Allegedly

Chapter 10: Under Investigation

The hum of police radios filled the air, mingling with the distant sounds of footsteps as investigators moved through the house. Yellow crime scene tape stretched across the entry to Marcus's room, marking it off as a place where something terrible had happened, something that needed answers.

Rowan stood near the kitchen window, watching two officers speaking quietly just outside the house. His stomach was twisted in knots. It was strange seeing the ranch overrun by police, detectives, and forensic teams, as if a shadow had been cast over the place. Emma's sanctuary had become a crime scene.

Inside, the tension was palpable. Cecilia and Hui sat at the dining table, their faces drawn and pale, while Yuthika busied herself in the kitchen, nervously wiping down counters that didn't need cleaning. Ada lingered by the doorway, her arms crossed over her chest, her eyes distant. She hadn't spoken much since that morning, but Rowan could feel the weight of her gaze whenever their paths crossed.

The front door creaked open, and Detective Elena Navarro stepped inside. She was a tall, no-nonsense woman in her late 40s, with sharp eyes that missed nothing. Her dark hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail, and she wore a crisp, navy suit. She moved through the house with an air of quiet authority, her expression hard as she surveyed the room.

"Good morning, everyone," Detective Navarro said, her voice cool and professional. "I understand this is a difficult time, but we need to ask some questions. The faster we can get answers, the sooner we can find out who did this."

Rowan swallowed, his throat dry. The detective's presence felt like a storm brewing just on the horizon, ready to pull everyone into the chaos.

Detective Navarro motioned toward the kitchen. "I'd like to speak with each of you individually. We'll start with Mr. Hui and Mrs. Cecilia." She glanced at them, her eyes narrowing slightly. "If you don't mind."

Cecilia and Hui exchanged a look, their faces tense, before standing and following Navarro into the kitchen. The door clicked softly shut behind them, leaving Rowan, Yuthika, and Ada alone in the dining room.

"Rowan?" Yuthika whispered, glancing at him with wide, worried eyes. "Do you think they'll find out what really happened?"

Rowan leaned against the wall, his mind racing. "They'll find something. The question is, what will they do with it?"

He hadn't told anyone about what he overheard the night before-about Hui and Cecilia's conversation. His mind kept circling back to it, wondering if their plans to sell the ranch were somehow connected to Marcus's murder. But the timing didn't make sense. Marcus had been their lawyer, helping with the estate. Why kill him now?

Rowan's thoughts were interrupted as Detective Navarro re-emerged from the kitchen, her expression unreadable. Hui and Cecilia followed close behind, Cecilia's face pale and drawn, while Hui maintained his usual stoic demeanor. Rowan watched them carefully, sensing that the conversation had left a mark on both of them.

"Mr. Rowan, I'd like to speak with you next," Detective Navarro said, her eyes locking onto him. There was a weight behind her gaze, a quiet intensity that made Rowan's pulse quicken.

Rowan nodded and followed the detective into the kitchen. The room felt smaller now, the air thick with the tension of what was about to happen. Navarro took a seat at the table, motioning for Rowan to do the same. She pulled out a small notebook and clicked her pen.

"Let's start with last night," Navarro said, her tone businesslike. "Where were you when the murder took place?"

Rowan ran a hand through his hair, trying to keep his voice steady. "I was at the dining table with everyone else. We were having dinner when we heard Ada scream from upstairs."

Navarro's pen scratched across the paper. "And you hadn't seen Marcus before that? No interaction with him earlier in the day?"

Rowan shook his head. "No, I hadn't even seen him arrive. I didn't know he was here until..." He hesitated, the image of Marcus's body flashing in his mind. "Until we found him."

Navarro leaned forward slightly, her eyes narrowing. "You're close to Ms. Emma, correct? Have you noticed anything unusual in the days leading up to the murder? Anyone acting out of character, perhaps?"

Rowan swallowed hard, considering his options. Should he mention the conversation between Hui and Cecilia? Should he talk about Ada's strange behavior? He wasn't sure who to trust anymore, but keeping quiet didn't seem like the right option either.

"I overheard something," Rowan said carefully. "Last night, after dinner. Hui and Cecilia were talking about selling the property. Hui's been pushing for it, and now with Marcus gone, there's nothing stopping them from moving forward with the sale."

Navarro's eyes flickered with interest. "Go on."

Rowan took a deep breath. "I don't know if it has anything to do with the murder, but Hui's been acting strange. He's ambitious-too ambitious, if you ask me. He's using Marcus's death as an opportunity to push Cecilia to sell the ranch."

Navarro's pen paused for a moment, her expression thoughtful. "That's interesting. Did they say anything else that might suggest they were involved in the murder?"

Rowan hesitated. "No, not directly. But I got the feeling that Hui will do whatever it takes to get what he wants."

The detective jotted down a few more notes before looking up. "I appreciate your honesty, Rowan. We're going to investigate all angles, and what you've told me will help. But I need you to be careful. This situation is more complicated than it seems."

Rowan nodded, his mind spinning. Complicated didn't even begin to cover it.

Navarro stood, motioning toward the door. "That'll be all for now. We'll be in touch if we need more from you."

Rowan stood as well, feeling the weight of the investigation pressing down on him. As he left the kitchen, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was missing something-some crucial detail that would unlock the truth behind Marcus's death.

---

Later that afternoon, as the police continued their work inside the house, Rowan found himself sitting with Emma in her study. She was calm, her hands resting on the armrests of her chair, Lucy at her feet as usual. But there was a tension in the air, an unspoken heaviness that neither of them could ignore.

"The police have been asking a lot of questions," Emma said quietly, breaking the silence. "They won't find what they're looking for, you know. This house-it holds too many secrets."

Rowan frowned, leaning forward. "What do you mean?"

Emma's expression remained calm, but there was something in her voice that made Rowan uneasy. "I know my daughter, Rowan. I know what she's capable of. But she's not the only one with secrets. Hui has ambition, yes, but that's not what this is about. There's something deeper going on. Something tied to this land, to the people in this house."

Rowan's pulse quickened. "Do you think Marcus's death is connected to the ranch?"

Emma nodded slowly. "I do. But it's not about the sale. It's about control. This ranch-my home-has always been more than just land. It's a symbol. And someone wants that symbol destroyed."

Rowan's mind raced, trying to make sense of Emma's words. Who would want to destroy the ranch? Was this really about control, or was it something more personal?

Before he could ask more questions, the sound of footsteps approaching the study interrupted them. Detective Navarro appeared in the doorway, her expression serious.

"We've found something," she said, her eyes locking onto Rowan. "It might be the key to understanding what really happened to Marcus."