The angel he lost

Smoke and mirrors

Third POV 

"So your grandmother was tortured in the prison? How terrible! How could they do this to her? She was terribly young at the time" - Isabella said with remorse and anger in her voice 

"Yeah... It was really terrible, she suffered a lot of pain, mentally and physically, even after she got out of prison" - Ana Maria sighed, taking a long deep breath.  "Carson was not just a detective, he was a secret agent for the secret intelligence services. He was trained to deal with spies, traitors, all kinds of criminals... he knew exactly how to get answers from those people and use those tactics in this case also." 

"Well, at least that terrible man detective Carson got to suffer too, for what he did. Please, tell me they send him straight to jail after Ana Maria complained" 

"I wish I could tell you that, but that's not what happened. Actually, it was much later when my grandfather found out about the tortures she endured... Those were different times Isabella... Our country had just gotten out of another war... Women's rights weren't exactly the main concern of the government or the legal system." - Ana Maria had an expression of pain and sorrow on her face "A young woman with no money, no support, not even a family... she was all alone. It would have been much better and humane if they would have thrown her to the wolves instead." 

"But... but they found the real killer, didn't they? She was innocent, wasn't she?" - Isabella asked in one breath

"Not quite. It was all smoke and mirrors. Even though the charges against her were dropped, she was judged so harshly. Gossips, rumors, lies... Ana Maria practically became an outcast of the society" 

"But... it doesn't make sense, it's not fair! Who killed Sophia?" - Isabella felt overwhelmed 

"Well.... that's the biggest plot ever......" - Ana Maria sighed again "Are you sure you still want to listen? Aren't you tired, already?" 

"What? No, tell me everything. You can't just let me hang in here. Who killed Sophia? Did Carson find out the true killer?" - Isabella asked impatiently

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Third POV 

"Alan Bakers. He studied in the Catholic School for Boys and graduated in the same year as Sophia Anderson. However, he was two years older than the rest of his class,  Alan was twenty-one years old. His mother is very sick and Alan was forced to stop his education for a while, to take care of her" - town chief police Brown said frowning his brows. 

"How did he die?" - detective Carson asked coldly, staring at the dead body in front of him, that was still lying in a pool of blood. 

"Suicide! He must have filled too guilty for Sophia's death. Alan was a good man, detective. That damn woman must have pushed him, to do such a horrendous crime" 

"How do you know that?" - Carson's face did not change, but his instinct was not satisfied with the explanation he was getting.

"It's obvious, isn't it? Ana Maria is the common dominator in this whole story. She was friends with Sophia for a long time. Lately, Sophia pushed her away, probably because she saw the true colors of that girl. Ana Maria seduced Alan and knowing that Sophia was secretly in love with him, convinced him to trap poor Sophia. It was all for money, but I think he took it too far. He must have felt terribly sorry for what he did and was scared also knowing that sooner or later, will get to him... He left a letter explaining all this"  - Brown took another deep breath looking sad

"Where is the body? How did he kill Sophia?" - Carson asked again

"Sophia confronted Alan, during that fight he lost control and pushed her, smashing her head on a rock. We found her body not far from here, he buried her in the woods. He also burned her body, and can no longer be identified. But we did find her belongings and clothes. The victim is Sophia Anderson.

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Third POV

 "Why wasn't I notified immediately?" - Carson asked again with a horsey voice, feeling way too irritated with the way things were going, even though he couldn't understand why. 

"This is how we do things here detective, I told you we would find out what has happened in our own" - Brown replied with a clinical smirk, feeling victorious

"I advice you to humble yourself if you want to keep this job, Brown."

"This is a small town, detective. Everybody knows everybody. This is not one of those big cases of yours, these are just some young people who pushed things too far and it ended badly" - Brown clinical smirk was still in his face "I already send some of my men to notice her brother, Mr. Anderson and send the report to our superiors. This case is officially closed, soon you can return to the capital" 

"What? What do you mean the case is closed? Are you out of your mind Brown?" - Carson raised his voice, losing his temper

"We found the body, we have the murderer, the confession, and a motive" - Brown replied calmly 

"No! You have just another dead person! He might be lying in that letter, for all that we know of. We have a million questions unanswered still, of what happened the day Sophia disappeared... You arrested Ana Maria based on several witnesses testifying they saw them together, hours before she went missing, but the confessions are contradictory. And now this? It doesn't add up" 

"You are raising a storm in a glass of water, Carson. Aren't you glad we got our answers?" 

"I don't know, I don't know...." - Carson stared intensively at the desk in front of him. 

"Listen, detective... You are a smart man, very experienced. You were sent here because Sophia's brother happens to be Liam Anderson, the richest self-made businessman in the country. This is not a case up to your level, the answers are really as simple as they appear to be."- Brown said in a friendly tone, offering Carson a cigarette 

"It means I tortured a young innocent girl for an answer this simple.... " 

"Innocent? That b***h is the reason behind Sophia's and Alan's death. She is just a b***h, and she certainly deserved that treatment. No judge will send her to jail, but at least she got a taste of her own medicine" 

"Chief? Mr. Liam Anderson is here" - an officer said, knocking at the office's door.

