There were caution tapes around the house and each step they took towards the entrance, Calhoun could feel Ariana shrinking further into him. These must have be a tough thing for her. He wished he could just sweep her out of there in the next second but they had to settle the issues with Ethan and probably her parents as well. If they wanted money, he could put them on a payroll for the rest of their lives as long as they let Ariana live her life in peace.
The police officer walking ahead of them pulled the door opened and Calhoun stepped in with Ariana by his side.
"We know nothing of this! He came here saying he needed Ariana and we had to get her here. We tried to call her but we didn't get her... We didn't even—" Brenda trailed off the moment her eyes fell on Ariana. She didn't even see the person with her as her anger zeroed in on her daughter whom she considered wicked, rebellious and selfish.
"What are you doing here?!" She spat with anger sipping out of her like a mature volcano.
"Brenda! That's our daughter!" Her father spoke from a corner in the room. He looked even smaller than the last time she saw him.
"Oh! shut up!" She screeched at her husband. "You pretend to be the better parent yet you can't stop drinking and gambling! At least she knows I would pick money over anything! And you?"
"Madam, we are having a session here. Please control yourself," the inspector that had been questioning her said sternly.
Brenda sealed her lips but her burning eyes still breathed flames as she glared at her husband.
"Mr. Lawson, I am glad you could make it. The office called," the inspector said moving towards Calhoun and Ariana that had remained by the door.
"I am Inspector Thompson, at your service sir," He said stretching his hand for a shake.
Lawson shook him with his free hand while the other held on to Ariana protectively. Her parents looked like wolves and she was the sheep they were trying to share for dinner.
"What exactly happened here?" Calhoun asked.
Inspector Thompson's hard eyes were studying Ariana but as Calhoun spoke he peeled his eyes away from her. "Ah, we got a call from one of the neighbours about some strange noises coming from the Brown's house over here and when we got here we found Mr. Ethan John in a pool of his own blood with a suicide note by his side," he stated pointing at the patch on the carpet that was stained with a ugly brown color that seemed to go all over the place.
"Oh my God!" Ariana exclaimed covering her mouth. So much blood, what was Ethan thinking?
Inspector Thompson moved his eyes back on Ariana but he didn't address himself to her, yet.
"If we hadn't arrived here when we did, he would have died. But fortunately, he made it. His family has taken him back to the city for treatment."
Calhoun passed a hand over his jaw and narrowed his eyes and his brain worked around what he had just heard.
"Where was Mr. And Mrs. Brown when you arrived?" He asked the inspector.
Thompson threw his eyes over at the strange couple seated on the other side of the room. "They were locked in the attic."
Calhoun raised his brows at that. He wasn't a lawyer but he knew the law. "They seem to be the victims here, why do you question them so hard?"
"Mr. Lawson, I have been an inspector for five years and I can tell a criminal when I see one. Mr. And Mrs. Brown are suspects. They refused to press charges against him and hey had phones with them but refused to call for help. They have a motive and I will find it!" He replied hardening his face.
Ariana felt like a large stone had been launched at her. Her parents were not killers. Or where they?
"Inspector Thompson, I am not disputing your abilities as an officer of the law. I am only saying it makes zero sense for them to try and kill him. May I have the papers and notes you have gotten so far?" Calhoun asked.
Thompson was shocked at the confidence Calhoun had. "I am sorry Mr. Lawson but you are neither an officer nor a lawyer, I can't give it to you."
"Okay, not a problem," Calhoun replied. He took out his phone and typed a couple of things and returned it back in his pockets. He didn't have the time and luxury to argue with the inspector. Whatever the case may be, he couldn't let the Brown's get arrested. His grandfather would never let him hear the end of it. The media would even worsen it when he finally married their daughter. Beside, Ethan had threatened to have himself killed in front of police officers. There was no denying the Brown's acted suspicious but he couldn't let it blow out.
Thompson's phone started ringing and he excused himself. "Hello sir," he replied as he moved aside.
Ariana looked at Calhoun as she felt the messages he had just sent had something to do with the call the inspector got. He was smirking and glaring at the man as he spoke on the phone. Ariana turned to look at the angry look on the inspector and she didn't have to be told that Calhoun had indeed done something.
"Mr. Lawson, we'll meet in court. The John's won't let this die this way. Something dirty happened here and we will find it!" Thompson declared the moment he returned.
"Do have a nice day, Inspector Thompson," Calhoun said with a wave of his hand.
The inspector turned red in anger but there was nothing he could do. His superiors had called from the office and they asked him to abort his mission. He was told that someone else would kook into it but he wanted to be that someone's else. He gathered his men and they lined out of the house leaving only the forensic team to continue taking pieces of evidence around the house.
"Thank you Calhoun," she whispered as the inspector and his boys left her parent's house.
"Do you want to come with me? I want to speak to them," Calhoun asked Ariana in a low voice.
She swallowed her pain and nodded. She had a few questions she needed to ask them herself.
"Sure," she replied.