Chapter 7 - The Dark Truth Unveiled
The interrogation room at the county police station was cold, smelling of stale coffee and bleach. Through the one-way mirror, I watched as two detectives sat across from Daniel. He sat slumped in his metal chair, his expensive suit rumpled, refusing to look up.
For hours, the detectives tore through his alibis, presenting him with the overwhelming mountain of evidence the task force had compiled over the past twenty-four hours. It wasn't just child abuse and psychological torture; it was a murder investigation.
Officer Vance stepped into the observation room where I was sitting with a cup of hot chamomile tea.
“How is he holding up?” I asked, my voice hoarse.
“He stopped talking about halfway through,” Vance sighed, leaning against the counter. “Once we presented the financial records showing massive cash withdrawals from Clara’s accounts the week she disappeared, combined with the forensic evidence found beneath the concrete slab in your backyard garage... he knew the game was over.”
My hand trembled against the ceramic mug. “The garage?”
“Yeah. We brought in a cadaver dog unit an hour ago. They hit on a fresh patch of concrete poured right after Clara went missing five years ago. A court order for excavation was signed by a judge twenty minutes ago. We’ll know for sure by morning, but Daniel’s lawyer is already trying to negotiate a plea deal in exchange for telling us where the remains are.”
Tears welled in my eyes as I thought of poor, sweet Lily sleeping safely in a hospital room, finally free from the monster who had terrorized her entire existence.
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“Will he ever get out?” I asked softly.
“Not a chance,” Vance said firmly. “Between the attempted murder of his first wife, the severe child abuse, starvation, and false imprisonment charges... he’s going away for the rest of his natural life.”
