Chapter 89

#89 “I Have Few Names in Mind.”

Alexander’s anxiety had reached its zenith as he grappled with the relentless barrage of adversity that seemed to envelop Sophia. Every turn of events, every new piece of evidence, conspired against her.

The swiftness with which the police had arrived at the crime scene, the damning circumstances surrounding the incident, all pointed to a sinister plot that aimed to frame her. He could not stand idly by and watch the woman he loved suffer under this mounting storm.

It was his secretary who had summoned him, urging him to watch the news. There was a sense of foreboding in her voice as she spoke over the phone, making it clear that the situation had escalated.

Alexander’s hands trembled slightly as he reached for the remote control and turned on the television.

The news anchor’s voice echoed through the room, and the screen displayed the headline of the hour:

“High-Profile Murder Case Unfolds in London.”

The news segment offered a chilling account of the previous night’s events. Dramatic music underlined the grim tone of the report, and images of the crime scene flashed across the screen.

A cluster of police cars and flashing sirens created a stark tableau of chaos and crime. The reporters painted a vivid picture of the police’s swift response to a murder at a high-end apartment in London, complete with the discovery of a lifeless body and a suspect being detained at the scene.

Alexander’s heart sank as he watched the footage, knowing full well who that detained suspect was.

The story painted Sophia as a prominent figure, now ensnared in a criminal investigation. Her reputation was on the line, and the battle to clear her name seemed more formidable than ever.

With clenched fists, Alexander knew that he couldn’t simply stand by and watch Sophia’s life unravel on live television. Determination surged through him as he decided to take matters into his own hands. It was time to do whatever it took to unearth the truth and clear Sophia’s name, no matter how deep the conspiracy ran.

In the stark, sterile interrogation room, Sophia sat composed and collected, her mind sharp and her wits about her. The harsh overhead light cast an unforgiving glow across the plain table, where her hands were neatly folded. Across from her, two police officers observed her closely, ready to scrutinize her every word and gesture.

The senior officer, Detective Inspector Harrison, cleared his throat and began the interrogation. “Miss Johnson, thank you for your cooperation. Let’s revisit the events of last night, shall we?

Sophia nodded calmly, her gaze never wavering. “Of course, Detective. I’ll do my best to recount everything as accurately as possible.”

With a steady voice, she detailed the strange sequence of events that had transpired the previous night. How she had been lured to her late grandfather’s former apartment with the promise of information about him, how she had been struck from behind, rendering her unconscious, and the surreal moment she awoke with a gun clutched in her hand, next to a lifeless stranger she didn’t recognize.

Detective Inspector Harrison scribbled down notes as she spoke, his partner, Detective Constable Turner, observing with a thoughtful expression. “Miss Johnson, can you remember any details about the person who lured you to the apartment? Anything that could help us identify them?”

Sophia paused, her brows knitting in thought. “I’m afraid not, Detective. The person who contacted me remained quite vague about their identity. He recognized me on the street and called me by name, but did not introduce himself. I can say nothing more than what he was wearing, a long black coat and a hat. The next day he was wearing the same clothes, his eyes were blue, he was about 40 years old.”

The detectives exchanged a glance, and Sophia sensed their skepticism. She knew her situation was delicate, and the circumstances made her seem suspicious. Nevertheless, she maintained her composure, determined to cooperate fully.

Detective Constable Turner leaned forward, studying her closely. “Miss Johnson, did you recognize the victim, the man you found dead in the apartment?”

Sophia shook her head, her voice unwavering. “No, I’m afraid not. I had never seen him before. I don’t know how or why he ended up there.”

Detective Inspector Harrison nodded at her responses. “You have no idea why this man might be related to you? Is that what you’re telling me?”

“Exactly,” Sophia replies bluntly. “What about the apartment, you mentioned it was your grandfather’s.

What was his name again?”

“Christopher Johnson.” Sophia says. The detective leaned in, his tone grave. “Miss Johnson, we’ve conducted a thorough investigation into the apartment where these events took place. It has been vacant for three years, and there is no record of anyone named Christopher Johnson ever residing there.”

Sophia’s brow furrowed. “I understand your findings, Detective, but that apartment belonged to my grandfather. He might not have been the official tenant, but it was his property I checked before going there on the website of London’s town planning.”

“You checked? Don’t you know your family property?” the detective asks suspiciously.

“Unfortunately no, that’s why I came to London to find out more about my grandfather, as I’ve already explained to you.”

Detective Constable Turner chimed in, his voice skeptical. “Miss Johnson, the apartment is not what it once was. It’s been used as a drug den for some time now, frequented by addicts for drug use and trafficking. We found paraphernalia and evidence of drug- related.activities.”

Sophia’s expression remained unchanged, though her mind raced. She knew the importance of staying collected under scrutiny. “I can’t explain the current state of the apartment, but I assure you, my grandfather had no involvement in any illegal activities.”

Detective Inspector Harrison proceeded to present a small bag of white powder, the same substance found in the deceased’s pocket. He placed it on the table in front of Sophia. “We also discovered this in the victim’s possession. Miss Johnson, this white powder has all the characteristics of an illegal narcotic. Care to explain why it was found in the deceased’s pocket?”

Sophia’s eyes locked onto the bag of white powder, her mind working quickly to form a response.

“Detective, I can’t explain that. I didn’t have any knowledge of the drugs, and I certainly didn’t place them there. As I mentioned before, I woke up with a gun in my hand, next to a stranger’s lifeless body. I was as surprised as anyone.”

The detectives exchanged a glance, their skepticism palpable. Sophia knew that her story was difficult to believe, and the circumstances seemed to weigh heavily against her. To make matters worse, the police revealed that the nearby surveillance cameras had long been dysfunctional, leaving no recordings to corroborate her story.

Detective Constable Turner leaned forward, his tone stern “We’ve considered the situation at the scene, and it strongly suggests that you were involved in a dispute with a drug dealer during a drug purchase. This resulted in a struggle over the gun and ultimately led to the dealer’s death. Can you explain how your fingerprints were found on the weapon?”

Sophia didn’t waver. She met their gazes with unwavering determination. “I assure you, I had no involvement in any drug deal or struggle over a weapon. My fingerprints ended up on the gun because while I was unconscious someone put it in my hand.”

As the interrogation reached a temporary pause, Sophia found herself in the unsettling quiet of her thoughts. She sat in the interrogation room, her mind working diligently to dissect the events that had unfolded. It was evident that the stranger had approached her with a plan, to frame her for a crime she had no part in.

Moments later, Sophia require the lawyer Alexander had retained for her to come to the police station.

When he arrived in the interrogation room she directly began.

“Let me be clear,” Sophia stated firmly. “There are very few people who would have both the motive and the means to orchestrate this kind of scheme against me. It’s likely someone who holds a grudge or perceives me as a threat. With the right investigation, we can quickly identify the culprit and clear my name.”

Her lawyer nodded in agreement. “You make a valid point, Sophia. I will start by examining all possible motives and digging deeper into who could potentially want to harm you in this manner.”

Sophia’s eyes glinted with determination. “I firmly believe in my innocence. I won’t allow myself to be wrongfully accused. And I have few names in mind.”