Chapter Three: Drink

After reading everything, Julie was stunned and could not deny that Liam indeed shared the DNA of the perpetrator involved with Elizah. She could only sit quietly in her place, with Mark beside her trying to console her.

No words escaped her lips as she stared silently at the papers filled with data and evidence about Liam.

"I understand it’s hard for you to believe, but data doesn’t lie," Mark said, taking the papers from Julie’s hands. "Now, go back to your sister and let the authorities handle the rest, Miss Julie," he added.

"There must be a mistake," Julie said spontaneously, looking at Mark again. "I’m sure this isn’t entirely true. Elizah said that Liam wasn’t the perpetrator. There must—"

"Elizah's eyes were covered at that time; you saw the blindfold on her. Go back to your sister and start a new life. Forget this incident. At the very least, it saved you both from a man like Liam." Mark stood up, giving a faint smile that quickly disappeared. Meanwhile, Julie remained frozen, unable to think of anything except the disappointment filling her, leaving her feeling empty and helpless.

Julie might not believe it, especially if she told Elizah about Liam. Elizah would surely be hysterical and disbelieving.

"Julie, I know Liam’s scent. Even though we weren’t close, I liked him, and I know for sure he didn’t do this. I just blurted out his name, but I didn’t mean to—"

"I already know you wouldn’t believe it, but the DNA evidence of the perpetrator and Liam’s DNA is in the hands of the police, and they are identical, even exact. I know it’s painful, but Liam got what he deserved." Julie now returned to wearing her nurse uniform and worked as Elizah’s private nurse. Thankfully, Elizah was physically recovering, though her mental state was still fragile.

"I only followed him that night. I don’t understand why he had to do all this," Elizah said with closed eyes, crying. "I’m sorry, Julie."

"What do you mean by 'followed'?" Julie asked, her gaze full of confusion. "He said he invited you to go home together, waiting for you in front of the factory."

"Yes, he invited me, but… What? Waiting for me?"

Julie frowned at Elizah’s words. "Don’t you know that Liam was waiting for you?" Elizah shook her head. "Oh my God, then you were following the wrong person?"

"No, I’m sure the one I followed was Liam, Julie."

Julie sighed deeply, feeling confused and overwhelmed, making her head throb. "God, I think I need a sedative." She massaged her temples before looking back at Elizah’s face, covered in scars. Her heart ached as Elizah turned her gaze out the window.

"I’m sure the perpetrator wasn’t Liam. The police caught the wrong person, Julie. I don’t want to live like this. They let the real perpetrator walk free while Liam is imprisoned!" Elizah’s voice was heavy and filled with anger. Julie fully understood her sister’s feelings but could do nothing except try to calm her down.

Julie fell silent, recalling something: "monsters." Yes, Elizah screamed "monsters," meaning there was more than one perpetrator.

"Monsters. What do you mean by monsters? Did you feel there was more than one person?"

Elizah swallowed hard, her eyes widening as she seemed to relive that night. She bent over and suddenly started screaming hysterically, remembering something. Julie immediately stood up, trying to administer a sedative to calm Elizah and put her to sleep. She now realized this couldn’t be ignored. She had to meet Mark.

"Where are you going?" Richard stopped Julie in her tracks. The long-haired brunette turned around immediately. "Are you skipping your duties again, or do you need to rest after this terrible incident? Julie, you’re overworking yourself."

"Oh, Richard, I have to do something. Elizah became hysterical earlier. I just mentioned 'monsters,' and she started screaming. I have to tell Mark about this," Julie said, clearly in a hurry.

"About what?"

"'Monsters.' They arrested Liam even though Elizah said Liam wasn’t the perpetrator, but… Oh my God, they’re still holding him." Julie appeared frustrated, taking deep breaths and rubbing her temples repeatedly.

"The police wouldn’t hold someone without evidence, right? Do you think the police made a mistake?"

"That’s not what I mean, but if Liam is guilty, he must know something, which means he knows the other perpetrators, right?"

Richard fell silent, stunned. He also looked confused, but Julie didn’t want to bother him and only wanted to leave. She left the hospital room and headed straight to the police station without even notifying Mark, telling him she wanted to meet Mark Robertson, the officer handling Elizah Hartman’s case.

"I’m sorry, Miss, but Mr. Robertson isn’t in the office today. He has many cases to handle, so please come back tomorrow," the officer explained.

Julie frowned at the officer’s explanation, but there was nothing she could do. She couldn’t force the police to contact Mark; she had to do it herself. Thankfully, a few moments after she tried contacting Mark, he answered her call. They agreed to meet at a roadside café. 

