C119 Tears That Could Not Save Him

Back in my office, Alicia and I began reviewing the latest footprint analysis. She suddenly frowned. "Isn't it strange?" "What?" "Josh hasn't been around all morning." I looked toward his empty office. "He came in early." "I haven't seen him since." Neither of us thought much about it. We simply continued working.

About an hour later... Knock. Knock. Knock. "Come in," I answered. The office door slowly opened. Three uniformed police officers walked inside. The room instantly became silent. Alicia stood up. "Can we help you?" The officer leading the group unfolded an official document. He looked directly at me. "Mr. Michael Smith?" "Yes." "You are under arrest." I blinked. "...For what?" The officer spoke firmly. "You are the prime suspect in the rape of Miss Laura Tryon."

For a moment... My mind went completely blank. "What?" He continued. "The evidence submitted against you is substantial." "We also have witness statements supporting the accusation." I stood up abruptly. "That's impossible!" "I never.." Before I could finish speaking, cold metal handcuffs clicked around my wrists.

I looked toward Alicia. Our eyes met. Shock filled both of our faces. "This has to be a mistake!" I shouted. "Ask Laura!" "She'll tell you the truth!" The officers began escorting me out. Alicia suddenly ran after us, tears already flowing down her face. "Mike!" "Don't give up!" "I know you're innocent!" "I'll prove it!" "I'll clear your name!" I forced a small smile despite the fear in my heart. "I know you will."

As I was led through the office, every employee stopped working. Whispers spread throughout the building. Some looked shocked. Others looked disappointed. A few even began recording with their phones. Among the crowd stood Chairman Kelvin Wood. His face darkened immediately. His eyes slowly shifted toward Ben. Without lowering his voice, he asked, "This was your doing... wasn't it?"

Ben looked surprised. "I don't know what you're talking about." Kelvin stepped closer. "I warned you." "If this company is destroyed because of your personal revenge..." "...I will never forgive you." Without waiting for a response, Kelvin turned around and walked away. Ben watched him leave before letting out a sarcastic laugh. "No one..." "...will ever find out."

Back inside the office, Alicia's hands were trembling. She immediately grabbed her phone and called Chris. The call connected almost instantly. "Brother!" "Something terrible has happened!" Chris became serious. "What happened?" "They arrested Mike." "They're accusing him of raping Laura." Chris froze. "What?!" He rushed out. But was too late.

The moment the police vehicle disappeared from sight, Alicia could no longer remain standing. Her legs felt weak. The image of Mike being led away in handcuffs replayed over and over inside her mind. She had promised him only moments ago. "I'll prove your innocence." "I'll clear your name." Yet now, she didn't even know where to begin.

Without returning to her desk, Alicia grabbed her handbag and hurried out of the company. She didn't wait to ask for permission or explain herself to anyone. Right now... Nothing mattered more than Mike. Outside the company, she hailed the first taxi she saw. "Please... hurry," she said, her voice trembling.

Throughout the journey home, tears silently streamed down her cheeks. The driver glanced at her several times through the rearview mirror but wisely chose not to ask any questions. Some pains were too deep for words.

Back at the Mooney residence... Peter was reading the morning newspaper while Georgia arranged fresh flowers in the living room. Mark was just finishing his breakfast before leaving for work. Suddenly, the front door swung open. Alicia stumbled inside. Her eyes were swollen from crying. Tears rolled endlessly down her beautiful face. She looked completely broken.

Everyone in the room immediately stood up. Peter's face turned pale. "My granddaughter!" For a split second, countless terrible possibilities crossed his mind. Georgia rushed over and gently held Alicia's shoulders. "My child..." "What happened?" "Why are you crying like this?" Mark's expression also darkened. "What happened, Alicia?"

The moment she heard her father's voice, Alicia completely broke down. She threw herself into his arms and cried uncontrollably. "Dad..." "They framed him..." "They framed Mike..." "You have to save him." Peter let out a long breath of relief before placing a hand over his chest. "So it wasn't you." "You almost gave this old man a heart attack." Georgia looked between the two of them. "If it isn't Alicia..." "Then tell us." "What happened to Mike?

Mark's phone suddenly rang. He glanced at the caller ID. It was the police department. He answered immediately. "Minister Mooney speaking." A voice came from the other end. "Minister, we've arrested a suspect in a major rape case." "The evidence is conclusive." "We're preparing the necessary procedures." Mark's expression remained calm. "I understand." "I'll be there shortly." After ending the call, he slowly looked toward Alicia. "I want to hear everything." Peter and Georgia nodded as well.

