Rose stood frozen, her breath caught in her throat as she locked eyes with Mr. Greco. The tension in the air was palpable, almost unbearable. His rage was clear, but beneath it, she could see something else-fear, uncertainty, and a flicker of pain.
She was beyond shocked. Her mind raced, trying to grasp the enormity of what had just been revealed. She had suspected someone powerful, someone close to the victims, but never imagined it would lead back to his family.
For a moment, neither of them spoke, both caught in a silent battle of disbelief and realization. Rose could feel her pulse in her ears, each beat louder than the last.
Mr. Greco's eyes bore into hers, his usual calm and control completely shattered. "Do you understand what you're saying?" he finally rasped, his voice low and dangerous.
Rose blinked, trying to regain her composure. "I didn't know it would lead to your family, I didn't know this was personal."
Greco clenched his fists, his knuckles white. "You don't understand the kind of man you're accusing," he growled. "If you're wrong-"
"I'm not wrong," Rose interrupted, her voice trembling but resolute. "I triple-checked everything. The stab wounds, the profile-it all matches. I'm sorry, but it's him."
The silence stretched again, thick with the weight of her words. Greco's eyes flashed, and for a moment, Rose thought he might completely lose control.
But then, slowly, he turned away, running a hand through his hair, his shoulders tense. "This can't be happening," he muttered under his breath, his voice strained, almost broken.
Rose took a shaky breath, her heart still pounding in her chest. She had never imagined it would come to this-standing in front of her boss, accusing his father of murder.
When Mr. Greco pulled away and left, Rose finally allowed herself to breathe. The weight of the confrontation had been suffocating, and now that it was over, she felt a strange mix of relief and dread. She knew that this wasn't the end-far from it.
---
October 5, 2003
The case had garnered significant attention due to the prominence of the family involved. The investigation moved swiftly, with experiments being repeated and evidence confirmed. It wasn't long before Rose was called to testify.
Standing in court, the pressure was immense. Her palms felt clammy as she recounted her findings, each word carefully chosen. "Mr. Greco wanted another opinion, and he gave the case to me," Rose testified, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions beneath the surface. "So I conducted my own research, and this was the discovery I made."
She had decided to lie-not to protect the guilty, but to ensure Mr. Greco wasn't removed from his position. She had seen how deeply personal this case was for him, how it had consumed him. Despite everything, she didn't want him to lose more than he already had.
She couldn't quite explain why she had made that choice. Perhaps it was because, despite his flaws, Mr. Greco had been a good boss. Or maybe she simply saw someone who was suffering the loss of his sister, someone who didn't deserve to lose everything on top of that.
As she left the stand, she knew she'd done the right thing-
The courtroom erupted into cheers as the judge's voice rang out: "This court announces Samuel Solace as innocent." The sound of jubilation echoed through the room, while Samuel stood in shock, tears streaming down his face as the cuffs were removed from his wrists. After four long years, he was finally free.
As soon as he stepped out of the defendant's stand, he hurried across the room. Without hesitation, he threw his arms around Rose, pulling her into a tight embrace. Rose, caught off guard, patted his back as she felt the weight of his relief and gratitude.
YOU ARE READING
Found Obsession
Mystery / ThrillerIn the eerie aftermath of a chilling revelation, Detective Rose Hansley finds herself trapped in a labyrinth of deceit and forgotten memories. Unveiling the identity of a notorious serial killer was meant to bring closure, yet it shatters her world...