BELLA'S POV
"Sir, how many times do I need to tell you that I am innocent? "
I returned to my senses when I heard Christopher speak again.'
"Salute!" I heard some of our co-detectives in our department speak.
I nodded to everyone in response to what they did, and they eventually put down their hand, saluting me a while back. I came closer to where Ced and the suspect were located.
"What happened here? "I asked Ced in total seriousness while preventing myself from looking in Christopher's direction even though many questions were running on my mind.
"Murder. "Ced simply replied with his poker face.
"Miss, I already told your co-worker that I am innocent. Yet, he does not want to remove this from me. "Christopher suddenly spoke to me, and then he raised his hands that were currently in handcuffs.
"Sir, it is not easy to obey what you are saying, especially we have strong evidence gather against you. "I calmly explained to Christopher his situation.
"I am not the one who killed her. I just woke up when these officers arrive. Besides, I did not even know that girl. "Christopher said, trying to defend himself.
"No one ever confess or admit that they did the crime. Only the law can tell if you are really innocent or not. Stand up there already so we can go to the headquarters, and you can make your statement already. "Ced talked to Christopher in full of seriousness.
"I do not want to. I am not a criminal, so I do not deserve to be treated this way, "Christopher remarked irritably while struggling to get free from my other co-detectives.
"Sir, if you want to make things easier for everyone, come along with us calmly. "I am trying to convince him calmly.
It seems like he thought about what I had said because he stopped trying to escape from the hand of my co-detectives.
"Let go of me. I can walk alone. "Christopher said calmly to my co-detectives that are holding him.
"Do not let go of him. He may escape from us. "Ced ordered to my co-detectives. It seems like my co-detectives are starting to be confused about whom to follow and what they should do.
"For the second time around, I will not escape. If I let you hold me, people will think that I am really guilty of the crime. I tell you again, I am innocent. "Christopher raised his voice already.
It seems like things are already hitting up between them. Before Ced could utter any words, I raised my right hand to make him stop.
"Let him be. "I ordered the two people holding Christopher.
My co-detectives just nodded as their response, and they let go of Christopher. They just accompany Christopher on walking towards the exit of the crime scene. I turned my attention to Ced.
"Do not be too harsh to all suspect we are capturing. They still have their rights. "I reminded Ced in seriousness.
"Rights? They are all criminals! "I heard Ced respond with irritation. His voice also became louder, so it caught other people's attention at the crime scene.
"They will still be innocent until they are proven guilty by law. "I replied back with irritation.
"They were caught on the act especially that guy. Beside, all evidence found here was pointing him as the culprit. This case somehow is automatically close. "Ced explained irritably, so I shook my head with unbelief.
"What are we still doing here if we can just conclude things right away? We are not here to judge them. We are here to investigate what really happened. "I firmly explained to Ced.
I am trying to calm myself down because I do not want to make a scene here at the crime scene because of the misunderstanding between Ced and me. It seemed like Ced would rebut what I said, so I immediately stopped him.
"This is enough already. Let us go back to work. I need all the evidence on my table today. Let us see each other at the headquarters. "I said, giving them instructions to follow.
"Yes, Ma'am. "Everyone in the crime scene replied except Ced.
I tried to ignore what Ced did to avoid prolonging our discussion. I walked out of the crime scene and went to the exit door of the hotel to calm myself down.
"Are you okay? "I heard Riri ask me. It seems like she followed me here.
"Yes, I am fine. "I answered with a smile.
"You know, Ced have a point. All evidence is pointing towards Mr. Ramirez as the culprit. "Riri said, trying to convince me.
I sighed because of what she said. According to the investigation made by the team, Mr. Ramirez was really the one who killed the girl. Somehow, this case seems already closing, as Ced said a while back. However, there is something inside me telling me that he is innocent.
"We are detectives, not a judge. Let the judge do his job. "I explained to Riri.
"Is that really the actual reason, or you just cannot believe that the man who saved Ryle is also the culprit of this murder? "Riri commented, which made me shocked. Did she read my mind?
"My professional and personal judgement is always separated, Riri. "I calmly responded to Riri, but I firmly said it too.
"I knew that too. My point was try to understand the feelings of Ced because it was the same way how his mother died. "Riri explained sadly.
"Just what I said a while ago, our professional and personal judgement should be separated at all times, Riri. "I said, trying to explain my point.
"Either professional or personal judgement, he is still guilty as charged. Beside, I know more than anyone else, you are the one who truly understand Ced feelings. "Riri commented sadly.
"My father died too without me knowing who did that to him, just what happened to Ced's mother's case, but I am thinking rationally here, Riri. We are on oath to do our jobs, and I have my own principle in finding the true culprit. Up until I am not done reviewing the evidence you found, I will not judge him right away. "I long explained to Riri while sightseeing the view outside the window.
"Fine, but I hope that this would not be the reason of your misunderstanding with Ced. "Riri advise me.
"Just what I said a while ago, my personal and professional judgement is separated. So, do not worry about us. It is just work, nothing personal about it. "I explained to Riri while giving her a nice smile to assure her that everything was alright between Ced and me.
Though I am not sure if Ced and I have similar thoughts about what happened. Riri did not bother to reply to what I said, so silence surrounded us. The silence just broke when my cell phone suddenly rang. I took it from my pocket, and lines were drawn on my forehead after I saw who was calling.
"Oh, who was calling you? "Riri asked. It seemed like she noticed the lines on my forehead.
"It is Ryle, "I simply replied.
I motioned that I would just answer my phone, so she simply nodded in response.
"Hello, Ryle! "I energetically answered.
( Sister? Is that true that you caught my cool brother? )
I heard Ryle ask that question in the other line. How did he know that fast?
"How did you know? "I asked him because of my curiosity.
( The news is all over social media and headlines of the news report. Sister, I am sure that he was not capable of doing what was accused of him. )
I heard Ryle while he was trying to defend Christopher. Is this the reason why he called me?
"Ryle, you are not the right person to conclude about that. Let us solve this case while you should focus on your studies. "I tried to advise him.
( Sister, I knew that he could not do that. I am sure that he was innocent. )
I could not help but sigh because of what Ryle was saying. It seemed like he had big idolatry of that guy.
"Ryle, you should study already. If he was really innocent, let me prove that. "I said, trying to convince him.
( Sister, do me a favor. He helped me, so you should help him too. )
"I will see what I can do about it, Ryle. Remember this, I will not let anyone to be put in jail in a crime they did not commit. So, you should study already. Let us see each other in home, okay? I need to go back in the headquarters. "I told him before I ended the call.
After I ended the call, Riri appeared in front of me right away. I cannot believe this girl. Sometimes, she loves to gossip.
"It is Ryle, he already knew what happened. I think Mr. Ramirez was a high profile person because his case is all over the news. "I commented.
"Did you not know who was Mr. Ramirez? "Riri asked in confusion. I simply shook my head to answer her.
"What?! He is the heir of the wealthiest family in the country. "Riri said once again in surprise.
"Ahh, that is the reason why there are a lot of reporters in the entrance. "I commented.
"You did not even amaze about what I said. "Riri asked me again in surprise.
"Nope, in my eyes, he was just a suspect. That is the only detail I should know about him. "I replied, then turned my back to her.
"Let us go already. Let's head back to the headquarters and wrap this case up. "I told her and then walked my way out of the hotel.
TO BE CONTINUED!