I Knew I Loved You

Chapter Nineteen: Police Investigation

Arriving home, Manuel couldn't help but feel numb as he stared at the police cars that were parked outside of his home; his mind still reeling from what he had been told and he couldn't believe that this had happened to them. 

Finally, things had been going so well, they had a daughter that they loved and a baby on the way; this was something that he would have never imagined. 

None of it made any sense to him and he barely remembered to pay the taxi driver before he climbed out of the taxi in a daze; he didn't even notice the look of concern that he was offered. 

Wandering towards the front gate, Manuel could see only see even more police cars stationed outside his home; officers were searching for evidence in the gardens and lingering around the front door. 

"Excuse me sir... this area is off limits, there's a police investigation underway," an officer said stopping Manuel from stepping onto the property, he offered an apologetic look but they couldn't have anyone contaminating the crime scene. 

The entire house was being searched for clues about what had happened here and the officer had noticed several paparazzi had appeared to try and find out what was going on here. 

It was likely going to be plastered over the front pages in the morning, news like this wasn't going to just slip under the radar especially considering who had been involved. 

"I live here... my wife..." Manuel spluttered, his mind trying to stop picturing how his wife might have been found after what had happened to her. 

Images of her dead body flickered through his mind before he could stop them, his stomach turning and he felt like he was going to be sick again; he had thrown up just outside of the stadium when Carlo had been able to get him back down the tunnel away from the prying eyes of other players and the press covering the game. 

The officer seemed to understand and nodded his head before saying something into his radio that Manuel didn't catch; he was sure he looked terrible and traveling home had been a bit of a blare for him. 

Manuel didn't have to wait long before the chief investigator arrived with a grime look on his face, he nodded to the officer before he waved Manuel forward; he wasn't surprised that the man wasn't at his match right now.

No one would have been able to focus on what they were doing once they heard what had happened here; he was sure that one of his parents must have called the footballer to tell him of the break-in. 

Manuel slowly followed after the investigator, his eyes sweeping his front garden as he thought about what might lay inside the house and he felt even worse than when he had gotten out of the taxi. 

Stepping into his home, Manuel was surprised how normal everything looked as his eyes swept over the foyer; not much seemed out of place and he watched as the police continued to do their work. 

"We should be out of your way as soon as possible Mr Neuer... we would like to ask you some questions," the investigator told him, he could see that the man wasn't dealing with this very well and he didn't blame him. 

He would be the same if anything like this happened to his wife and his home while he had been away working; he was sure that this was something that would haunt them for a while. 

"Do you or your wife have any enemies? Anyone that would want to hurt either of you?" the investigator asked, he just wanted to cover all the bases and things weren't going to be any better if they left it a few days. 

Manuel shook his head, his mind trying to think of anyone that they knew that could have done this; he was sure that their home had been targeted for other reasons.