Love, Lies & Amen

Daniel's Pov “I need to hurry. Grace will kill me if I don't get there in time before she leaves for church.” I hurriedly checked my phone for the time while half jogging on the sidewalk to her apartment. I got to the door and paused. Something was not right. The door was slightly open. Did she leave already in a hurry and forgot to lock the door? That doesn't sound right. It's Grace I'm talking about here. She is always safety conscious even though at times it isn't necessary. I hesitated a bit before slowly pushing the door open. I took careful steps towards the kitchen because the light was still on. “Grace? Are you in there?” Nothing. No answer. Just an eerie silence. I have started to feel a bit uneasy now. As I walked into the kitchen, I stopped abruptly at the sight in front of me. I took in a sharp breath. I could feel my hands shaking as I stepped closer to the kitchen counter, “No. It couldn't be her,” I thought to myself as I leaned in closer to check. I immediately felt tears threatening to fall from my eyes, and I fell on my knees beside her. “Grace, Grace?” I called out frantically. I held her in my arms, trying to shake her awake. “I don't understand. We just talked on the phone about 2 hours ago.” I scrambled around the kitchen, trying to find something that could help but couldn't find anything useful. I sighed in frustration and went back to her body, and tried to perform CPR with my hands. I could feel myself shaking already. This can't be happening. My hands were already stained with blood, but I didn't care. My best friend is dead, and I can't understand what could have possibly happened. I didn't know what to do anymore. I began to hear siren sounds faintly, but that was the last thing on my mind right now. I just kept on staring at the lifeless body in front of me with a blank expression. “Is anyone home? It's the police. We got a call from your neighbor stating there is a disturbance coming from here,” said one of the police. “There's no answer. Should we go in?” asked his partner. “Let’s go in.” They advanced slowly toward the kitchen and saw the lifeless body beside me. I was still in shock just looking at her. I didn't even bother to look up when they entered. “What happened here? Did you kill this lady? Hey, can't you see I'm talking to you? Hands up,” said the cop. They bundled me up to my feet roughly and placed handcuffs on me. I tried to speak, but my throat felt dry, and no words came out. I didn't resist as they pushed me forward to go out. I looked back one last time in pain before finally going out the door to their vehicle. I could see other vehicles were arriving with several officers rushing into the apartment to gather clues while some were asking the neighbors questions. I was ushered into the vehicle, hearing the words I dreaded. “You are under arrest. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law,” said the first cop. I placed my bloodstained hands on my face, fighting the tears that threatened to fall as I was driven to the station. “What were you doing at her place at that time?” “I told you already, I went to get my laptop, which I forgot earlier at her place.” I replied with a bit of frustration. This cop—who I later found out to be detective Dante, kept on repeating the same questions, and it isn't going to change my answers. I don’t know what else he wants me to say. “That I killed her?” I thought angrily. I am already frustrated presently, and his questions aren't making things better. “Why were your hands stained with blood?” asked Detective Dante. “I was trying to see if I could still help her,” I said, exasperated. “So you were trying to help a person who was clearly dead?” At that point, I just threw my hands in the air and said nothing. “Hey boss, can I talk to you over there?” said Detective Zeke, who is Dante's partner. They both walked to the other side of the station to discuss. “So, who is he?” asked Detective Dante. “Ermm…. He is the son of Mr. Raymond Davies, the CEO of Davies global holdings,” said Detective Zeke. “ Who?” “Don't tell me you don't know Davies Global Holdings. It's one of the largest privately owned conglomerates in the country with interests in engineering, real estate, manufacturing, and renewable energy,” said Zeke. “I don't care whose son he is. What I do know is that he killed an innocent lady, and I will make sure justice is carried out,” Detective Dante replied. “But we don't know that for sure yet, or has he said anything that incriminates him?” said Detective Zeke. “He doesn’t have to. All the evidence points to him, and very soon, we will get the results of the fingerprints at the crime scene,” said Detective Dante. I saw them walking back towards me. This time, Detective Dante had a calm expression and said, “We are done questioning you for now.” I was relieved. “Can I make a quick call, please?” I asked. I was handed back my phone, and I immediately called the only person I knew who could help me. “Hey Jake.” “What's up? Have you gotten your laptop yet?” “About that, can you please come to the police station right now? I can't explain on the phone but I really need your help.” “Alright,” Jake said skeptically. About 15 minutes passed as I stayed in the holding cell, pacing around continuously. Then I finally saw Jake walking towards me with another officer to open the cell. I felt a bit of relief. When I got out, I wanted to hug Jake but remembered the dried blood on my hands and clothes and decided to just thank him. “I know you need an explanation, and I will explain once we get out of here,” I said. “You had better, bro. As soon as we get out of here,” Jake replied. As we walked to the main area of the station, I saw a familiar figure and immediately halted. Jake was confused and looked in the direction I was looking and immediately understood. “I'm sorry, I forgot a little detail. I was with your dad helping him with something when you called, and he insisted on knowing where I was going,” said Jake, scratching the back of his neck nervously. I just sighed, mentally preparing myself for what comes next. We kept walking towards him, and I heard him rounding up his conversation with the chief of police and then they shook hands. He just walked out of the station after he saw us and stood by his car. “Good luck, bro.” Jake said as he held both my shoulders before letting go and walking out with me. “Thank you for your help, Jake. You may go home now. I need to talk to my son alone,” said my dad. “Alright. Goodbye sir,” said Jake. Then he left. “I didn't do anything, dad.” I hurriedly tried to explain. “Get in the car,” said my dad. I got in with him, and the driver closed the door, then started to drive. “Dad, I didn't kill her. When I got there, I saw her dead.” “I don't care what you did or didn't do, Daniel. I don't need you to ruin our family's reputation. This will be all over the news by tomorrow. Do you understand how badly this will affect my organization?” “Yes sir, I'm sorry,” I said, looking down defeated. “You will not be going to the company for now until things are fully sorted out to reduce the number of reporters that will be at our company. I want you to keep a low profile and not cause any more problems.” “Yes sir.” “Get off here. Go straight to your place.” The driver stopped at the junction of my apartment and drove off immediately after I got off. I stared at my clothes, still stained with blood. I was able to wash off the dried blood on my hands at the station. People will definitely stare, so I was grateful it was almost dark. I jogged back to my place and ignored the few people who stared at me. “Good evening, sir.” “Did you find it?” a man asked on the call. “I searched for her place as fast as I could without getting noticed, but I couldn't find the documents. The good news is that the case will be closed quickly because the evidence points at Daniel, and no one will suspect us………” The man ended the call.