happened after that, father?" Edwin's voice was steady, but his eyes betrayed his growing unease.