CHAPTER 170: THE MAN WHO STAYED SILENT... FOREVER

Henry hesitated. "No. But now... I keep thinking about it. She was unusually quiet during the ride. And she didn’t even roll her eyes when I teased her... which is very unlike her."

Detective Rao, the second officer, jumped in. "You said the house seemed occupied... what kind of cars?"

"A black Rolls. A silver Mercedes. One of them had government tags... I think."

Detective Maira glanced at Rao. "Could be connected to Morris Adams’ business circle."

Rao nodded. "Or a private meeting."

Henry frowned. "What exactly are you saying?"

Maira leaned back. "We’re saying this wasn’t a random accident. And if what you’ve just told us checks out... then the timeline narrows. Someone inside that house knows what happened after you left."

Henry’s fists clenched slightly on the table.

"Are you accusing Mr. Morris Adams?"

"We’re not accusing anyone yet," Rao replied. "But we’ll need to confirm surveillance records, phone logs, and car registrations."

Henry’s jaw tightened. "If anything happens to Emma, I hope you understand... this isn’t just a legal mess. It’s a war."

Maira closed her notepad slowly. "Mr. Kingsley would say the same, wouldn’t he?"

Henry didn’t flinch. "No. Logan Kingsley would start preparing for it because Emma means a lot for Jean."

_________________________

In the record room...

The room was dark except for the blue glow of the large monitor where security footage played frame by frame. Logan stood with arms crossed, Jean just behind him.

Her fists were clenched, knuckles white. Henry was off to the side, eyes trained on the screen. The detectives sat forward, silent and watchful.

The footage rolled.

11:54 PM... A sleek car pulled up at the Adams estate gate. Emma stepped out.

"There," Henry said. "That’s me dropping her off."

The camera followed Emma as she walked to the front door. The butler... Mr. Grayson... opened it and bowed slightly. Emma entered.

Detective Rao scribbled something on his notepad.

"Now watch..." Maira said, leaning closer.

The footage fast-forwarded.

12:03 AM... Emma hadn’t reappeared.

12:12 AM... A shadow crossed the hallway. Alex Adams stormed down the corridor.

"Rewind that," Logan barked.

They played it again. In the footage Emma had clearly gone in. She hadn’t come out. But why hadn’t the butler ever mentioned seeing her that night?

Detective Rao noted, "the butler never mentioned Emma arriving at the house."

Jean stepped closer to the table. "Why didn’t he say anything about her being there?"

"Pause it," Maira ordered.

The image froze on Mr. Grayson’s expression as he opened the door. Calm. Too calm. As it is an usual thing for him.

Rao looked between them. "Let me get this straight... He knew she was there. And when Morris Adams’ staff was asked who Emma had met or spoken to that night... Everyone said only Grayson was working and the butler still said nothing?"

"Pull the footage from the back entrance and garage cameras," Maira added, eyes narrowed.

They loaded more files. There, a chilling frame.

1:17 AM

... A car, the same one Alex had driven to the estate, pulled away from the side gate. No lights on. No one in view.

"Where’s the butler then?" Jean whispered.

Fast-forward.

1:20 AM... Mr. Grayson walked calmly across the yard... lighting a cigarette. Alone.

Detective Maira’s expression hardened. "He was awake. Present. Knew exactly that Emma entered and exited. Along with Alex. But why stayed silent? Possibly covering for who exactly? Alex Adams?"

Henry’s voice was ice-cold. "Or helping him."

Jean shook her head, "Alex... can’t be..." She was sure it was Tyler who was trying to ruin her. But is she wrong?

Logan didn’t speak. He was still staring at the frozen image of Grayson. His jaw ticked.

"This isn’t just negligence," Maira said finally. "This is obstruction. And if he was complicit..."

"He’s going down with them," Logan interrupted.

"We’re bringing Mr. Grayson in for questioning," Rao confirmed.

"And I’m going with you," Jean said.

Maira raised an eyebrow. "Mrs. Kingsley, we’ll do our job. You stay back."

Jean didn’t argue. But the rage in her eyes said she was already writing the butler’s sentence in her head.

"We will, because we don’t trust situations like this involving Adams." Logan stated which shut them up.

_________________________

It was a grey morning. Clouds loomed above the suburban neighborhood as a black and white police car rolled to a quiet stop outside the butler’s modest residence.

Detective Maira stepped out first, followed by Rao, their expressions grim. Behind them, Logan’s car pulled in too. He refused to stay away. Jean sat beside him, heart pounding. Even Henry followed behind in another car, tension tightening his jaw.

The street was silent. No dogs barking. No neighbors in sight. Total silence.

"Why does it feel like we’re already too late?" Jean whispered. She squeezed Logan’s arm in anxiety.

Maira knocked on the door. "Mr. Grayson! NYPD!"

No answer.

She exchanged a look with Rao, then nodded. He moved forward, tried the knob.

Unlocked.

The door creaked open slowly. A stale, unnatural stillness hung in the air.

"Stay here," Rao said to Logan and the rest, entering first with his gun drawn.

They swept the ground floor quickly. Nothing.

Then... a sound from upstairs. A rhythmic creaking.

Detective Maira’s heart dropped. "No..."

They bolted up.

And there he was... Mr. Grayson. Hanging from the ceiling fan. Dead.

His eyes were wide open, mouth slack. Drool spilling from his mouth. A chair lay toppled on its side beneath him.

"No note," Rao muttered, scanning the room.

Maira’s expression turned to stone. "This isn’t suicide. This has to be a cleanup."

Back outside...

Logan saw it in Maira’s face as she returned.

Jean gripped his hand instinctively. "What happened?"

"He’s dead," Maira said bluntly. "Hung himself. Or at least, that’s what someone wants us to believe."

"No!"

Logan’s face darkened, jaw tight. "Just great! Anything with Adams involved turns out this way."

Maira didn’t answer... but her silence said enough.

Henry asked, "Was there a note? Anything?"

"Nothing. It’s staged. Too perfect. Too fast." Maira turned to her partner. "We need a full forensics sweep. Fingerprints. Boot prints. Everything."

Jean stepped closer to Logan and whispered. "Do you think someone had him silenced? Or did he commit suicide out of guilty of staying silent?"

Logan just closed his eyes and sighed.

Rao from far sighed. "If Grayson was our best shot at a testimony... someone made sure he wouldn’t talk."

Logan said nothing. But in his silence, he was already planning... how to make Alex pay...