The angel he lost

Free?

Third POV 

"Here! Have some water" - Carson politely offered Ana Maria a glass of water, which she took with shaking hands, looking pale and lost. 

"How did... how did Sophia die? Why? Why would someone kill her?" - Ana Maria asked with a shaking voice "It can not be true, detective. I know in my heart that she is not dead! Please, please... you have to believe me! I have never done something to harm her" 

"Alan Bakers! Does it ring a bell?" - Carson asked in an icy voice, carefully investigating how her face changed. "I guess it does. He was your lover, and you both were planning to get some money out of Sophia. She had a debate with your boyfriend after finding it out and he killed her" 

"Alan killed Sophia?" - Ana Maria gasped in shock and despair 

"Yes! And last night he also killed himself. Alan confessed everything, in the last note he wrote. He admitted everything... your affair together, the plan to rob Sophia, how he killed her and where did he bury her body..." - Carson's voice did not change, but he kept staring at her reaction carefully, as he was studying her. 

"Weird" - he thought to himself "That's so weird"

"I ...wasn't his lover... I never had anything to do with Alan... or anyone else. Sophia was like a sister to me! She was the only one who truly cared about me..." 

"These days, I have interrogated almost all of the people in this town. Your reputation was not exactly the best kind. Two of your former classmates assured me you had a relationship with Alan, he was madly in love with you. You also had many other affairs, despite being already engaged with another man.... much older than you" 

"No..." - Ana Maria shook her head in denial "That's simply not true" 

"You also had a fall out with Sophia... I am guessing she didn't agree with your lifestyle? " 

"Whatever I say, you will not believe me, would you?" - Ana Maria sobbed, lowering her head feeling defeated 

"Give me something to believe in you! Anything!" - Carson suddenly leaned out towards her "Tell me the truth, or at least your side of the truth. But don't you dare lie to me! Until now there is your word against the words of all the people of this town, even against the murderer" 

Ana Maria raised her head slowly, looking at him straight to his eyes. The raw emotions in her shook him, to his core, Ana Maria had something he had never seen before, but he couldn't figure out what. 

"I have my truth and God is my witness! I never betrayed or hurt Sophia, even after she no longer wanted me as her friend. I never had a love affair, in my life! My father has promised me to a man I don't know and I refuse to marry him." 

"Then why would Alan lie in his death note, then? Why would he kill Sophia?" 

"I don't know! I don't know! He.... a day before the church festival..." - Ana Maria stuttered and sobbed hard 

"He what? He did what?" - Carson insisted 

"Alan... attacked me... on my way back from work... he said terrible things to me.... and wanted ....to ..." - unable to finish her sentence Ana Maria just sobbed again 

"He raped you?" - Carson frowned his brows 

"No... I defended myself... I hit him with a rock, in his head... He fell to the ground and I just run as fast as I could. But before that he ... he said that...  he was flirting with Sophia, now that her brother was so rich... that Adele convinced him to do so..." 

"Adele?  Adele Clark?" 

"Yes... I guess, I don't know... he said so many horrible things, he had never acted that way before..." 

"What else did he say?" - Carson insisted

"I don't know... I don't remember... Everything happened so fast... I hit him and...." 

"Did anyone know about this? Why didn't you come to the police, if he had attacked you?" - Carson raised his voice, annoyed by her cries 

"I was scared... I didn't know what to do, or who could I ask for help. I didn't want to ruin the festival either, the orphan children depend on those donations...." 

Suddenly, Carson erupted in laughs, looking at Ana Maria shocked and entertained "You know, I almost believed you for a split second... but bringing the orphan children and the church into this? Really?" 

"It's true... I am not...."- Ana Maria cupped her head in between her palms and sobbed again, feeling tired and defeated

"I get it! You are a beautiful young woman, who wants to enjoy life. Your ugly friend suddenly becomes rich and she cuts you off.  You were angry and obviously wanted a piece of her wealth. So you convinced your lover to get into a little game, but you didn't think it would go this far. Now, they are both dead... And still, somehow you are free of any legal charges" - Carson smirked, lighting up a cigarette 

"It's nothing like this... I would never...." 

"You are free to go... But don't leave town... Just in case" - Carson said in a calm voice "One more thing, though..." he stopped her, as she slowly got on her feet 

"Yes?" - her voice was barely audible 

"How come no one has come to ask for you, all these days you were in prison?" - he turned towards her, waiting for her reaction 

"No one came? What about my father? Vincent..." 

"No" 

"Father Andrew?" 

"The priest?" 

"Yes... he is like a father to me...." 

"No, no one... I think you are overexaggerating his place in your life... Kind of strange that even her own family isn't supporting the church girl, who is willing to sacrifice herself for the town's orphans. Very telling, if you ask me. You should find a more convincing lie, to get sympathy" - Carson smirked, blowing the cigarette smoke in her face. Ana Maria felt her eyes burning, from both the tears and the smoke, but she tried to control her voice and sobs this time.  

