Bella's heart raced as she examined the kitchen, her instincts kicking in as unease settled deep within her. The lingering scent of the poison seemed to grow stronger, mingling with the aroma of spices and cooked food, creating a nauseating blend. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.
“Leo! CO!” Bella called out, her voice sharp with urgency. “I need your help over here!”
They both rushed to her side, the CO's face shifting to concern as he observed Bella's tense demeanor. “What’s going on?”
“There’s something off about this fridge,” she said, gesturing emphatically. “We need to move it. If the poison is here, it could be hidden away in the food.”
The CO nodded, taking charge. “Alright, let’s move it. On three.”
“Three!” Leo counted down, and they heaved together, pushing the fridge away from the wall. As it slid across the tile, a foul odor escaped, stronger than before, making Bella’s stomach churn.
Once the fridge was moved, Bella's breath caught in her throat. Slumped over on the floor behind it was another soldier, lifeless and pale. His uniform was stained, and his eyes were wide open in a haunting stare.
“Oh my God!” Bella exclaimed, stepping back in shock, her heart pounding in her chest. “We need to secure the area!”
The CO immediately radioed for backup, his voice steady but urgent. “We have a situation in the kitchen. Another soldier down. I need medics and additional personnel to assist.”
As he relayed the details, Bella knelt beside the fallen soldier, her mind racing. She could see signs of a struggle—overturned containers, scattered utensils, and a small bloodstain on the floor that hadn’t been there before. It was clear that this wasn’t just a case of poisoning; something more sinister was at play.
“Bella, be careful,” Leo cautioned, crouching beside her, his expression serious. “Don’t touch anything until we get the forensic team here.”
“I know,” she replied, forcing herself to stay focused. “But we need to find out how long he’s been here. We need to look for any clues that might explain what happened.”
As the CO finished his call, he knelt next to them. “We’ll need to secure this entire area and interview anyone who was in here. This changes everything. If this soldier was murdered, we need to figure out who did it and why.”
Bella felt a mix of dread and determination wash over her. “There must be a connection between him and the other soldier. We need to find out what they were involved in.”
The CO nodded, his expression hardening. “We will. Let’s get the area locked down and gather any surveillance footage from the kitchen. That might give us insight into what happened leading up to this.”
As they waited for the forensic team to arrive, Bella’s mind raced with possibilities. The puzzle was becoming more complicated by the minute, but she was determined to piece it together. With each moment, the stakes grew higher, and she felt the pressure to find answers before anyone else was hurt.
“I won’t let this go unanswered,” Bella whispered to herself, feeling Leo’s reassuring presence beside her. “We’ll find the truth.”
Lucas strode into the kitchen, his heart pounding in his chest as he took in the chaotic scene before him. The air was thick with tension, and the grim sight of the fallen soldier slumped against the fridge sent a chill down his spine. He could see Bella kneeling beside the body, her expression a mix of concentration and determination, while Leo stood protectively by her side.
YOU ARE READING
An Unforgiving Love
RomanceCaptain Lucas Morani has just returned home after five grueling years of military service in Iraq, his mind constantly occupied by thoughts of the woman he left behind. But when he arrives to find his girlfriend has moved on with his own brother, th...
