Hidden Lies

Chapter 4

Six years ago

Conan went out of the house to see Luna since they hadn’t seen each other since the night he proposed to her, the same night Billy Holloway died.

Luna wasn’t fond of the old man, he always treated her as if she didn’t exist whenever they were both in a room.

She was helping her mother in the kitchen when Conan knocked on the door, the moment she the door, Conan hugged her and clung to her like he would fall if she let him go.

“I’m so sorry Conan, are you okay?” Luna whispered while they were still entangled in that embrace.

“I don’t know babe, I guess I just wasn’t prepared for him to leave so soon. He wasn’t sick or anything, he just went to sleep and never woke up. I just wish we got to say goodbye.”

“Come sit with me and we can talk about it, okay?” Luna led him to the sofa where he laid down and placed his head on her thighs, while she rubbed his head gently.

They had barely settled when they heard cars drive into the driveway.

There is a knock on the door

“It’s the Police”

She, Conan and her mother who had just joined them in the living room exchanged questioning looks.

“What could they possibly want?” Luna’s mother asked in fear.

“Just wait here, I’ll get the door” Conan said rather calmly “Hello officers, is there a problem?” He asked when he opened the door.

“I’m Detective Orlando and we’re looking for Luna Morales.”

A blue-eyed cop said, holding up his badge.

“Is there a problem?” Conan asked again

“She’s under arrest for murder, if you’ll excuse us, sir, we have a warrant to search this house.”

“Murder? That’s impossible” While Conan stood trying to process what he had just heard, the cops walked into the house.

Luna stood still, scared and confused, her eyes fixed on the police officers approaching her...

“Luna Gregson, you’re under arrest for the murder of Billy Holloway,” Detective Orlando said, his voice firm.

Luna’s eyes widened in shock.

“What?”

Gabriella rushed to her side, her face pale. “What’s going on here?”

“I’m afraid we have evidence that suggests Luna was involved in the death of Billy Holloway.”

“That’s not true!” Luna cried as her hands were cuffed behind her while Detective Orlando read out her rights.

As the officers led her away in handcuffs, Luna saw Conan’s shocked face in the crowd. She mouthed “I didn’t do it” to him, but he looked uncertain.

******************

“Mum, stop it! You’re not going to bully her into confessing something she didn’t do.” Conan’s face turned red with anger.

“How dare you! You’re just a foolish little boy who doesn’t know what’s good for him.” Karen’s eyes flashed with anger.

Conan had gone to the station but wasn’t allowed to see Luna no doubt the influence of his mother.

“Why wouldn’t you let me see her”

“So she wouldn’t be able to spill more lies in your ears”

“Mom! She is innocent”

Karen snorted. “You’re just going to regret this, Conan. She’s using you. Wasn’t she with him that evening?”

“But I was there too mum, does that make me guilty?”

“Edward said she offered to make him a nice soup for his flu, were you there too, Conan?” Karen asked with a raised brow.

Conan went silent, that surely was enough to get labelled a suspect, his mother had a case against Luna but if only he had evidence that Luna was innocent then they would be over with this ugly episode.

“Mum she’s innocent, I know it” Conan insisted, his frustration turning his face red.

“Get her out with your trust then.” Karen mocked.

But Conan stood firm. “I’m not going to let you railroad her, Mum. We need to find out what happened.”

He stormed out of the house his mind racing with thoughts of Luna’s innocence. He knew she couldn’t have committed the crime, but he needed proof.

He spent the next few days investigating, talking to witnesses and gathering evidence. But every lead he followed seemed to end in a dead end.

Just when he was about to give up, his mother summoned him to her office. “Conan, I know you’re trying to prove Luna’s innocence,” Karen said, her voice dripping with disdain. “But I’m telling you, she’s guilty. I’ve seen the evidence.”

Conan frowned. “What evidence?”

Karen smiled. “The police found a letter in Luna’s room, confessing to the crime. And a witness saw her arguing with my father just days before his death.”

Conan’s heart sank. Could it be true? He thought about Luna’s tears, her pleas of innocence. But the evidence seemed damning.

“Mum, I don’t know…” he started.

But Karen cut him off. “Don’t be foolish, Conan. You’re just blinded by your feelings for her. But I know the truth. She’s guilty, and she’s going to pay.”

Conan felt a wave of doubt wash over him. What if his mother was right? What if Luna was using him?

Over the next few days, Conan withdrew from Luna’s case.

He stopped visiting her, stopped investigating. Luna, sensing his absence, felt a pang of despair. But she refused to lose hope. She knew she was innocent, and she was going to prove it, no matter what.

As Conan struggled with his doubts, a new piece of evidence emerged. A security camera caught a glimpse of someone lurking around Billy’s house on the night of the murder. The figure was blurry.

Conan paced back and forth in his room, his mind racing with thoughts of Luna. He couldn’t believe she would do such a thing, but all the evidence pointed to her. The letter, the witness, it all added up to one thing: Luna was guilty.

He went to his mother, determination in his eyes. “I need to see Luna,” he said. “I need to hear it from her.”

Karen’s expression turned cold. “You’re not going to see her, Conan. She’s guilty, and she’s not worth your time.”

But Conan stood firm. “I need to see her,” he repeated. “I need to know the truth.”

Karen sighed. “Fine,” she said. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Conan went to the station and Luna was joy when she finally saw his face, he didn’t give up on her after all.

“Luna, How could you?”, his voice shaking, “I know he wasn’t the nicest to you but then.”

Luna’s eyes filled with tears. “No, Conan,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t do it. I swear.”

“Why did you argue with my grandfather?” he asked, raising his voice.

Luna was shocked by the way his eyes glowered at her, she took a deep breath. “I...I wasn’t. He was..wanted me to leave you, he was offering me mo..money to leave you, Conan. I swear it.” she stammered as tears poured out her eyes.

Conan’s mind reeled as he tried to process everything. He wanted to believe Luna, but the evidence.

“Luna,” he said, his voice shaking. “I don’t know what to believe.”

Luna’s face crumpled. “Please, Conan,” she begged

“You have to believe me. I would never hurt anyone, especially not your grandfather.”

Conan turned and left, his mind racing with thoughts and doubts. He didn’t know what to believe, or who to trust.

“Conan, please don’t leave me here” Luna shouted and begged but the guards dragged her back into her cell.