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Chapter 4 — Confession Games (Wattpad Style Rewrite)
The air in the evidence room was thick. Not with dust—though there was plenty of that—but with stuff that didn't have a name. Unsaid things. Buried shit. Pressure.
Elias stood stiff, watching Damien flip through a folder like it was just another file. It wasn't. Not for Elias.
He saw the name on the report.
Same last name as the guy who killed his brother.
At least... he thought.
"I wanna see that," Elias said, stepping closer.
Damien didn't even look up. "You don't."
"Don't tell me what I'm ready for."
Something flickered in Damien's eyes. Half warning, half... something else. He held the file tighter.
Then the door flew open.
"Detective Cross," an officer burst in, outta breath, "We've got something. Cold Case 317. Some guy just came in to confess."
Damien's entire body tensed. "Confess to what?"
"The Holloway case."
Elias's heart dropped. "What—"
The officer nodded. "Interview Room C. Name's Julian Reyes. Said he interned here."
Elias couldn't breathe. "Julian?"
"You know him?"
"Yeah. He's... a friend."
Damien didn't wait. "Then let's go find out how friendly he really is."
---
Interview Room C was a damn freezer. Harsh lights. One table. One chair.
Julian sat like he belonged there, like this wasn't totally insane. Tousled hair, folded hands. He looked up when they walked in and smiled like nothing was wrong.
"Hey, Elias," he said, casual. "Didn't think I'd see you again this soon."
"What the hell are you doing here?" Elias asked.
Julian glanced at Damien. "Is he gonna stay?"
Damien leaned forward, arms crossed. "This isn't a fuckin' therapy session, Reyes. You said you had a confession. Spit it out."
Julian's smile cracked a little. "Right."
Elias dropped into the seat across from him, legs shaking.
Julian's eyes didn't leave his. "I didn't kill your brother, Elias. But I know who did. And I've been quiet for too long."
Damien's voice was cold. "Then talk."
Julian swallowed. "It's my brother. Rafael. I used to worship him. Until I found out what he was really into."
Elias flinched.
"He was deep in some syndicate shit. Drugs, blackmail, trafficking—you name it. And he was watching Noah."
"What?" Elias whispered.
Julian nodded. "I found out when I was interning here. I dug around. Rafael was tracking Noah. Said Noah had something... encrypted. Wouldn't give it up."
Damien's voice was like a knife. "Then what?"
Julian looked down. "I think Rafael panicked. I think he had Noah killed."
"You think?" Damien snapped. "That's not a confession. That's guesswork. Why now? Why come in today?"
Julian's jaw clenched. "Because Rafael's dead. Car bomb. Last week."
Elias blinked hard. "You think that's connected to my brother?"
"I know it is," Julian said, voice rising. "Whoever killed your brother is still cleaning house. Rafael was silenced. I'm next."
"Real convenient," Damien muttered.
"I'm telling you the truth!"
Damien moved so fast it was a blur. Grabbed Julian by the collar, slammed him into the wall. Elias jumped to his feet.
"Damien!"
"He's hiding something," Damien growled. "People don't confess halfway unless they're scared."
Julian didn't even flinch. "Check my phone. There's proof. Encrypted messages from Rafael. Names. Everything."
Damien stared him down for a moment, then let go. "Elias, sit with him. If he twitches wrong, scream."
"What—"
Too late. Damien was gone.
Click. Door shut.
Julian slumped into the chair, rubbing his neck. "He's... intense."
Elias didn't answer. He couldn't. His hands were shaking.
Julian looked at him. "I didn't wanna drag you into this. But I didn't know who else to trust."
"You should've told me earlier," Elias said, voice tight.
Julian's voice cracked. "I couldn't. I was scared. And Damien's not just cold. He's dangerous. I don't trust him, Elias. And you shouldn't either."
Elias looked away. "You don't know him."
Julian touched his hand. "I know control when I see it."
Elias pulled back, pulse racing. "Why do you care so much?"
Julian hesitated. "Because I saw your brother once. And I see you. I never forgot either of you."
Elias's throat closed up.
Before he could answer, the door slammed open.
Damien threw the phone on the table.
"It's clean. There's nothing in it. I can't believe you just wasted our time. "
Julian's eyes widened. "No—no, that's not right. I had the files. I swear—"
"There's nothing," Damien said. "No messages. Just selfies and sad-ass playlists. You have an horrible taste in music, if I could I would arrest you for that"
Julian stood. "Someone wiped it. I swear I didn't—"
"You lied."
"I didn't! I wouldn't!"
Damien moved toward him again.
Elias stepped between them. "Stop! Just—wait. What if he's telling the truth? What if someone did wipe it?"
"You're too soft, and that would kill you, Elias." Damien muttered.
Julian backed away, panicked. "Check the old locker room. Rafael used to hide stuff there. Please."
Damien stared at him, eyes cold. "You're hiding something. And I'll find it."
He pulled out cuffs.
"You're under arrest. Obstruction. False testimony."
Julian didn't fight. "You'll regret this, Elias. I swear you will."
---
That night, Elias couldn't sleep.
The rain hit the windows like it wanted in. He sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the photo of his brother. Smiling. Frozen in time.
His phone buzzed.
Damien:
Don't let sympathy get you killed.
Elias almost smashed the phone against the wall.
But Julian's words echoed.
Check the old locker room.
He grabbed his coat.
---
The precinct was half-dead at night. Quiet. Dim lights. Long shadows.
Elias slipped down the hallway, shoes squeaking way too loud. The old locker room door creaked like a horror movie. Smelled like mold and regret.
He found Locker 27.
Inside, under an old jacket, was a locked box.
He pried it open with his pen.
Photos.
One of Noah. Candid. Creepy. Someone had written "HE KNOWS" in red marker.
One of Julian. Younger. Standing next to Rafael.
And the last one?
Damien.
With Noah.
Smiling. His hand on Noah's shoulder.
Behind them, a gang tag on the wall.
Same symbol from that letter.
Elias's whole body went cold.
Creak.
His head snapped up.
Someone was in the locker room.
Watching.
Footsteps outside the door. Getting closer.
He turned—
Too late.
A hand slammed over his mouth. Pulled him back.
The world spun.
And then everything went dark.
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