When Love Finds Its Way Back (Cassienne and Dreston) novel Chapter 376

The atmosphere inside the investigation unit had completely changed. Everyone could feel it.

The investigation that had remained at a standstill for so long was finally moving forward.

Inside the conference room of the Southvale Central Police Headquarters, several files were spread across the large table.

Justice Elena Simpson sat beside Joseph Tremont while Steve occupied the seat opposite them. Around them were the lead investigator and the rest of the investigation team. Photographs, witness statements, forensic reports, and recorded evidence had been arranged carefully, each piece slowly completing the puzzle that had haunted two families for years.

No one spoke for a while.

Every person in that room knew they were only one confession away from exposing the entire conspiracy.

Meanwhile, inside one of the interrogation rooms, the tattooed man sat quietly with his hands resting on the table.

Unlike before, there was no defiance left in his eyes.

He looked tired.

The silence inside the room stretched for several moments before he finally raised his head. "I think..." he said quietly, "...I'm ready to cooperate with the investigation."

The lead investigator, who had been standing near the door, slowly walked back to the table and took the seat opposite him.

A faint smile crossed his face.

"That's good to hear," he replied calmly. "Because we were already preparing to conclude this part of the investigation."

The tattooed man frowned. "What do you mean?"

The investigator folded his hands together.

"Donatus Richardson has already made it clear that he doesn't know you."

The tattooed man's eyes widened. "What?"

The investigator continued in the same calm tone. "He said you acted on your own. He claimed you were your own boss."

For the first time since his arrest, genuine shock appeared on the man's face. "He... said that?"

"Yes." The investigator nodded without taking his eyes off him. "That doesn't exempt him from the crimes he's committed. But according to him, whatever you did had nothing to do with him."

The tattooed man's jaw tightened, and he lowered his head.

A bitter laugh escaped him.."So...He abandoned me."

No one answered.

The silence itself became the answer.

After sitting quietly for almost a full minute, he slowly lifted his head again.

"Fine." He inhaled deeply. "Donatus Richardson hired me."

The investigator remained expressionless.

"He ordered me to silence Tina Ackley. He also instructed me to abduct Mrs. Cassienne Tremont. Those were the assignments he personally gave me."

The room fell silent.

Behind the one-way glass wall, another investigator quietly raised his thumb toward his colleagues.

The entire confession had been recorded.

The lead investigator noticed the signal before returning his attention to the suspect.

"Thank you for telling the truth."

The tattooed man gave a tired nod.

The investigator leaned forward slightly. "But is that everything?"

The man frowned. "What do you mean?"

The investigator studied him carefully. "Was there anyone else? Someone with more influence, or someone working alongside Donatus Richardson."

The tattooed man's breathing changed almost imperceptibly.

His eyes revealed surprise before he quickly forced himself to remain calm. "I don't know what you're talking about."

The investigator remained patient. "Think carefully."

"I already have." The tattooed man answered firmly. "Mr. Donatus Richardson is the only man I worked for, and there was nobody else."

The investigator held his gaze for several more seconds before slowly standing. "We're done for now."

He gathered the file and walked toward the door. But the tattooed man remained seated.

Although he had spoken...

Everyone knew he was still protecting someone.

…….

A short while later, the female accomplice was brought into another interrogation room.

Compared to the tattooed man, she appeared much more frightened. Her hands trembled slightly as she answered each question.

She admitted to helping monitor Cassienne's movements.

She admitted to assisting in the failed kidnapping.

She admitted that Donatus Richardson was the one giving instructions.

But whenever the investigators carefully directed the conversation toward another possible mastermind...

Her answers remained exactly the same.

"I don't know."

"I never saw anyone else."

"I only answered to Mr. Richardson."

By the time her testimony ended, the investigators exchanged quiet glances.

Their statements matched almost perfectly.

Someone had clearly instructed them on what to say if they were ever caught.

…….

The lead investigator returned to the conference room carrying two fresh files.

Joseph immediately looked up. "Any progress?"

"There is."

The investigator placed both files on the table.

"We obtained full confessions regarding the attempted murder of Tina Ackley and the attempted kidnapping of Mrs. Cassienne Tremont."

The door opened, two investigators were already waiting. One sat opposite the empty chair prepared for Donatus.

The other remained standing beside the recording equipment. "Please."

The seated investigator gestured toward the chair. "Have a seat."

Donatus slowly obeyed.

The investigator looked at him for a long moment before speaking. "Your men have decided to cooperate."

Donatus immediately frowned. "They wouldn't."

The investigator didn't argue. He simply nodded toward his colleague.

The audio recording began to play.

The room filled with the tattooed man's voice.

"Donatus Richardson hired me..."

"He ordered me to silence Tina Ackley..."

"He instructed me to abduct Mrs. Cassienne Tremont..."

Donatus's breathing became heavier with every passing second.

His fingers curled tightly against the arms of the chair. His face gradually lost every trace of color. "No..."

He whispered.

"No..."

The recording continued.

"He abandoned me."

Before the recording reached its end, Donatus suddenly slammed both hands onto the table.

"Stop it!"

The investigator calmly pressed the pause button, and silence returned.

Donatus stared at the two investigators. His chest rose and fell rapidly.

He finally understood that nobody was coming. Nobody was going to protect him.

He had been left alone to carry every crime.

His shoulders slowly dropped.

Then, in a voice filled with bitterness, anger, and betrayal, he spoke. "I'm ready to cooperate."

Neither investigator reacted, but they simply waited.

Donatus closed his eyes briefly before opening them again. "There is someone else." His gaze slowly lifted to meet theirs. "The real mastermind."

The room fell completely silent.

Outside the interrogation room, Joseph, Justice Elena, and Steve exchanged meaningful glances through the glass.

After months of searching...

The final wall had finally begun to crumble.