After letting Herman know, Jason headed toward the interrogation room, hoping to get a sense of what was happening.


    But before he could get far, a couple of colleagues stepped in his way. "Hey, Jason, this case is Frank''s. Let him handle it, all right? You''ve got your own stuff to deal with," one of them said, giving him a look that left no room for argument.


    Everyone had their job, and the station had its own set of rules. Jason knew that. If he started sticking his nose into other people''s cases, he''d just end up making enemies.


    Still, he tried, “Has Asher confessed yet?"


    "We''re still questioning him," his colleague replied, ncing away. "Seriously, Jason, don''t worry about it."


    They clearly weren''t going to tell him anything. Jason had no choice but to back off, though it didn''t sit well with him.


    Just then, a cry echoed from the interrogation room. Jason''s expression


    darkened. He started forward, but his colleague blocked him again, more forceful


    this time. “I told you—Frank''s in charge. Go handle your own work."


    Jason''s voice was sharp. “The rules are clear—no beating up suspects, no violence. What are they doing in there?"


    His colleague stood firm. "It''s not your concern, Jason. If you''ve got a problem, take it up with Captain White."


    With nowhere else to go, Jason turned and went to look for Captain White.


    Inside the interrogation room, things were ugly. Asher''s face was a mess- bruised, swollen, blood crusting under his nose. Two detectives had cornered him, fists flying, even swinging a chair at him. No matter how Asher tried to shield himself, he was battered and bleeding.


    It happened fast. As soon as he was brought in, Asher denied everything-didn''t admit to helping Julie escape, didn''t admit to hiding her. The beating just got


    worse.


    Finally, when Asher was barely holding on, Frank leaned in. “Just tell us the truth. You''ll save yourself a lot of pain."


    Asher could barely see through his swollen eyes, his words slurred. "It... it was Julie. She came to me... asked for help..."


    With Julie gone, Asher put all the me on her.


    Frank pressed, "While you were hiding Julie, did you do anything to her? She tested positive for an STD after she was arrested."


    Hearing that, Asher snapped. "So that bitch gave me something. Figures."


    Frank''s tone didn''t change. "Did you force yourself on her, or did shee to you? You''d better tell the truth."


    Frank''s cold stare made Asher


    shrink. At first, he kept insisting Julie seduced him, that she was the one


    who started it all. But after another round of punches, Asher finally broke, admitting he''d forced himself on her.


    All of this ended up in Autumn''s hands.


    Reading Asher''s statement, Autumn felt her heart ache so badly it was hard to breathe. Her daughter, hurt by a man like that... Her grief turned to fury.


    It had been Autumn''s idea to bring Asher in.


    Mr. Walker had promised he''d help overturn Julie''s conviction. With that promise, Autumn took action and went straight to Captain White.


    She''d pored over Julie''s medical records from prison-cancer, an STD, all of it wearing her daughter down. As a mother, Autumn''s heartbreak burned into determination: anyone who hurt Julie would pay.


    She couldn''t go after the Salstrom family-not yet-so she started with Asher.


    It waste by the time Mr. Walker got home, the smell of whiskey clinging to him. He stayed downstairs, trying to sober up; he didn''t want Autumn to have to smell the booze on him.


    Hey on the couch, but the more he tried to rx, the more awake he felt. His assistant''s words wouldn''t stop echoing in his mind: "Mrs. Walker and Devin weren''t just ssmates in college. They were together."


    Mr. Walker had never wanted to dig into his wife''s past, but with the way she''d been actingtely, he couldn''t help himself. The truth stung, but it made sense-now he understood why Autumn was so invested in Julie''s case.


    He''d been lying there for a while when Autumn came downstairs. "You really had


    to drink that much again?" she teased, but there was worry in her voice. "I''ll make you some honey tea."


    He sat up. "Did you go see Captain White today?"


    Autumn gave him a sideways look, then sat down beside him. "Yeah. You said


    you''d help with Julie''s case, so I went to check in.”


    He took her hand, squeezing it gently as he looked her in the eye. "Autumn, you used to be so patient You never used to throw your around to get things done.


    velight


    Please don''t put yourself out there like this again."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!