DETECTIVE D

CHAPTER 13 It won't be pretty

As he rummaged through the kitchen, he found the pot of Fernanda's famous chicken parmesan leftovers. He couldn't help but smile as he heated it up, savoring the flavors and aromas that filled the kitchen.

He thought about how Fernanda's cooking had become a staple in his life, a reminder of the love and care she put into everything she did. And now, their child would be the beneficiary of that love and care.

Detective D took a bite of the chicken parmesan, closing his eyes in satisfaction. He knew that this was what happiness felt like – a full stomach, a happy heart, and a loving family.

As he finished his meal, he cleaned up the kitchen and returned to the bedroom, where Fernanda was still sleeping peacefully. He slipped into bed beside her, wrapping his arms around her and their unborn child, feeling grateful for this new chapter in their lives. He thought of his parents for a moment but waved off the thought.

Detective D groggily opened his eyes, rubbing the sleep from them. He looked at the clock on his nightstand and saw that it was only 6:00 AM. He wasn't a morning person, and Samuel knew that.He got out of bed, careful not to disturb Fernanda, and made his way to the door. He opened it to find Samuel looking serious and alert, holding a cup of coffee.

"What's going on, Samuel?" Detective D asked, taking the coffee from him."We've got a break in the case, Detective," Samuel said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Meet me at the station in 30 minutes. We've got a lot to discuss."Detective D nodded, taking a sip of the coffee. "I'll be there. Give me 20 minutes to get ready."Samuel nodded and turned to leave, but Detective D called out to him.

"Samuel?"

"Yes, Detective?"

"Bring more coffee please."

"Sure do sir!"

Dectective D got to the station and Samuel went straight to the point "I was taking a look on what Mrs McCarthy said , about the fellow called Pedro the one Samantha is currently seeing and how her red hair friend Miss Mariah Carey had introduce them""You think Mariah Carey is involved in the case, Detective?" Samuel's eyes widened.

Detective D's expression was serious. "I don't know what to think yet, Samuel. But we need to investigate every lead, no matter how unlikely. Get me Mariah Carey's information. I want to talk to her !"

Samuel nodded "I'll get it, Detective. But what about Pedro? We still need to find him."

Detective D's eyes narrowed. "Don't worry, Samuel. We'll get Pedro too. But first, let's see what Mariah Carey has to say for herself."

Mariah Carey arrived at the station, Detective D and Samuel stood up as Mariah Carey walked into the interrogation room. She looked stunning, her red hair cascading down her back like a fiery waterfall. Her eyes sparkled with a hint of curiosity, and her lips curled into a subtle smile.

"Thank you for coming in, Mariah," Detective D said, gesturing to a chair.Mariah sat down, her gaze flicking between the two detectives. "Of course, detectives. I'm happy to help in any way I can."Detective D pulled out a photo of Samantha and Pedro. "Do you recognize this man?"

Mariah's eyes widened slightly as she took in Pedro's image. "Yes, I do. That's Pedro. We met at an event a few months ago."Samuel leaned forward. "And did you introduce him to Samantha?"Mariah's smile faltered for a moment before she recovered. "Ah, yes. Yes, I did. We were all at the same event, and I thought they might hit it off."

Detective D's eyes narrowed. "And did you know that Pedro was involved in some shady dealings, Mariah?"Mariah's eyes sparkled with innocence. "Oh, no, detectives. I had no idea. I just thought he was a charming guy."

Detective D's gaze lingered on Mariah, trying to read between the lines. Was she telling the truth, or was she hiding something? Only time would tell. Dectective D decided to go on, miss Mariah, miss Samantha died few weeks ago do know anything about that ,Mariah's eyes widened in shock, her face pale. "Samantha's dead? Oh my god, I had no idea. I'm so sorry to hear that."

Detective D's eyes locked onto hers, searching for any sign of deception. "And you didn't know anything about her disappearance or death?"Mariah shook her head, her voice trembling. "No, I swear. I hadn't spoken to Samantha in weeks. We had a falling out, and I didn't know what had happened to her."Samuel's eyes narrowed. "What was the falling out about, Mariah?"Mariah hesitated, her eyes darting between the detectives. "It was just a silly argument, nothing important. We were both stressed out and said some things we didn't mean."

Detective D's gaze intensified. "Mariah, we need to know the truth. Was Pedro involved in Samantha's disappearance and death?" Mariah's eyes flashed with fear, and she leaned back in her chair. "I don't know anything about that, I swear. Pedro was a friend, that's all."Detective D's eyes never left hers. "We'll be investigating your alibi and connections to Pedro and Samantha. If we find out you're hiding something, Mariah...it won't be pretty."

"Samantha is my friend regardless of our fall out I would never do anything to harm her". Mariah said .Detective D's expression softened slightly, his eyes searching for sincerity in Mariah's words. "I hope that's true, Mariah. We'll be looking into your statement, and if we find any evidence that contradicts what you're telling us, there will be consequences."

Mariah's eyes welled up with tears. "I understand, Detective. I would never hurt Samantha or anyone else. I'm willing to cooperate fully with your investigation."Samuel spoke up, his voice firm but gentle. "Mariah, can you tell us more about your relationship with Pedro? How close were you two?"

Mariah's gaze faltered, and she hesitated before speaking. "We...we were close, I guess. He was charming and charismatic, and we had a lot of fun together. But I didn't know much about his past or his dealings. I swear, I had no idea he was involved in anything illegal."

Detective D's eyes narrowed. "And did Pedro ever mention anything about Samantha's research or her work?"Mariah's eyes widened, and she nodded. "Yes, he did. He mentioned that Samantha was working on something big, something that could change everything. But he didn't give me any details."

Detective D's mind raced with the implications. This was getting more complicated by the minute.Can you give me details on how to get in contact with this Pedro,Mariah hesitated, her eyes darting around the room before focusing on Detective D. "I...I don't know if I should be giving out his information. He's a private person, and I don't want to betray his trust."

Detective D's expression turned stern. "Mariah, this is a murder investigation. We need to speak with Pedro. If you're hiding something or protecting him, it's not going to look good for you."Mariah's eyes dropped, and she reluctantly pulled out a piece of paper from her pocket. "He...he stays at the old windmill on the outskirts of town. But I don't know if he'll be there now."Samuel quickly grabbed the paper, and Detective D's eyes locked onto the address. "Thank you, Mariah. We'll be paying Pedro a visit."

As they approached the old windmill, Detective D and Samuel could see that it was in a state of disrepair. The once-white walls were now crumbling and covered in ivy, and the sails were broken and still. The door was slightly ajar, creaking in the gentle breeze.

Detective D dismounted his horse and approached the door cautiously, his hand on his pistol. Samuel followed close behind, his eyes scanning the surrounding area for any signs of danger.

As they entered the windmill, they saw that it was dark and musty, the only light coming from a small window high above. The air was thick with the scent of decay and rot.

Suddenly, they heard a noise coming from the upper floor. It sounded like footsteps, heavy and deliberate.Detective D gestured to Samuel, and they began to creep up the stairs, their pistols at the ready. As they reached the top, they saw a figure standing in the shadows, watching them.

"Pedro?" Detective D called out, his voice firm. "We need to talk."

Pedro turned and ran, his feet pounding the wooden floorboards as he dashed towards the open window. Detective D and Samuel gave chase, their footsteps close behind. As Pedro reached the window, he leapt out into the air, his body silhouetted against the sky. Detective D and Samuel skidded to a stop at the window, looking out to see Pedro hurtling towards the ground, his arms and legs flailing wildly.