One Hundred and Twenty Nine

CHAPTER 129

The woman turned her head, squinting in the sunlight. "Yes, that's me. How can I help you?"

"We're investigating an accident that happened a few days ago," Alicia explained. "We heard you may have seen something unusual."

The frown on Mrs. Jenkins' face deepened as she furrowed her brow, thinking hard. "Oh, that dreadful night! I did see something strange, I saw something strange." She paused for a moment, her eyes darting between Nicholas and Alicia, as if debating whether to divulge the information.

"What did you see, ma'am?" Nicholas urged gently.

"I saw it," Mrs. Jenkins said in a quiet tone, looking around as if afraid that someone might overhear. "The driver, he was panicking, dragging someone from the passenger seat. Looked injured, poor thing."

"Did you recognize any of them?" Alicia pressed, hoping to get an important clue.

Mrs. Jenkins shook her head. "No, dear, I don't. But I also saw something else. After he dragged the man out, he seemed... hesitant. It was as if she was torn between staying and running away."

Nicholas and Alicia exchanged glances. "Thank you, Mrs. Jenkins. You've been a tremendous help," Nicholas said sincerely. "But... the passenger you saw injured that night is in need of your help. The driver accused him of drunk driving, he's facing jail time. And... your testimony will help him get out."

Mrs. Jenkins' face took on a look of doubt. She gazed lovingly at the roses she had planted, before finally turning back to Alicia and Nicholas. "Would that be good for me, I'm not used to dealing with the law and such." Mrs. Jenkins stood up, and took a deep breath. She looked doubtful. "It's a serious case, isn't it?"

"That passenger you saw... is a friend of ours."

Alicia and Nicholas exchanged glances, silently acknowledging the importance of Mrs. Jenkins' testimony. Her statement could be a turning point in the case, potentially proving their friend's innocence.

"It's very important," Alicia emphasized, her voice earnest. "Your testimony could make a huge difference. We'll make sure you get all the support you need throughout this process."

Mrs. Jenkins hesitated, doubt etched on her face. She wasn't used to being involved in legal matters, and the weight of this situation seemed to weigh on her. "I want to help, I really do. But I don't want any trouble. I've lived a quiet life so far," she murmured, her fingers twitching at the hem of her apron.

Nicholas stepped closer, his manner gentle and reassuring. "We understand, Mrs. Jenkins. We will make sure to guide you every step of the way. Your courage to speak out can change someone's life for the better."

Alicia nodded in agreement. "You'll be doing a good thing by telling the truth. Your testimony could prevent an innocent person from going scot-free."

Mrs. Jenkins took a deep breath, contemplating the weight of her decision. She glanced once more at her garden, a symbol of the quiet life she cherished. With a steady nod, she finally said, "All right. I will do it. And all of this I'm doing for the good of others."

Relief washed over Alicia and Nicholas as they thanked her profusely. They assured Mrs. Jenkins that legal assistance would be arranged, and they exchanged contact information to keep her updated on the progress of the case.

Nicholas and Alicia left Mrs. Jenkins with a sense of relief. At least they had it easy now. Mrs. Jenkins was willing to be an eyewitness with all the protection promised by Nicholas. They got into the car and sat staring at the road outside.

"We've got the evidence and the witness. What else do we need to find Kevin guilty in this case, Nic?"

"I think those two things are enough. We just need the validity of the DNA test from the fabric evidence we have."

"Do you think... we'll succeed?" Alicia sounded doubtful about their current situation.

As they drove, Nicholas furrowed his brow thoughtfully. "We have a strong case, but the key is to bring everything together seamlessly in court. Cross-examination can create doubt, sow confusion. We need to make sure Mrs. Jenkins feels supported every step of the way."

Alicia nodded, her eyes scanning the case file. "And we need to anticipate any counter-arguments the defense might raise. We can't afford to miss a thing. I see that Kevin is articulate and good at changing people's feelings with words. Doesn't that mean... his parents didn't know about Kevin's true nature either? Or... is it possible that Kevin has also manipulated his parents, Kevin's parents seem to trust Kevin very much about this matter, he believes that Kevin is a victim even though Kevin is fine."

Nicholas nodded in agreement. "But we can't rule out the possibility that Kevin's parents really care about their only son. I have to find out about Louis and Hailey, they were too emotional during our first meeting. They must know something, but it won't be easy to provoke them."

"We need a strategy to approach Kevin's parents without ruffling feathers, Nic," she said, breaking the silence. "If they don't realize their son's true nature, blindsiding them might not be the best path. We need to tread carefully."

Nicholas nodded in agreement, his eyes focused on the road ahead. "We could try a gentler approach. Maybe draw their attention to Kevin without divulging the details. If they really don't know, they might subconsciously provide information that could fill in the gaps in our case."

"That sounds reasonable," Alicia replied, nodding in agreement with Nicholas' opinion.

"We also need to cross-verify the information we get. Kevin may have manipulated his family like he did everyone else. We can't just rely on their statements."

Everything Nicholas said resonated with Alicia's thoughts. She agreed to everything and she believed that Nicholas was capable of handling this matter and helping Brittany out of trouble.

"Now, we'll go to the lab and prove that this cloth does belong to Kevin. He won't be able to move freely after this."