Trapped Underneath a Secret

5- The Hardest Part of the Case

I went in and chief was waiting for me at my desk. "So what's his name?" I knew what he was talking about and I didn't want to tell about Bry yet. It just didn't seem time to tell about something good finally happening to me. I smiled and said,"I have no clue what you talking about." He grinned at me in a cocky kind of way, "Tell me, I will find out and you know," He leaned against my desk, "I care for you Clara, if you want to be with a man, he better be a freaking gentleman or a prince. I want to check him out." I know he cares, but I know he'll freak out Brian with his protectiveness so I just said,"After this case I will, I want this scumbag in prison for the rest of his life because he thought he was a "gentleman"" Chief knew I was passionate for my cases, so he let it go and let me get to work.
I looked at the clock it was 7am, I had worked 7-hours straight. I texted Bry and said,"Sorry, this case is so hard. I know who did it... I just need proof" "It's ok sweetie...just be safe!" I smiled. I am so lucky to find a man not jealous but just worried that my job is hard and dangerous, but I fight for a better cause. The hardest part of a case, is the case itself. Like for example, if you have 100% absolute certainty that you know who did it, but no proof then that person can get away. I knew who made Carly's face unidentifiable but I couldn't prove it... It made me so angry. I wanted him in bars for the rest of his life. Then Mr. Brown came in.
"Ms. Bean... I wanted to apologize." I told him he could sit down and I said,"Why is that? Is there something in this case you haven't told?" He looked like he was sweating and he was flustered, "W-w-w-well um.... I just felt uncomfortable about last night when I got to my car." He explained that he was just worried that justice wouldn't be served for someone he cared about. He then said, "I loved her in ways I can't explain..." To me that stuck out, for a man who was known to beat women he was in a relationship with to say that... Well let's just say it was the icing on the cake for me! "What do you mean by that Mr. Brown?" "We were in a relationship, secretly because it could be a little scandalous if anyone found out." I thought to myself, "Why would someone who was single think it was scandalous to date someone, was it because he worked with her? There's more to this" I asked him curiously, "Why would it be scandalous?" "Because well..... um.... I worked with her. If it got out it could mean that she probably gives me cases over other qualified lawyers. Which by the way isn't true, I made sure that favoritism wasn't in our relationship." He started tearing up and started breathing heavily, "Detective, I want it on the record I know about my past history and I have learned through out my friends' marriages and relationships that it takes THAT one person to have you stop all the bad horrible habits I had. Carly was my one person. I promise you I did not do this awful crime to my love." He started crying and handed me a box, like a small box that had a piece of jewelry in it. "I know you guys still have her body, but the night she had that... happen to her. She was supposed to meet me for dinner and I was gonna give her this." He opened the box up, it was a ring, like a diamond filled but simple and elegant ring."I wanted to make "us" official and ask her to marry me. The ring will always be hers and I don't care. Please have the ring on her finger when you release the body for her funeral." He just started balling and I honestly felt for him... maybe he didn't do it. I felt honestly the pain he was in. To think a horrible crime happened to the love of his life made me think about Brain and how I would act if I found out that happened to him. I honestly would have acted the same way.
         I brought myself back to reality and said,"Mr. Brown....  I am so sorry about what happened to you. I assure you that I will find whoever did this to Carly.... I'm sure she would have said yes, the way you talk about her will bring her name happiness." I gave a sympathetic smile because I felt so sorry for him, I lead him to the elevator and thought the whole time that another hard part of a case or any case is the pain that people deal with knowing they can never have a conversation with their loved one ever again. It's always painful to see their bloodshot eyes from crying all night and their rustic voice from the screaming and yelling. It breaks my heart but knowing I bring justice warms me up a little. "I am so sorry for your loss Mr. Brown. I can only imagine the pain you are in and I hope things get better for you." I smiled and he gave a smile back but in a "nothing will bring her back" kind of way and I knew nothing could and that hurt even more.