Chapter 24

MR. JACOB’S POV

The interrogation room was quiet, save for the faint ticking of a clock on the wall. I sat on the stiff chair, my eyes glued to the necklace in front of me, carefully wrapped in a pristine white handkerchief.

The intricate design of the piece glimmered faintly under the dim fluorescent light, mocking me with its presence.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that this necklace was more than just a clue…it was a time bomb, threatening to explode in my face. I picked it up carefully, holding it with the handkerchief to avoid leaving any trace. My thoughts spiraled.

“Who does this belong to? Why does it feel... familiar?” I muttered under my breath.

The sound of the door opening startled me. Inspector Diana Collins stepped in, her face as stern as ever, followed by a team of officers carrying a sealed evidence box. I quickly placed the necklace back on the table and leaned back, trying to appear calm.

“Mr. Jacob,” Diana began, her tone sharp and professional, “we’re here to take the necklace for further examination. The team will check for DNA and fingerprints.”

I nodded, my throat dry. “Do whatever you need to do.”

The officers carefully picked up the handkerchief-wrapped necklace and placed it into the evidence box. The room felt heavier with each passing second as I watched them seal the box and walk out, leaving me alone with Diana.

“You’ll have to wait here until we confirm the results,” she said firmly, her gaze never wavering.

“Wait?” I asked, my voice rising slightly. “Inspector, I’ve already been here for hours. I have important matters to attend to.”

Diana crossed her arms. “I understand, Mr. Jacob, but this is standard procedure. We need to ensure the necklace doesn’t belong to anyone in your family before we proceed with the investigation.”

I felt my pulse quicken. “Inspector, I told you everything I know. This has nothing to do with my family.”

Her expression didn’t change. “With all due respect, sir, that’s not for you to decide. It’s an order…you’ll stay here until we’re done.”

I clenched my jaw, realizing there was no arguing with her. “Fine,” I muttered, leaning back in my chair. “But make it quick.”

Diana nodded and left the room. The moment the door closed, I pulled out my phone, my hands trembling slightly. I opened a text message and typed furiously:

Just pray you don’t get into trouble.

The message was addressed to my son. My heart sank as I hit send, the weight of my words pressing down on me. If the necklace somehow tied back to my family, the consequences could be disastrous.

Minutes felt like hours as I sat there, replaying every possible scenario in my mind. The door opened again, and Diana returned, her expression unreadable.

“It’s time,” she said, her voice cutting through the thick silence.

I swallowed hard, my nerves unraveling. “Time for what?”

“To share the results,” she replied.

My hands gripped the edges of the chair as she motioned for me to follow her. I stood up, my legs feeling heavier with each step as we moved toward the small observation room where the DNA team had been working.

“Inspector, before we proceed...” I started, but she held up a hand to silence me.

“Mr. Jacob, I suggest you prepare yourself for whatever we’re about to find out.”

I nodded reluctantly, my mind racing with dread. Whatever was about to be revealed could change everything…and I wasn’t sure I was ready for it.

The inspector adjusted her glasses, her sharp gaze piercing into mine. She stood across the interrogation table, her presence commanding. For a moment, I wondered if she could see right through me.

“We’ve run a DNA test on the necklace,” she began, her voice calm but firm. “There are no fingerprints. It’s clean.”

I raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. “No fingerprints? That’s strange. Doesn’t that make it hard to trace who might have handled it?”

“It does,” she admitted, her expression unreadable. “But that doesn’t mean the necklace isn’t significant. The design on it is unmistakable…it’s your family’s signature.”

Her words were meant to rattle me, but instead, I felt a flicker of triumph. I knew she had nothing concrete. Still, I kept my face neutral, offering a small, polite smile.

“So, what are you saying, Inspector? That someone in my family is involved in something criminal?” I asked, leaning back in my chair.

“There’s no evidence to suggest that…yet,” she replied, emphasizing the last word. “But it’s possible someone is trying to blackmail your family. That necklace was left intentionally. Whoever did this wanted it to be found.”

I nodded slowly, pretending to process her words. “Blackmail? That’s a serious accusation, Inspector. My family has enemies, I won’t deny that, but I hope you’re not jumping to conclusions.”

Her lips tightened into a thin line. “I don’t jump to conclusions, Mr. Jacob. I follow the evidence. And while there’s no direct link to your family’s involvement, this matter is far from over.”

I couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips. If only she knew. Erasing the evidence had been a meticulous process, but it was worth it.

I glanced at the necklace now resting on her desk, remembering how I had handled it with my handkerchief earlier.

When the inspector had left the room during the initial questioning, I saw my opportunity. The necklace had been lying there, an incriminating piece of evidence that could have unraveled everything.

I’d quickly pulled out my handkerchief, wrapped it around the delicate chain, and wiped it clean of any prints. My movements were swift but careful…every second counted.

By the time she returned, the necklace was spotless.

The inspector’s voice brought me back to the present.

“Regardless of the lack of evidence, we’ll be monitoring your household closely,” she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Those words sent a chill down my spine. Monitoring? That was going to complicate things. I had plans, and those plans required freedom…freedom to move, to act, to disappear when necessary.