They sat facing each other after Julie waited for about five minutes. Their eyes met, and finally the silence broke between them. 

"What is it you want to say?" Mark asked gently, his gaze sincere, making Julie swallow hard as she remembered her current situation—single, with her partner in prison. If Liam truly was the perpetrator, then there was no hope for her future with him. The look that Mark had, which was directed at Julie, immediately made the girl forget that she promised Liam to fix everything. 

"Elizah keeps screaming hysterically whenever she hears or mentions the word 'monsters.' I take it that 'monsters' is plural, meaning more than one person committed this crime against her," Julie said, her voice calmer than before. 

"I’ve interrogated Liam multiple times, but he consistently claims he isn’t involved. I even showed him the concrete forensic evidence. If he doesn’t confess, how are we supposed to uncover any other perpetrators?" Mark explained reasonably.

"I’m still not entirely convinced about Liam’s involvement. There are so many inconsistencies in the stories from both Liam and Elizah," Julie admitted. 

"Wait." Mark leaned in closer. "Are you saying Elizah’s story contradicts Liam’s?"

Julie nodded. "But it’s nothing significant."

"Every detail is significant in solving a case, Julie. Even the smallest clue can be crucial for us," Mark countered.

Julie hesitated for a moment, gathering her thoughts, before speaking again. "Elizah claims she followed Liam, but Liam said he was waiting outside the factory. If she was following Liam, how did she end up inside the factory? This whole situation is confusing."

Mark's eyes widened slightly as he processed her words. He took a sip from his cup of coffee, his expression serious and thoughtful. "So, you’re suggesting Elizah might have followed the wrong person?"

Julie nodded hesitantly. Mark set his cup down and continued, "And you still think Liam is innocent?" 

"Not exactly. I just believe Elizah might have mistaken someone else for Liam that night, and whoever that person was took advantage of her confusion. I don’t know… my head feels like it’s about to explode," Julie said, running her hands through her hair. She still hadn’t touched the drink in front of her.

"Julie, I honestly don’t understand you. You want this case solved, yet when the evidence clearly implicates Liam, you say he’s innocent—"

"No, that’s not what I meant. It’s just that—"

"Then what do you mean? Are you accusing us of manipulating evidence or protecting someone else? What exactly are you trying to say?" Mark’s gaze was sharp now, and Julie was momentarily stunned, unable to formulate a proper response.

"Anything is possible, isn’t it?" she finally muttered.

"This is unbelievable." Mark abruptly stood, grabbing his black leather jacket, which only made Julie feel more offended. After all, it was she who had offended Mark earlier.

"I didn’t mean it like that. Oh my God, please don’t take it the wrong way. I just don’t want this case to be left unresolved, Mark," Julie pleaded, reaching out to grab his arm. 

Mark turned to face her, their eyes meeting for a brief moment. However, he shook her hand off forcefully, causing Julie to stumble slightly and drawing the attention of others in the café. 

"Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you," Mark said, bending down to help her, but Julie quickly got up, distancing herself from him. 

"I’m fine," she said coldly, grabbing her bag and storming out of the café, her emotions a mix of anger and frustration. Mark followed her, trying to make amends.

"I didn’t mean to, Julie. I’m sorry. Please don’t act like—"

"Like what, huh?"

"Like a child." They now stood facing each other, Julie’s lips slightly parted as she stared into Mark’s perfectly shaped eyes—eyes that no one could ignore. "Let me give you a ride as an apology," Mark said.

Julie didn’t have a good reason to refuse. Moments later, she found herself seated beside Mark, staring ahead while feeling an unexplainable sensation inside her. She turned to glance at Mark’s muscular hands gripping the steering wheel before looking out the window again, watching the road as they neared the hospital where she worked. 

"If you discover anything, let me know immediately," Mark said, turning to Julie. She, who had been gazing sideways, now shifted her attention to Mark. "Is there something you want to say?" Mark asked again.

"It seems Elizah isn’t in the mood to be disturbed. My shift is over for the day, so I—"

"My apartment is nearby," Mark interrupted.

Julie’s lips parted slightly, and her gaze followed Mark’s sharp eyes as he turned his full attention to her. They stared at each other as if understanding the unspoken thoughts between them.

"I should get out," Julie muttered, reaching for the car door. But Mark stopped her hand.

"I think you need a little distraction, Julie. Want to grab a drink? My treat."

Julie found no valid excuse to refuse. And so, she didn’t. She accepted Mark’s invitation, and go for a drink that end in the same bed that Julie never expecting.