Chapter 5

"Officer Drake, I'm begging you," I said, meeting his eyes. "Look, no matter what, she's Patrick's mom. If this is really happening, she deserves the chance to tell her side of the story."

Finally, Samuel relented and gave me three days.

As soon as I left the station, I called Amelia.

"Amelia, can we meet up? There's something really important I need to talk to you about," I said.

"What is it? Can't you just tell me over the phone?" Amelia asked.

"It's about Patrick," I replied.

After a brief silence, Amelia said, "Alright. Where should we meet?"

"Let's meet at the same café as yesterday," I said.

An hour later, Amelia showed up. She looked nervous, constantly checking her watch.

"Julian, what's so urgent?" she asked.

I looked at her and said slowly, "Amelia, was Patrick's death really an accident?"

Amelia's face went ghostly pale at my question.

"W-What do you mean? Of course, it was a car accident," she stammered.

"The police came to me," I interrupted. "They said someone reported that Patrick's death wasn't an accident."

Amelia's hands started trembling, her teacup nearly slipping. "Reported what?"

"They're saying you put out a hit on Patrick."

"No way!" Amelia jumped up, her voice shaking. "How could I ever hurt my own son? Julian, don't buy into this crap."

I just watched her silently, not saying a word.

After a while, she sat back down and tried to compose herself. "Julian, I know you're hurting over Patrick, but you can't let your mind play tricks on you. I swear, it was just a car accident. That's the truth."

"Seriously, then why hasn't the driver ever been caught?" I asked.

"Because... because he ran off," Amelia blurted out.

"Amelia, I may have lost my memory, but my gut's still sharp." I leaned in, locking eyes. "And it's telling me you're lying."

Amelia couldn't look me in the eye. "I'm not lying."

"The cops have a recording," I told her.

At that, Amelia's whole body stiffened—she looked like she'd just turned to stone.

"A recording? What kind?" her voice came out shaky.

"From the driver himself. He claims you gave him 150 grand to hit Patrick, at one specific time, one specific place," I said, laying it out.

Amelia went snow-white, clutching her hands so hard her knuckles nearly popped. She looked like she might just crumble apart.

"That's a setup! Someone's trying to frame me!" Amelia burst out in panic.

"Amelia, just be straight with me," I said, keeping my voice steady. "How did Patrick actually die?"

She looked at me, her eyes flickering with all kinds of emotions, but in the end, she just shook her head. "Julian, I really don't know what you're talking about. It was a car accident, I swear."

I shook my head, disappointment settling in. "If you won't tell me, then I'll just let the cops find out the truth themselves."

"Wait!" Amelia grabbed my hand in a rush, desperate. "Julian, you've got to trust me. I'm Patrick's mother—how could I possibly hurt him?"

I stared at her gripping my hand, my voice cold as ice. "You married William just one month after Patrick died."

Amelia let go, her whole body slumping like she'd completely run out of strength.

"It was just… because I was a mess. I needed someone by my side," she said, her voice barely steady.

"Or was it because Patrick was ruining things between you and William?" I pushed.

"No! No, it's not like that at all," Amelia protested, her voice trembling.

I stood up. "Amelia, this is your last chance. Tell me the truth, or there'll be no turning back when the police show up."

Amelia looked at me, her eyes brimming with tears.

After a long pause, she finally spoke, her voice so faint I almost missed it. "Julian, if... I mean, if Patrick's death really wasn't an accident, what would you do?"

"I'd make the killer pay," I said coldly. "No matter who it is."

Amelia trembled. "Even me?"

"Anyone." My voice didn't waver for a second.

She closed her eyes, tears slipping down her cheeks. "Julian, do you have any idea how hard it was for me? I was just a woman, raising Patrick all on my own after you went to prison."

"So that means you could just kill him?" I said, my words coming out ice-cold.

"I didn't!" Amelia's eyes flew open, her voice trembling. "I swear, I never wanted to hurt Patrick—never."

"Then how do you explain the recording?" I demanded, the chill in my voice unmistakable.

"I..." Amelia faltered, finally shaking her head in denial. "I don't know where that recording came from, but it's fake—someone's setting me up, I swear."

Seeing her still trying to weasel out of it, I was done. Completely done.

"Fine. There's nothing left to say." I turned to leave.

"Julian!" Amelia rushed after me. "Are you seriously gonna call the cops?"