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third POV 

"Mr. Anderson? So sorry for your loss" - Chief Brown said with a sympathetic smile, shaking Liam's hand, but he didn't react at all 

"I want to know what happened to my sister. Don't spare me any detail, I also came here to see her body" - Liam said in a monotone deep voice 

'Are you sure, Mr. Anderson? I wouldn't advise you that..." 

"I am sure! Now tell me" - Liam cut him off, and took a seat, standing firmly and regal, not showing any kind of emotions whatsoever.

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Third POV 

"I am sorry, I never intended for things to go this far. I did what I did for love, I just wanted enough money to give the girl I loved a luxurious life.

I killed Sophia! I didn't want to, it was an accident. I hid her body in the forest, hoping no one would ever find out!       I can't forgive myself, but I hope you have grace on me. Ana Maria, I love you! 

Alan"  

Liam read out loud the suicide letter, frowning his brows. 

"This is it? That's all? It doesn't say why did he kill my sister, there is a motive or explanation for why he did it" - Liam's voice was still calm, but deep and somehow it sounded dangerous. 

"Money was the motive, Mr. Anderson. It all ad up, based on all the testimonies we have. Alan was in love with Ana Maria, who was the best friend of your sister, for many many years. They lately had a fallout. Ana Maria convinced Alan to seduce her sister, so they would exploit her for money. Sophia debated on this with Alan, he pushed her too hard, she fell and died. He burned and buried his body in the woods, hoping they would not find her. I guess, he was too scared to come forward, Alan knew how hard we were working in this case, and it was just a matter of time before we could get to him. He couldn't handle it, so he killed himself too" - chief Brown explained in a solemn voice, trying to look professional and composed, 

"I am sorry, but that's what happened" - he added after the long pause of Liam  "We have witness and proof to back up our conclusions" 

"So they killed her for money? The money I gave to her, for her education?"- Liam's voice was still cold

"He... He killed her. Ana Maria was not there when it happened, she was at the church festivals the whole time until it ended. We thought she was the last one to see Sophia alive, but apparently, it's not like that. She was telling the truth about that" - Carson spoke for the first time 

"So she won't face the court, for killing my sister?" - Liam asked again, for the first time he slightly raised his voice and his facial expression darkened 

"No, because she did not kill Sophia. What she has done may not be morally right, but it's not a crime. What we have against her, it's not enough to send Ana Maria in a court" - Carson replied carefully, studying the behavior of the man in front of him 

"But now we have the answer to what happened, Mr. Anderson. The killed give himself his punishment" - Brown said with a forced grin on his face, making the energy of the room even heavier. 

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Detective Carson POV 

I didn't know what I was expecting, but certainly not this. I don't know why, but I am not satisfied with the answers. My instincts tell me I am missing something, but what? I don't like the way this stupid Brown is rushing to close the case, either. 

This is a small town, with simple people... I get it ... but the answer can not be this simple, or else I would have figured out the puzzle right away. 

I don't like this man either... Liam Anderson. I know exactly his type, he is ruthless. The kind that destroyed everything coming his way. He is a rare breed though, no wonder he is so successful" 

"Open the door" - I hear myself speaking to the guard, in front of Ana Maria's cell. 

From inside I can hear her voice, it sounds like she is praying. She was constantly praying the whole time, she has been here. But why would she keep an act, even when no one is seeing or listening to her?

The sudden light made her crumble in a corner of the cell, closing her eyes. I don't know why, but for the first time in many years, I did feel guilty. 

"Ana Maria? You are free to go" - I said in a monotone voice 

"I am?" - she asked surprised in a shaky voice, raising her head slowly. Damn! Never have I seen a woman this beautiful, even in these conditions she still looked good. 

"You found her. You found Sophia" - she smiled brightly and tried to get up, putting her hand on the sidewall to support her. Suddenly, she found force and hope "Oh, thank you, God! See? I told you my friend was alive and well" - she continued chirping in a happy voice. 

Was she insane? Or mentally unstable? Where did she find the force to even get up! Many men have been totally broken after getting my special treatment, but this young petite girl is smiling from ear to ear. 

"We found her body, in the woods. Her funeral will be in the upcoming days. Alan Bakers, your lover killed her after a heated debate, since you both were plotting to take money from her" 

"What? She .... " - two big tears rolled over her face and her bright smile disappear "Sophia...Sophia is..." - Ana Maria couldn't finish her sentence, her knees failed her and she fell to the ground again. To my big surprise, I rushed towards her trying to help her, somehow. 

"God! Why did you allow this? Sophia" - she started crying desperately. "Sophia" - she repeated again, before fainting