CHAPTER FOURTY-ONE

The investigatiom began. "Can you tell us where you went before you found your wife?" Ava asked gently.

The man sniffled, composing himself. "I went to the nearby supermarket. My wife was craving snacks, so I went to get them for her."

Ava nodded sympathetically. "Do you have any enemies who might want to harm you or your wife?"

The man shook his head. "I don't know...even if you don't offend anyone, you can still have enemies without knowing."

Ava nodded understandingly. "Do you think your wife might have offended someone?"

The man's face contorted in anger, and he slammed his fist on the table. "Even if she did, what gives them the right to kill her? She was almost due to deliver our first child!" He broke down in tears.

Ava handed him a tissue, but he flung it away. "How can you give me a tissue? Can you bring back my wife?"

Ava's expression turned somber. "I'm sorry, but there's nothing we can do. Your wife is gone."

The man's eyes darted wildly around the room, and he began pacing. "I don't think I can take this. I'm going to kill myself. I have nothing to live for now."

Ava stood up, alarm etched on her face. "You need to calm down."

But the man spun around, his eyes blazing with desperation. "Don't tell me to calm down! My life is meaningless now. My wife is gone, the baby is gone...I have nothing left."

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Ethan sped down the road, his emotions simmering just below the surface. As he reached a secluded spot, he slammed on the brakes, bringing the car to a sudden halt.

He buried his face in his hands, overcome with grief. The pain and hurt washed over him like a tidal wave, threatening to consume him.

"Why?" he sobbed, his voice cracking with despair. "Why did this have to happen?"

Ava's face haunted his mind, and he couldn't shake off the feeling of longing and loss. He missed her terribly, and the ache in his heart seemed to grow with each passing moment.

Ethan's initial plan to head to the beach was forgotten. Instead, he decided to return home, seeking solace in the familiar surroundings. He just wanted to rest, to escape the turmoil that ravaged his mind.

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

As the investigation continued, Ava and her team hit a roadblock. "There's no security footage around the house," one of the officers reported. "We have no way of identifying the killer."

Ava's expression turned grim. "I guess this is going to be a long investigation."

The team tried to calm the grieving husband, but he was beyond consolation. His eyes blazed with anger and despair, and his words were laced with desperation.

The officers exchanged worried glances. They feared that if they sent the man home, he might harm himself. His emotional state was precarious, and they couldn't risk letting him out of their sight.

"Let's keep him here at the station for now," Ava decided. "We'll make sure he's safe and secure until we can find out who killed his wife."

The team nodded in agreement, and the husband was led away, still shouting and crying, as the officers worked tirelessly to unravel the mystery of his wife's tragic death.

The officer's suggestion to interrogate the neighbors was met with agreement from the team. They headed to the house and began questioning each neighbor, one by one.

However, as the day wore on, it became clear that none of the neighbors seemed suspicious. They all appeared innocent, and the officers were unable to uncover any leads.

They decided to call it a day, planning to resume their investigation later on.

Meanwhile, Ethan trudged through the front door of his home, exhausted and frustrated. Sam, who had been waiting for him, immediately noticed that something was off.

"Boss, are you okay?" Sam asked, concern etched on her face.

But Ethan ignored her, brushing past her and heading straight for the stairs. Sam's eyes followed him, worry creeping into her expression. What was wrong with her boss?

Ethan called Sam into the room and asked her to sit down. "There's something I want to tell you," he said, his expression serious.

"I think you should leave this place, Sam. You've worked hard and done a lot for me. I appreciate your dedication."

Sam looked at him curiously. "Boss, what's going on?"

Ethan hesitated before speaking. "I'll be traveling for a few days, and I don't know when I'll be back. I want you to take a break, maybe go on vacation."

Sam's eyes widened in surprise. "Boss, I can just stay here and—"

Ethan cut her off firmly. "Do as I say, Sam. I'll give you some money, and you can go wherever you want. When I'm back, I'll let you know if I need your services again."

Sam looked uncertain, but Ethan's expression brooked no argument. "You're dismissed, Sam. Start packing up."

"Boss, are you serious?" Sam asked, still looking stunned.

Ethan's face was grim. "Does it look like I'm joking? I'm going out of town, and I don't know when I'll be back. It's better if you're not here."

Sam nodded slowly, accepting Ethan's decision.

Sam packed her belongings, her expression tinged with sadness. Despite her reservations, she knew better than to argue with her boss.

As she made her way downstairs, she was surprised to see Ethan waiting for her. He handed her a car key and said, "I don't want you to be stranded, so I'm gifting you one of my cars."

Sam's face brightened with a small smile. "Thank you, boss. I'm really grateful. You've done a lot for me."

Ethan's expression softened. "Don't mention it, Sam. And who says I won't be needing your services anymore?"

Sam looked up at him, a hint of hope in her eyes. "Really?"

Ethan nodded. "I'm just going out of town for a while. I'll be sending you some money, and we'll stay in touch. You never know when I might need your help again."

Sam's smile widened, and she thanked Ethan again before leaving with the car keys in hand.