A little over a month later, the preliminary hearing for David's murder charge was approved. The case had finally reached a significant turning point. Though Jack felt a small sense of relief, it was quickly replaced by a deep, lingering exhaustion. The wheels of justice had begun to turn—but he knew this was still only the beginning of a long nightmare for the victims' family.
Jack decided to visit Emma at the hospital. Ever since her father was arrested and the news of her sister's death broke, the poor girl had finally succumbed to the emotional toll. Her body collapsed under the weight of the trauma.
He stepped into the hospital room and saw Emma lying quietly in bed. Her pale face still looked weak, but there was a noticeable calmness in her eyes. The medical staff moved gently around her, tending to her with care. She seemed to be recovering well.
When Emma saw Jack, a faint smile appeared on her lips—her first in a long time."Jack…" she called softly. Her voice was weak but warm. "Thank you for coming."
Jack smiled as he walked over and sat beside her bed, a wave of relief settling over him."You're finally feeling better," he said gently, his tone lighter than it had been in weeks.
Emma nodded, her eyes glimmering with quiet gratitude."You've helped me so much, Jack. Even though I've lost my mother and sister, and my father is now in prison… I will stay strong. I'll keep going."Her voice carried a quiet strength, as if something deep within her had solidified.
Jack looked at her pale face and felt a small sense of peace. Maybe now that David had been charged, Emma was no longer under threat, no longer living under the shadow of her father's violence. She seemed lighter, freer.
"I believe you will," Jack said softly. "You've been through so much. But you'll come out of this even stronger." He paused, his eyes gentle. "You've already done so well."
Emma gave a faint nod and repeated, "Thank you, Jack. This… all of this, is because of you."
Jack's heart suddenly sank. A wave of unease crept in the moment he heard her words.Though he had rarely cracked a case so smoothly, he couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. From the very beginning to the seemingly resolved end—he sensed that everything wasn't as simple as it looked.
On his way back, Jack mentally retraced every detail of the case, scribbling down the parts that still bothered him:
Before Sarah drowned, Emma said she heard David arguing with her—but David denied it.
David had mentioned a second life insurance policy. But did it ever really exist?
And most puzzling of all: Why was Rachel found dead in such a remote mountain area?
It was that third point that gnawed at Jack the most. The current evidence pointed to David, yes. But when he thought about it, there were too many inconsistencies. Rachel had already suspected her father of killing her mother, and he had abused her. Why would she meet him alone in such a deserted place?
And if David had followed her there, how could he have pulled it off without being seen? And why would Rachel have gone out to such a secluded area in the first place?
These questions wrapped around Jack's thoughts like a creeping vine, tightening with each step. Despite the official progress of the case, he couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't over—not by a long shot.