"...with a touch of doubt, it is possible

that innocence could be true..."

Never in a million years did I think it would play out like this. Love triangles can get ugly but the twists are always unique to each story. I worked a case some time ago when a similar thing happened. The wife was murdered by the man she was having an affair with. Her lover was fed up of excuses about her getting a divorce. That is what I expected in the case of this love triangle. I expected that Keira Ballard would be the one to end up dead. The murderer would be Nickolas Bale because of his impatience to get her out of her marriage or her husband Jason Burke because of his jealousy. But instead, it's her husband who is dead and the strangest part is that the body has been found on her family's property. Is she that stupid or is something else happening?

I can't help but wonder if Miss Ballard is being framed.

"She doesn't look like a killer. I mean look at her." Fitz frowned. "She gives innocence a whole new meaning. She looks like a ln angel in tears. It's heartbreaking!"

We have been observing her from the one way glass. She is cuffed to the table of the interrogation room. I like to observe those I have arrested through the glass. Her mannerisms don't expose guilt.

"Murderers don't have a distinct face. Sometimes they look like angels. Even the Devil was once an angel." I looked at him. He rubbed the back of his head. She does look like an angel. She is soft spoken, polite and strangely calm even in this situation. "What did you find out about the guns?"

"They probably belong to her father. His name is Michael Ballard. He served as Master Chief in the navy."

I nodded my head. "Well look at that! She's the daughter of a naval officer. That explains the guns. But tell me about the missing one. You saw the gap, right?"

"It is exactly that. Missing."

"Any news from the coroner about the cause of death?"

"We will now by evening."

"And where is Michael Ballard?"

"We don't know. Do you think the father did it?" Fitz posed another question I have been asking myself. Now that I know he served, I am sure he is capable of murder. "He finds out his daughter was being abused by Jason Burke. He gets into a major disagreement with him and he shoots him."

"And he served the navy. But would he careless enough to leave the body on his own land and flee, leaving the daughter he was protecting to pay for his actions? Something about this is not adding up."

"She doesn't look like a murderer." Fitz insisted. Perhaps he's falling prey to her already. I'm sure if she asks him to set her free Fitz may just do it.

"What if Nick did it?" I expressed my opinion.

"You badly want this to be Nick, don't you?"

"He has enough motive to kill Jason Burke. He wanted her. Jason Burke was a hinderance. Nick broke into Jason's house, he beat Jason up and he took his wife. If she was on the brink of death like she claims then he was angry and he wanted payback and he got it. My money is on Nick. I want it to be Nick so that I can put that smug bastard away."

"So how do you want to play this?"

"I want to use her as bait to get a confession out of Nickolas Bale. Let's see how true their love really is."

"Do you seriously think that a man with a daughter will confess to murder to save his mistress?"

"Like I said, let's just see how true their love is."

"Nicko! Nicko wake up! Nicko!"

I can hear my mother's voice but I don't want to open my eyes. I sleep well after drinking. There are no thoughts to keep me awake at night. I only have to deal with insane hangovers in the morning. I can already feel the familiar throbbing of a headache.

"Nickolas!" A more aggressive tone caused me to wake up, coming face to face with my father's cold steel blue eyes. "Get up!"

He doesn't look happy. My mom cupped my face. "Nicko, she's been arrested for murder!" She looks shocked. Pale is not a word I would use to describe my mother but she's pale.

"What the hell are you talking about? Who was arrested?"

I hope it's Margaux!

"Keira has been arrested for murder!"

It's like the alcohol was knocked right out of my system. I got out of bed at lightning speed. "What?"

"It's on the news! It's on every channel! She was arrested yesterday! The body was found where she lives!" My mom continued to inform me.

"Where's my phone?" I started turning things upside down. "Where is my phone? Where is it?" I found it under a pile of clothes. I have let myself go. Even my room is a mess. I saw a missed call from her. She called me yesterday morning. "Fuck! She called me! Fuck!"

She probably needed me and yet again, for the second time, I was too drunk to help her.

"What is it?" She asked me.

"She called me. I didn't... I didn't look. I didn't hear... She called me. I let her down. She needed me-"

"And you were too drunk to be useful! Shame on you! Get yourself cleaned up and get your ass downstairs! We need to talk!" My father spoke authoritatively.

I know better than to challenge him. My mom, any time. I'll vex her until we can't do it anymore. I took a cold shower, cleaned myself up in a hurry and headed downstairs.

I found Helena, Gio and my father waiting. The TV is on and the news has Keira as the headline.

"Suburban housewife murders her husband."

That is what the caption says. There's a picture of Keira and Jason on their wedding day on the screen. I turned up the volume.

"...he wasn't perfect. Jason wasn't perfect. I know that. But Keira expected perfection from him. When he couldn't step up she stepped out on him. She and her boyfriend and I'm not afraid to name him, Nickolas Bale, they did this. They killed Jason together! And I want them to pay for taking away my only child!"

My father snatched the remote and switched off the TV.

"She didn't do this. She couldn't have done this. Keira is a gentle... she's gentle! She's not capable of murder!" I defended her in front of my family but the looks they are giving me are not promising.

"Our concern is not whether she did it or not. Our concern is you." My father told me. "We are only concerned about you."

