Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring
Billionaire Shadow 62

Chapter

62

Jaden pulled the car to a stop in front of the imposing police station, its cold, gray exterior casting long shadows in the fading afternoon light. He turned his head toward Emma, who was sitting silently in the passenger seat of the car, staring at the file in her hands. Her fingers traced the edges of the folder absently. Her mind clearly elsewhere.

She had been playing a cautious game, keeping her movements secret even from those closest to her. Without word to anyone, she had hired a private investigator to delve deeply into the attack on her son. She had made it a point to stay as aloof from the investigation as possible until she knew that Ethans condition had definitely stabilized. Now that her son's life was no longer hanging on by a thread, her focus turbed full circle to it.

"We are here." Jaden said softly, his voice cuiting through her thoughts

Emma looked up. Her gaze fell on the weathered sign board of the police station. The bold lettering seemed to mock her as if in dare to find the answers she looked for. Her expression hardened, a cold resolve washing over her features. "Let's go," she whispered, her voice firm but cold.

She got out of the car, clutching the file in her hand tightly, and walked away toward the main entrance of the station. Jaden went after her immediately. His protector instincts kicked into high gear. There was tension in the air; every step Emma took seemed to fall harder than the one before it

Inside, the air was sterile, filled with the low hum of murmured conversations and ringing phones. Officers moved with purpose, but Emma barely noticed. The only thing her mind focused on was finding the truth. Lots of details emerged from the investigation file she got, but none of them connected Annie with Adam Henshel, the animal arrested for the attack. It was a frustratingly incomplete puzzle, and Emma knew there was no guarantee Adam would cooperate or tell the truth.

She approached the front desk in her heels that clicked sharply against the tiled floor, a determined fire burning in her eyes Jaden stayed close, his quiet presence a steadying force.

"Emma," he said softly trying to gauge her mood. "Are you sure about this? If he refuses to talk."

"He'll talk." Emma's voice was firm as she cut in. "Everyone breaks eventually. I just have to find the right angle. Jaden paused and nodded. He'd seen this before in Emma, an implacable resolution bordering on ruthlessness whenever she felt comered.

Now that Ethan was awake and his survival rate had taken a complete turn for the better, far quicker than any of the doctors had foreseen, Emma felt a new sense of determination. Her son had somehow re-ignited a fire in her that could no longer be put out. She had waited long enough, trying to put the pieces of her shattered life back together, one painful day after another while staying as far away as possible from her enemies but, it was her turn to act now.

Emma approached the officer on duty, her chin held high. "I'm here to speak with Adam Henshel," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

The officer raised an eyebrow but didn't question her authority. After checking her credentials and verifying her request, he nodded. "Follow me."

As they walked down sterile halls toward holding cells, Emma's mind raced. It was a chance finally to confront the man who'd nearly taken her son from her, to peel back the layers of lies and deceit and expose the truth. But there was also a gnawing uncertainty What if Adam refused to cooperate? What if she hit another dead end?

The man shuffled into the room, his wrists and ankles bound in hackles that linked with every step. Emma watched from across the glass, her hands clenched into fists on the cold metal cible. This man looked so much worse than his picture in the file, hollow checks, greasy hair, a blank lifeless expression. She could feel her resolve start to weaken and but she brazen herself. It wasn't about her feelings, it was about son

He sank into the chair opposite her, his movements heavy, and red at her with heavy, dead eyes Emma swallowed hand

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21:15 Tue, Dec 17

Chapter 62

as she fought to keep her voice from breaking

Do you know who I am?" she asked softly, her words barely filtering through her clogged throat.

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The man shifted slightly, his eyes narrowing "More people than can count have come to see me in the last few days," he replied in a hoarse cold voice. Looking at both of you." his gaze briefly flicked to Jaden standing silently behind her. "You must be the parents of one of the attacked children."

Emma's breath caught. His voice was devoid of feeling, as though he were discussing the weather and not the brutal attack on innocent children. She fought to push back the tears threatening to well up. Her nails digging into her palms

"Yes, you're right," she said in a slightly shaking voice before steadying. "My son was one of your victims. He is still in the hospital, fighting for his life, when you sit here; fine and healthy, getting three meals a day, which were paid for by the taxes of people like me!" Anger rose in her voice and thickened it. Her voice rose. The man didn't even flinch.

"I didn't mean to hurt anyone." he said flatly.

Emma slammed the file down on the table, her knuckles white. Considering where the building was located where this occurred, I don't believe you

The man changed character. He leaned forward suddenly. His face twisting into something even uglier than before. Then let the law judge me." he snarled "I have nothing more to say to you."

Emma didn't back down. She pulled a photo from the file - a picture of Ethan taken on the first day of the attack. Tubes and machines surrounded him. His small body looking fragile and broken. She placed the photo on the glass in between theat "Look at him" she said, her voice cracking. That's my son. That is what you did! And you still have nothing to say?!"

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