Chapter 274

The urgency in Timothy's voice during our phone conversation had left me on edge. As I stood at the door of his apartment, a knot of worry twisted in my stomach. When he opened the door, the tension etched on his face confirmed that something was terribly wrong.

"Timothy, what happened?" I asked, my voice edged with concern as I stepped inside.

He sighed heavily. "It's Stella. She cornered me at her hotel, trying to manipulate me into absolving her of her crimes."

My eyes widened in shock. "What? When?”

“Just last night.” He guided me inside and we sat side by side on his couch. Duke bounded over, already seeking my attention. I scratched him behind his ear.

“Why’d you go over there? You don’t owe her anything."

Timothy gritted his teeth. “I know. I guess I was just curious about what she’d say, how she’d explain why she could do something so awful. Of course, it was just excuses.”

“Figures.” I tried to stay calm, which was a little easier with a bundle of warm fur beneath my fingers. “Did things get out of hand? You look a little off.”

He nodded grimly,. "Yes, and she went to extreme lengths. Look."

Timothy pulled up the sleeve of his shirt, revealing a bite mark on his arm. The anger bubbling within me surged at the sight of angry red marks that marred his skin.

"She bit you? That's... insane, Timothy!" I exclaimed, unable to contain my outrage.

He nodded, his jaw clenched with restrained frustration. "I know, Evie. She's desperate, especially since they’re threatening her with a conviction."

My mind raced with thoughts of Stella's manipulative tactics and her attempts to coerce Timothy. I never thought she’d get physical. "Do we have any solid evidence against her?"

Timothy's expression darkened. "Most of it would have been at Stella's home, but the police likely took everything for analysis."

My heart sank at the thought of losing crucial evidence. "Then what can we do?"

Timothy's eyes flashed with determination. "I might have a way. I have some connections with the police who could give us more information."

“Then let’s go,” I urged him, grabbing his arm. “I don’t want to waste another second.”

We hurried out of the apartment and into Timothy's car, the tension thick in the air. As we drove towards the police station, my mind raced with thoughts of Stella's desperation. We deserved justice, but it seemed she had other plans, as expected.

"Here we are," Timothy said, pulling into a parking spot near the station.

Inside, the police station buzzed with activity. Timothy led the way, navigating the corridors with purpose until we reached the forensics lab. He exchanged nods with a man in a lab coat, who he had deemed an old friend,

"Clark," Timothy greeted with a nod.

"Hey, Timothy, what brings you here?" Clark asked, glancing at me with curiosity. “You brought a lady-friend?”

“This is my girlfriend, Evie,” Timothy replied, his voice low but urgent. "We need some information regarding a case."

Clark's gaze flickered between us. "I'll see what I can do. Follow me."

We followed Clark into the forensics lab, the smell of chemicals hanging heavy in the air. Rows of equipment lined the walls, and technicians bustled about, engrossed in their tasks.

"I might have access to some files," Clark said, logging into a computer. "What's the case?"

"It involves Stella Fitzgerald and a man named Bruce," I interjected, my voice tight with emotion. "We need any evidence collected from her home."

Clark's fingers danced across the keyboard, pulling up files and scanning through databases. "Stella? The socialite?"

"Yes, that's her," Timothy confirmed.

"Clark, we suspect Stella's involved in criminal activities, but we need to know if there's any evidence against her,” I added.

Clark nodded, his gaze flickering with a sense of responsibility. "I'll do what I can. Let me check the records and see what information I can gather."

As Clark delved into the database, Timothy and I exchanged nervous glances, the anticipation of uncovering the truth palpable in the air. Minutes ticked by like hours until Clark turned to us, his expression grave.

"I found something," Clark said, his voice filled with concern. "There's evidence linking Stella to several suspicious activities. They've collected items for analysis—chemicals, documents, and some electronic devices."

My heart raced with a mix of relief and worry. "Do they have anything concrete?"

Clark hesitated for a moment, scanning through the files on his computer screen. "Not yet, but the forensic team is still analyzing the evidence. It might take some time."

"Could we take a look at some of the evidence?" Timothy asked, his voice laced with urgency. “We’ll be careful with it. We don’t even have to touch it.”

Clark hesitated, glancing around cautiously before nodding. "Alright, but I can't show you everything. Follow me."

As instructed, we followed him to a room in the back, where he carefully shut us inside. With careful movements, Clark discreetly retrieved a box from a cabinet. As he carefully pulled out the evidence they had collected, a wave of disappointment washed over me.

"It looks tampered with," I observed, my eyes scanning the contents of the box.

Clark sighed, a sense of frustration evident in his voice. "We found a lot of stuff damaged at the scene. It seemed like someone had tried to clean up sloppily, especially with any liquids involved. Blood, chemicals, and all."

Timothy's brows furrowed in suspicion. "Do you think Stella and her father could've had a hand in that?"

Clark nodded gravely. "It's possible. The scene was compromised before we got there. But we're trying to piece things together."

A sense of frustration simmered within me. Stella's manipulations seemed to have penetrated every aspect of this case, leaving us grasping at straws for any semblance of concrete evidence.

"Have you checked the cameras for any footage that might still be left on them?" Timothy inquired, his voice tinged with urgency.

Clark's response sent a chill down our spines. "Those cameras were taken in personally by Kamran."

Timothy and I stood in shock, the air in the room growing heavier by the second. Kamran's involvement in handling the cameras was unexpected, raising a flurry of questions about his connection to Stella's crimes.

"Kamran Hayes? Why would he personally handle the cameras?" I questioned, a sense of unease settling within me.

Timothy's expression mirrored my concerns. "Why would my father take those cameras? What would he have to gain?"

Clark sighed, his unease matching ours. "I don't have the specifics. He insisted on taking them in himself, and with enough money shoved in the chief’s face, he did just that."

"Thank you, Clark. You've been helpful," Timothy said, his voice clipped.

Clark nodded, a sense of regret in his gaze. "I wish I could do more. Be careful, both of you."

As we left the forensics lab, a cloud of uncertainty hung over us. Kamran's involvement had introduced a new layer of complexity to the already convoluted situation. The urgency to uncover the truth intensified as the shadow of Stella and her father's potential manipulation loomed over the case.

"Timothy, this changes everything," I murmured. “Your father’s involved. He could be…”

He nodded grimly, his jaw set with determination. "An accessory to the crime."