Chapter 10

 

Violetta stepped out of her car and hurried toward the flashing police lights.

She could barely sit still at the mansion after Damien left so she made a few calls to find out where he could be. 

The sharp scent of smoke still hung in the air when she arrived.

Firefighters moved around the charred wreckage while officers kept the dispersing crowd behind the barricades.

Her eyes quickly found Damien.

He stood motionless a few feet away from the burnt vehicle, his face drained of all color.

For the first time since she'd known him, he looked… lost.

"Damien”, she called out but he didn't turn.

She slowed as she reached his side.

"I'm here."

His gaze remained fixed on the twisted metal before him.

"They found Shirley's phone”, his voice was flat.

"And Cindy's teddy bear."

Violetta's heart skipped a beat.

"I'm so sorry."

Neither of them spoke again.

A police officer approached, removing his cap as he stopped before them.

"Mr. Schrett?"

Damien finally looked up.

"I'm Detective Mason. I understand you're the husband and father."

Damien nodded once.

"I am."

The detective drew in a slow breath.

"The victims have been taken to the medical examiner's office."

Damien swallowed hard.

"...Are they my wife and daughter?"

The detective remained silent for a moment before answering.

"We can't confirm that tonight. Might even be difficult to confirm at all because the bodies were completely burnt."

Damien frowned.

"But you found Shirley's phone."

"We did."

"And the teddy bear belonged to your daughter."

"Yes…it did."

"Then what else is there to confirm?"

"The fire caused extensive damage," Detective Mason replied calmly. "We don't identify victims based solely on belongings. DNA testing will have to be completed before we can officially release their identities."

A tiny spark of hope flickered across Damien's face.

"So…there's still a chance they survived?"

The detective didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he looked toward the crash scene.

"Our reconstruction team has found something unusual."

Damien's expression hardened.

"What is it?"

"The vehicle didn't strike the concrete barrier immediately."

He pointed farther down the highway.

"The driver first collided with the guardrail."

Damien followed the direction of his finger.

"The car continued for quite some distance before the final impact."

Violetta frowned.

"What does that mean?"

"It means we're still trying to understand exactly what happened in those final moments."

Just then, another officer jogged toward them carrying a transparent evidence bag.

"Detective. I think you'll want to see this."

The detective accepted the bag before turning to Damien.

"This wasn't recovered inside the vehicle."

He held it up while he scanned it with his eyes.

Inside rested a delicate silver necklace, its chain blackened by soot but the pendant was still intact.

Damien stared at it.

Every trace of color disappeared from his face.

"...No."

The word barely escaped his lips.

Violetta looked from the necklace to Damien.

"Do you know it?"

His eyes never left the evidence bag.

After several seconds, he nodded.

"It's custom made. I had that necklace made..."

His voice trembled.

"...for someone."

“Who?” Violetta asked but Damien didn't answer.

“Please cooperate Mr. Schrett”, Detective Mason said, “Your reply can really help us in uncovering what exactly happened here.”

Damien opened his mouth to speak but when his eyes caught the necklace, he swallowed hard. 

It was the very first time Violetta saw something strange in Damien’s eyes. 

She couldn't quite give it a name but it almost resembled fear.

For a moment, it seemed as though he had forgotten about the crash and his focus was on the necklace.

He wanted to have a closer look at it but that was not possible.

“It's vital evidence now and I'm sorry but you're not allowed to touch it.” 

Damien nodded as he staggered a bit before brushing slightly against a woman passing by. 

He quickly turned, but she was nowhere to be found.

“Where did the lady who just passed by disappear to?” 

His eyes were searching the area.

But the detective, officers and Violetta told him no one passed behind him.    

“He must be in shock”, Violetta said.

“I'll take him home for now but keep us posted.” 

Detective Mason nodded and with that, Violetta took Damien to the car and headed home. 

At the mansion, Theodore was seated in the sitting room. 

The minute he set he saw his son, his eyes burned with fury.

“Where's my daughter and grandchild?” 

Damien couldn't say a word. 

He simply stared at his father, too numb to speak.

Without another word, Theodore walked over to the entrance and landed a slap on his son's cheek.

Violetta wanted to stop him but she knew better than to interfere between the father and son. 

Damien, however, did not flinch.

“Shirley always looked tired but I couldn't understand why.

Little did I know that she was drained from living with you!” 

Theodore wept.

He walked back to the table and threw the divorce papers at Damien.

“You forced her to sign these papers, didn't you? Or else how else can you explain this?” 

Damien simply stared at the papers.

His mind was too far off to process anything at the moment. 

He finally looked his dad in the eye and when he saw how broken he was, he broke down himself. 

But it was only for a little while.

The living room was charged with different emotions…anger, pain and confusion.

Then Theodore looked Damien in the eye.

“You murdered my girls! And I'll never forgive you!” he swore.