" I see... I don't know what to say, detective... God is all I have, He is the witness of my truth and my innocence" - Ana Maria replied holding her head up. "The day will come for all to see, the truth. Including you, detective! I only pray to God that that day is close, for into him I have put my trust and my case" 

With slow steps, Ana Maria left the dark interrogation office, trying hard to not give away the terrible pain she was at. 

"Have a good day, detective! May God be with you!"- she said without even thinking it, and closed the door behind her, leaving Carson stunned! 

"f*****g hell!" - he cursed frustrated, pushing the file in front of his table in the ground, with great force. 

............................................. 

Third POV 

Ana Maria tightly wrapped the old coat after her body, feeling the stitching sensation of the cold. Even in spring, the weather in the old town was gloomy and unstable. The iron door slammed shut behind her, with a horrible noise. Suddenly, Ana Maria found herself alone, on the empty road. No one had come to wait for her. 

"Sophia wouldn't have abounded me, on this day" - she thought to herself and she could no longer hold back the tears. Never before had she felt so lonely and lost in life, the miserable feeling was unbearable. 

With slow steps, she walked towards her home, wondering how would they react.  

"They are my family; they must believe me. My father will protect me, I am his daughter after all" - she affirmed over and over to herself, trying to calm down. Even though she kept her head down the entire road, Ana Maria could still feel the nasty looks over her, the judgment, and the hostility.

“Well, would you look at that? This b***h has a lot of courage to walk around as if nothing has happened!” – somebody yelled behind her back. Ana Maria froze, her eyes swelled in tears recognizing her old classmate, when she turned her head to see.

“I am innocent. I swear to God, I didn’t do anything wrong!’ – she mumbled, in a low voice.

“Three people are dead because of you, you w***e! You better not show yourself around anymore” - a woman yelled back at her.

This time Ana Maria didn’t turn to see who was accusing her. She just walked as fast as she could, trying to ignore the terrible pain on all her body. When she finally arrived at the small alley ahead of her home, she took a long breath and stopped.

Every step hurt like hell, remembering all the times she used to walk with Sophia on the very same street. She couldn’t control her sobs anymore, as she was crying for the terrible fate of both her friend and hers.

When she finally arrived at her home doorstep, she took a few deep breaths and tried to wipe her tears with the back of her hand. It took her a long time before she finally got the courage to knock. Her heart was pounding inside her, as she wholeheartedly prayed that her family would accept her.

....................

Third POV 

 “It better not be Ana Maria” – Bianca’s raspy voice was heard in the small house, as a knock was heard on the door.

“It’s Ana Maria” – Teresa shouted as she opened the door “You don’t look so good” – the girl said to her sister, looking at her silently crying at the door.

“Is father here?” – Ana Maria finally managed to say something, entering inside, with some insecure steps.

“Detective Carson told us that you’ll be free today. But, I didn’t think you would be shameless, to come back here” – Bianca said with a nasty smile, looking at Ana Maria intensively.

“You came to meet me….?” – Ana Maria asked surprised, feeling a light warm feeling inside

“I didn’t come to meet you, you b***h! We were under interrogation; you know how many times that bastard Carson has come over here? You have make our life a living hell, like it wasn’t bad as it was, already”

“Bianca… I didn’t do anything! I would never hurt Sophia, you know that!” – Ana Maria suddenly hold her hands, looking at her as she begging for some understanding and support. The look in her eyes stunned Bianca for a second, Ana Maria always has had something powerful and yet soft in her, which made her even more infuriated.

“Let go of me” – Bianca pushed her away “Save your acting skills for your fiancé, you going to need it”

“My… My fiancé?” – Ana Maria mumbled

“Well, yes! The old man was so mad, but for some reason he still wants you as his wife. You can go back to basement, sleep there and don’t go out! I’ll talk to your father”

“I want to talk myself with my father! I am innocent…”

“Ana Maria… do as I say, if you want to have a sort of a descend future! Your father has hated you since the day, you were born! He already considers you as a murderer, since you killed your mother at birth. Don’t make this worse than already is. Go and wait for me! I’ll send you food with Teresa”

“But…”

“Go, before I change my mind” – Bianca yelled at her, and this time Ana Maria did as she said, feeling desperate and as hopeless as ever.

……………

Third pov

“Liam?” – James knocked hesitantly at his studio

“Yes” – he answered without looking up from the paperwork’s and reports in front of him. Since the funeral of his father and sister, Liam had drowned him in work.

“The girl… she is out of the prison”

“Is she? Good… very good” – he said with a smirk in his handsome face “She will regret this day. Actually, she’ll regret the day she was born” - his voice was extremely calm, as he continued working as if nothing had happened. James felt chills going on his spine.

“Liam? Are you sure …?”

“You may leave now”  - he replied as calm as ever