Thirty Five

CHAPTER 35

Alexander sat upright on the sofa, his gaze fixed on Maria with an expression of focused attention. Maria remained calm, elegantly crossing her legs and leaning back into the chair with an air of confidence. Cassandra, still feeling uneasy, sat with her back straight beside Alexander, her hands folded tightly in her lap.

Alexander began his questioning with a formal yet firm tone. “Mrs. Callaghan, do you or your husband, Cale Callaghan, know Antonio Franches?”

Maria offered a small smile, as if the question was hardly surprising. “Antonio Franches? Of course,” she replied lightly. “Everyone knows who he is. His face is everywhere—in the media, at major events. He’s a major investor in many companies.”

Alexander nodded, jotting something down in his notepad. “Including your husband’s company?” he asked, his tone steady.

Maria shrugged nonchalantly, as if discussing something trivial. “Yes, Cale worked with him on a few projects. Antonio is quite generous when it comes to investments. But it’s all just business, of course.”

Alexander stared at Maria intently. “So, no personal relationship outside of business?”

Maria chuckled softly, a dismissive laugh that seemed to downplay the seriousness of the question. “Personal relationship?” She tilted her head back slightly, toying with a ring on her finger. “Listen, young man, Antonio isn’t the type to build personal relationships without reason. He’s a professional—very focused on profit.”

Yet there was something in her tone—the way she chose her words—that made Cassandra feel uneasy. Maria seemed to be hiding something.

“If it’s purely business, then why did you seem so adamant about us not probing too deeply into Antonio?” Alexander pressed, his tone sharpening.

Maria’s smile suddenly faded. Her face remained calm, but there was a slight stiffness in her expression. “Because I know your type,” she said firmly. “Police officers always think they can touch anyone. Antonio is someone you’d be better off leaving alone—for your own good.”

Maria’s words thickened the tension in the room. Alexander appeared ready to respond, but before he could open his mouth, Cassandra, unable to hold herself back, spoke up.

“Mrs. Callaghan,” Cassandra began, her voice trembling slightly from suppressed emotion, “did you put cyanide in our coffee?”

The question left Alexander stunned, his head whipping around to look at Cassandra in disbelief. “Cassandra!” he muttered, half-reproachfully.

But Maria did not look surprised. She remained calm, as though she had anticipated the question. Her eyes locked onto Cassandra’s, her hands clasped together on her lap.

“Cyanide?” Maria repeated, her tone almost mocking. “Sweetheart, if I wanted to get rid of you, you wouldn’t still be sitting here.”

Her statement sent a chill down Cassandra’s spine. Alexander sensed the rising tension and glanced at Maria with heightened vigilance. He straightened up, prepared for anything.

“We just needed to be sure,” Alexander said, attempting to steer the conversation back into his control. “There’s a reason my partner felt suspicious, and we want clarity.”

Maria leaned back in her chair and exhaled a long breath. “You two watch too many detective movies,” she said with a faint smile, though her eyes remained sharp. “The coffee was safe. But if you don’t want to drink it, that’s your choice.”

Cassandra clenched her hands in her lap, struggling to suppress the anger and anxiety building within her. Alexander could feel the tension in the air and stood up, eager to end the conversation.

“Thank you for your time, Mrs. Callaghan,” he said in a professional tone. “We’ll be on our way.”

Maria nodded, her smile returning, though this time it felt colder. “Of course. Best of luck with your investigation. But remember what I said—don’t try to mess with someone bigger than you.”

Cassandra stood, her eyes briefly meeting Maria’s before she turned away. Alexander guided her out of the living room, leaving Maria seated gracefully in her chair.

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As they reached the patrol car, Alexander stopped and looked at Cassandra. “What was that about?” he asked, his voice low but concerned.

Cassandra took a deep breath. “I just feel like something is off. And I’m sure she knows more than she’s letting on.”

Alexander studied her for a moment, then nodded. “I feel it too. But we need to be more careful from now on.”

Cassandra said nothing, staring straight ahead as they climbed into the car. One thing was certain—the conversation with Maria Callaghan had raised more questions than answers.

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Inside the patrol car, Cassandra adjusted her coat and happened to glance back at Maria’s house. From the slightly parted curtains in the living room window, she caught sight of Maria watching them. Her sharp eyes seemed to pierce through the glass before her slender hand reached out to pull the curtains closed, cutting off her view of the outside world. Cassandra bit her lip, unease crawling back into her chest.

Alexander started the car, the soft hum of the engine filling the silence. Cassandra remained quiet, her thoughts spinning as she replayed the events that had just transpired.

As the car began to drive away from the grand house, Cassandra finally spoke, her tone laced with certainty. “Alex, I’m convinced Maria tried to poison us.”

Alexander glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, his left hand steady on the wheel. “Cassandra, we don’t have proof. Honestly, I didn’t smell anything in my coffee until you mentioned the almond scent.”

“That’s exactly the point!” Cassandra insisted, turning toward him. “Almond is the signature smell of cyanide. I’m sure she spiked the coffee. She just didn’t expect me to notice.”

Alexander sighed deeply, trying to stay rational. “Look, I’m not saying you’re wrong. But we need evidence before accusing someone of attempting murder.”

Cassandra exhaled in frustration but didn’t say anything further. She knew Alexander was cautious and principled, always needing solid proof before acting. Still, the gnawing anxiety inside her refused to subside. She pulled her coat tighter around her body, staring out the window at the trees and buildings passing by.

Meanwhile, Alexander worked to process everything. The tension at Maria’s house, the woman’s icy demeanor, and the sharp look he had briefly caught in her eyes all hinted at something sinister. Something wasn’t right, but logic and protocol held him back from jumping to conclusions.

After several minutes of silence, Alexander spoke in a softer tone. “I’ll dig deeper into this. But I need you to stay calm, Cassandra. Don’t let your instincts drive you to act impulsively.”

Cassandra turned to face him, her expression serious. “Alex, I am calm. But I know what I felt. She’s hiding something, and I’m sure this isn’t just about Antonio or business.”

Alexander nodded slowly, showing that he heard and understood her, even if he wasn’t entirely convinced. “We’ll find out,” he said simply.

The car continued down the road, leaving Maria Callaghan’s house and all its mysteries behind. Yet both Cassandra and Alexander knew this was only the beginning of something much larger—and far more dangerous.