"I have to do something. I'm going down to the station-"

"You will not do that!" Gio addressed me. "Stay away from this! There are reporters outside the gate. This is already a circus and it doesn't need to be anything more!"

"She's alone!"

"And you are not even sober!" Gio grimaced. "What is this Nicko? I thought it was a glass or two to get the edge of but bottles on bottles? You have a problem! My sympathy towards you when I thought Helena was overreacting has faded. You need to shape up!"

"I know. I know and I'm ashamed. But Keira needs me right now. I have to go there."

"And what will you do? Are you a lawyer?" Helena questioned. "You know very well that detective is on a fishing expedition and he wants you on his hook and you are taking yourself to him? Has the alcohol made you this stupid?"

"He's just emotional Helena." My mom stood up for me. "Nicko, I know you love this woman. I saw it in your eyes, I see the pain right now. It's natural for you to sacrifice anything for her but you shouldn't. You have a daughter. If you are out away, Margaux gets Maddie. Think about what is the priority here. Sometimes decisions can be that difficult to make."

"She has no one else."

"She had parents. Michael is capable of getting her out." My father told me.

"But we have a lot more to lose if that detective comes after you. There are things about this family that should never come to light." Gio explained. "You know what I mean. If they start looking into you, we will be exposed."

"And we can't have that." Helena added.

The Mafia. They are afraid of that coming to light. Helena calls it q stain on her bloodline. My grandfather has avoided the whole scenario all his life. It almost ruined my mother's life and it almost claimed my father's life. The Mafia is a cruel mistress and they don't know it but it is my mistress. It has even choked out Kei so that it is the only one that comes first.

"I'm just going to ask it because we are all thinking it." My father broke the silence. They circled me and I felt suddenly choked by how close they are to me. I guess we will use our quiet voices. "Did you kill Jason Burke?"

"Why the hell would you even ask that?"

"Because you shot someone when you were only 17. Have you forgotten that death Nicko?" Gio asked me.

"I was protecting you!"

"And I am grateful but once you go down that road it gets easier and easier. Dis you do this?"

"If you did, you need to tell us do that we can cover this up quickly." Helena told me.

"Rage blinds a man. I know that from personal experience. In a flare of rage it is possible to take a life Nickolas. Jason was abusing Keira."

"Who told you that?"

"Tony."

Damn Tony! He never came to see Kei when she was hiding away in Bruce's lake house but he shared this information with my family? Tony is completely against Kei and I. He must be warming up to drop a big "I told you so"!

"I didn't do it! If I did I wouldn't bury him where Kei lives! They would never have found the body! This is not me!"

I moved my mother aside and left the house. I have to check on Kei. Julio stayed close and offered to drive the car. It's true that there are reporters all over. Flashing cameras, shouting and some even blocking the car and flashing the cameras through the window of the car.

*

Timmy has really done it this time! He has arrested Kei! It's like throwing Mother Theresa into prison! What the fuck? I walked towards his desk in full rage.

"What is your problem Timmy?" I questioned him.

The whole room became silent.

"Mr Bale. I have been waiting for you. Let's talk."

Julio grabbed my arm. "Perhaps you should not talk to him."

I broke free and followed Timmy to a narrow hallway. This is where the interrogation rooms are. I'm not a stranger to this place. I did a lot of stupid things as a teenager that landed me here.

"Kei!" I saw her seated quietly on the other side of the glass. Her wrist is cuffed to the table. She looks defeated and sad. Keira is a gentle soul. She is not capable of murder! "She didn't do this! You need to let her go!"

"Just between us two, I am not opposed to letting her go. All I need is for you to admit that you snapped and you killed Jason Burke. That is all it takes and she can walk out of here."

"So you have no evidence to keep her here. She needs a lawyer! Has she gotten that? Have you allowed get a phone call you sick fuck?"

"Watch it."

"No Timmy!" I poked him. "You watch it!"

He smiled at me. "You see that temper is the problem and your crucible too."

"Detective, her lawyer is here." Another officer told him. It's the same guy who accompanied him to the lake house.

"She didn't call a lawyer." I noted.

"Detective Timothy Rowland?" A woman in a sharp pinstripe suit walked our way with nothing but confidence in her stride. "Rose Anderson. I'm Miss Ballard's lawyer. I would like to speak to my client. Privately."

Rose Anderson is a cut throat criminal lawyer. If I was to be charged with this, I would turn to Rose Anderson. She never loses.

"Be my guest." Timmy and his colleague left the hallway.

"You are Nickolas Bale." She noted with sharp eye contact.

"I am."

"You need a great lawyer. That detective is coming after you next."

"Who hired you?" I know Kei cannot afford Rose Anderson.

"Theo Sinclair. He paid enough to make me hold off every other case I was representing." She looked through the glass. "She must be important to him. Excuse me."

She entered the room.

I watched Keira a little more before I left.

Julio is waiting outside.

"Well?" He asked me.

"Theo Sinclair has made himself a hero yet again." I clenched my jaw with sheer frustration gnawing at me.

How is this guy always at the right place when she needs him? How? I didn't even know Kei was still talking to him! I know he is not benevolent enough to pay for a lawyer like Rose Anderson, out of the goodness of his heart.

Is there something going on between Kei and Theo?