Chapter 31 Conflict

Robbery-Murder Division

Luke and his team returned to the office, escorting Steven to the lounge.

Susan summoned Luke and the others to the conference room.

Raymond provided Susan and the deputy captain with an update on the investigation.

The deputy captain scowled, "The wife is out dancing, and the husband is enraged. There's definitely something off about him. We need to get him talking before his lawyer shows up."

Luke responded, "We tried, but he's refusing to say anything until he has a lawyer present."

"We're not interrogating him, just having a conversation," the deputy captain said as he headed toward the lounge.

Luke followed, curious to see what insights the veteran might uncover.

The deputy captain opened the lounge door with a creak. Steven glanced up momentarily before shifting his gaze to the door.

The deputy captain pulled up a chair and sat beside him. "Steven, right?"

Steven's eyes flickered briefly but he remained silent.

"Are you dumb?"

Steven bowed his head, continuing to offer no response.

"Here's the thing: the more you resist, the more suspicious you look. If you want to clear your name and find your wife quickly, you need to cooperate. Let's have a candid discussion.

I've been married three times, and yes, I've had moments of intense frustration, but I never acted on it. Conflicts between couples are common; dealing with them is just part of life."

Steven looked up. "I need to see a lawyer."

The deputy captain shook his head. "Lawyers protect your rights but won't solve the core issue. They won't solve the case or locate your wife. If you're innocent, you shouldn't need a lawyer."

"I won't say anything without one," Steven replied firmly.

The deputy captain sighed, realizing there was little chance of extracting information from Steven at this point.

Just as he was about to make another attempt, the door opened, and a man in a crisp suit with a briefcase entered. "I'm Steven's lawyer. I need to speak with him alone."

The deputy captain nodded and left the lounge.

Marcus approached, "Deputy Captain, have you uncovered any clues?"

"Get me a coffee, no sugar," the deputy captain muttered, clearly uninterested in further discussion.

Learning from past experiences, everyone stepped back.

Ten minutes later, the door to the lounge reopened.

The lawyer stood in the doorway. "Officers, my client is ready to speak."

Susan signaled to a few of her team members. "David, Luke, come with me."

As they entered, the lawyer introduced himself, "I'm Dave Wilson, Steven's lawyer. May I have the names of the officers present?"

"I'm Susan, captain of the first squad of the Robbery-Murder Division. This is Inspector David and Detective Luke."

The lawyer asked, "Captain Susan, why is my client here?"

"We suspect his wife, Alyssa, may have been kidnapped. We need to question him to understand the situation better."

"Are you treating my client as a suspect or just seeking information?"

"We're seeking information."

"Understood. However, if my client feels he's being treated unfairly, I'll remove him from this situation."

David sneered, "Nice to see you're ready to run at the first hint of trouble. Quite the responsible husband."

Steven shot back, "I don't need a lecture on being a husband."

David retorted, "Looks like you're already thinking about a new wife."

"No, I love my wife," Steven insisted.

The lawyer interjected, "Captain Susan, please keep your team in check. There's clear bias against my client."

Susan pointed to Luke. "Luke, you handle this."

Luke composed himself and said, "Steven, our goal is to get a complete picture and locate your wife as soon as possible. Do you want to help us find her?"

"Of course."

Luke continued, "Did you know Alyssa was dancing at the Ball Club?"

The lawyer cautioned, "Steven, this is a private matter. You don't have to answer."

Luke pressed, "Steven, avoiding this question won't help. Even if you don't answer, we'll keep investigating. Every moment delays finding Alyssa, and every second counts."

"Are you threatening my client?" the lawyer asked sharply.

"No, just emphasizing the urgency," Luke clarified.

Steven hesitated, then admitted, "Yes, I knew."

"How did you find out?"

"I saw those photos in the delivery cabinet."

"And then?"

"I took them to her parents' house."

"Why?"

"I was furious… I never expected her to do this. I wanted her parents to see what she was up to, hoping they might persuade her."

"Is there anything else you did?"

The lawyer cut in, "Steven, don't answer. They're trying to trick you."

Steven said, "That's all I did."

David interjected, "If my wife were dancing like that, I'd kill her."

The lawyer stood, patting Steven on the shoulder. "We're leaving."

Susan said, "We're not finished here."

The lawyer replied, "Captain Susan, you said you just wanted information, but it's clear your team is treating my client as a suspect. Dancing in a club doesn't make him guilty."

Susan responded, "We need to consider all possibilities to find the truth. We owe it to both the victim and her family to investigate every lead thoroughly. My team's approach is appropriate."

Tension thickened in the lounge.

The lawyer whispered to Steven, then addressed Susan. "If you want to continue, please have Inspector David leave the room."

Susan signaled David to step out.

David left, making a gesture of watching Steven, then exited.

Steven sat down, his eyes red and voice earnest. "Captain Susan, I appreciate your dedication, but you're making a mistake. I would never harm Alyssa."

Susan asked, "Then why leave the photos at her parents' house?"

"I love Alyssa. Seeing those pictures shattered me. I didn't have the courage to confront her directly and risk losing her. I hoped her parents would convince her to stop."

Luke asked, "If you wanted to explain, why involve a lawyer?"

Steven gave a bitter smile. "Even if I explained, would you believe me? Without a lawyer, I'd be at your mercy."

Luke pressed, "Where were you last Friday night?"

The lawyer interrupted coldly, "Steven, you don't need to answer that."

Steven, frustrated, stood up. "This is why I needed a lawyer. As soon as I compromise, you keep questioning me. You don't trust me at all! I'm done!"