LAW SHADOWS

CHAPTER 8

Amelia's POV

Things were getting more complicated. All the clues pointed to Mr. Anderson, yet something still felt off—there was something fishy.

"Please help my husband, he would never kill someone. Please, save him!" Mrs. Anderson pleaded with me, her face streaked with tears when I walked outside the courtroom.

"Mom, pull yourself together," her son whispered, trying to comfort her.

"Dad can be bad, even greedy, but he's not a killer. Please help him," her daughter, Ember added, her voice breaking with desperation.

"I'm trying my best, but every clue we have points to him," I said, trying to manage their expectations.

"It must be a trap, I'm sure of it," her other son, Ellon insisted. He had a point.

This is a chance, Mr. Anderson claimed he had returned home for lunch and was on his way back to the office when he fell unconscious. Something wasn't right.

"Mrs. Anderson, would it be okay to ask you a few questions?" I asked carefully.

"Me? Why?" She seemed startled.

"As you were likely the last person to see him before he went back to the office, it's important to understand everything. He said he returned home for lunch, correct?"

Her tone shifted slightly. "What does that have to do with the case?"

"Everything, if you want to help your husband. We need your cooperation."

"Mom, it's fine. You didn't do anything wrong. Don't be scared, we're here," her son reassured her.

Mrs. Anderson hesitated before nodding. "Okay... whatever you need."

"Let's step this way." Dan gestured toward a nearby café as I quickly made a call.

"Dr. Susan, do we have the results?" I asked.

"Yes, it's positive. He was drugged," Dr. Susan confirmed.

"Thank you. Please send me the full report and I'll collect it later." I hung up and joined Dan and Mrs. Anderson.

"So, Mrs. Anderson, please tell me about the last time you saw Mr. Anderson," I began.

"Like always, he came home for lunch. That day was no different. He ate, and then he left," she said, her eyes darting nervously.

"Who cooked for him?" I asked.

"I did. He doesn't like the servants preparing his meals," she replied.

"And do you also serve him?"

"Yes, I always serve him myself. The servants just set the table."

"Okay. Was there anything unusual about him that day? Did he mention feeling sick or off in any way?"

Mrs. Anderson hesitated, just for a fraction of a second, before responding. "No... no, he seemed fine."

I didn't miss the hesitation. "That's all for now, Mrs. Anderson. Thank you for your time."

"Thank you," she muttered, her eyes still full of worry. "You're very brave for doing this."

After they left, Dan turned to me. "What was that all about?"

"I think we need to speak to Mr. Anderson again," I said, my mind racing.

"You found something, didn't you?" Dan asked, intrigued.

"I think so, but I want to confirm it with him first."

We drove to the police station in separate cars. My head was buzzing with the possibilities, the puzzle slowly coming together.