Alicia wiped her tears, but they refused to stop falling. "Dad..." "Grandpa..." "Grandma..." "Please don't be angry with me." She lowered her head before continuing. "Last night Mike called me." "He told me Laura was standing outside his house." "She had secretly left home because her father arranged a marriage for her." "She believed it might be the last night she'd ever spend with Mike." Peter quietly listened without interrupting.

Alicia continued between sobs. "Mike let her inside." "They stayed together the entire night." She hesitated before forcing herself to continue. "Laura told him she was afraid of loosing him..." "...and wanted him to be her first." The room fell silent. "My job was simply to help them leave before Uncle Quinton and Aunt Mary woke up." "I told Mike I'd pick them up at 4:40 in the morning." She paused to wipe away fresh tears. "But..." "When I got there..." "His parents were already awake." "They saw Mike and Laura walking downstairs together." "They even spoke to Laura." "Aunt Mary asked her name." "Laura politely introduced herself." "Everything happened right in front of them."

Mark frowned deeply. "So you were driving at 4:40 in the morning?" Alicia nodded. He sighed. "Why didn't you wake one of our drivers?" "I... I wasn't thinking." "I just wanted to help Mike." Mark nodded slowly before asking another question. "If Mike's parents saw Laura there..." "Then why would she accuse him now?" Alicia clenched her fists. "I don't think she did."

Everyone looked toward her. "This morning..." "I noticed something strange." "Josh came to the company very early." "He looked extremely angry." "Then he disappeared." "I asked Mike about it." "Later some employees said Josh had gone into Ben's office." She lifted her tear-filled eyes toward her father. "And shortly afterward..." "The police arrived." Silence filled the room.

Mark slowly pieced everything together. "So..." "This was planned." "Most likely by Josh and Ben." Alicia nodded immediately. "I think so too." Mark remained quiet for several seconds. Then he spoke again. "You also said Mike and Laura were together last night." "Yes." "If that's true..." "The forensic evidence will naturally match." He sighed heavily. "They'll find Mike's fingerprints." "They'll find his DNA." "That explains why the officers confidently said the evidence was conclusive."

Alicia's face turned even paler. "Then..." "How do we prove he's innocent?" "I was there." "I drove Laura home." "Doesn't that prove anything?" Mark slowly shook his head. "Not by itself." "Unless traffic cameras captured your vehicle." "Or there's surveillance footage showing Laura willingly leaving Mike's house." "Even then..." "It may not be enough." "This wasn't a crime of opportunity." "It was carefully planned."

Peter frowned. "Alicia..." "Are you absolutely certain you trust Laura?" Alicia answered without hesitation. "I do." "I believe she's being manipulated." "She never wanted this marriage." "It was her father who emotionally blackmailed her into accepting." Peter nodded thoughtfully. "I hope your judgment is correct." Mark stood up and adjusted his suit. "I have to go." He looked directly at Alicia. "I can't promise anything." "But I'll personally oversee this investigation." "If Mike is innocent..." "I'll do everything within my authority to prove it."

For the first time since arriving home, a tiny spark of hope appeared in Alicia's eyes. "Thank you, Dad." After Mark left, Peter gently patted Alicia's shoulder. "Don't lose hope." "The truth has a way of revealing itself." Alicia nodded. But deep inside...vShe wasn't sure anymore.

Meanwhile... At the police station. The heavy iron door slammed shut behind me. The sound echoed throughout the empty holding cell. I slowly sat down on the cold concrete bench. Everything had happened so quickly. Just a few hours ago, I had been laughing with Chris and Alicia. Now... I was sitting behind bars. I rested my head against the wall and closed my eyes.

There was no doubt in my mind. Ben. This had his fingerprints all over it. But one question refused to leave me alone. Laura... Why? Did she really agree to accuse me? Had everything she said last night been nothing more than a lie? I remembered her crying in my arms. The fear in her eyes. The way she begged me not to let her go. None of it had seemed fake. It felt real. Too real. So... What had happened? The more I thought about it, the more confused I became.

Just then, footsteps echoed through the hallway. I slowly lifted my head. A familiar figure appeared outside the cell. Alicia. Her eyes were swollen and red from crying. Even from a distance, I could tell she hadn't stopped crying since I was taken away. The moment our eyes met... She forced herself to smile. But tears immediately rolled down her cheeks again.

My heart tightened painfully. I had always treated Alicia like a younger sister. Someone cheerful. Someone dependable. Someone who was always by my side. But seeing her standing there now... Crying harder than anyone else... Willing to fight the entire world just to save me...

For the very first time... I realized something I had never allowed myself to think about before. Perhaps... To Alicia... I had never been just an older brother. And somehow... That realization hurt almost as much as the cold prison bars separating us.