# Chapter IV
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Eloise clutched at the thin sheet of card with a vice like grip. Inside of it, almost within her reach, was the letter. Its unbroken seal sweetly tempting her. As much as she yearned to open it, she had other matters to deal with.
Eloise was sat in the courtroom lobby, about to defend her client. The concrete walls buzzed with formality, as various pictures of famous judges lined the hall. Two guards lined the door to the court, eyeing the room with a professional gaze. She was waiting for Sebastian, who was now late by give minutes.
With a sigh, she put the letter; the source of her anxiety, away. But it was not long before a second source appeared.
Sebastian opened the door to the lobby. Wearing a black suit with a glowing red tie, he walked into the room with a nervous jaunt.
"I still can't get used to this. Courtrooms are scary." he murmured to Eloise haphazardly, looking everywhere but her eyes, as if thinking of something else.
"Come off it, it's not even your first time! You'll be fine." replied Eloise, her guard unnaturally up. She had to make sure to fool Sebastian if he suspected.
"But what if the judge's head explodes during my cross examination?" asked Sebastian, his grin visible.
"Interesting, but not my problem." countered Eloise. She wasn't going to take his gabs lying down.
"Speaking of interesting, some girl called Nancy asked about me from the receptionist at the gym I go to." answered Sebastian bluntly. Eloise tensed as he spoke, but seeing as how terrible he was at being tactful, she quickly calmed down.
"Really? I fail to imagine anyone being interested in you. She must have been mistaken." she countered.
"Damn, you hurt me!" cried Sebastian mischievously. "But I doubt that. After all, pretty girls are always attracted to me."
"More like attracted to your wallet." laughed Eloise, masterfully hiding her fear.
"Does seem like that. Someone broke into my house the same day too. Neighbour says it was a woman." said Sebastian, all mischief gone, he was now clearly probing and suspicious of Eloise.
"What!? Did anything get stolen? You should report it to the police!" replied Eloise, secretly she hoped he didn't report it.
"Nothing was stolen, except for a watch." he replied while closely observing her.
"Just a watch? The thief must be an enthusiast." she replied.
"Guess so. I haven't reported it yet." said Sebastian, his unease starting to dissipate.
*Thank goodness I didn't fall for that lie.* thought Eloise. But the fact that Sebastian lied to her meant he was starting to suspect her.
*Alright then Eloise, get your best acting face on!*
"Whew, with all of these things happening, I need a break, or a vacation. Or maybe a delightful meal cooked by you!" he grinned out merrily.
"Don't get your hopes up. But I might be able to squeeze you in Sunday." Eloise replied. "Of course, that depends on how well you do on this case." she smirked.
"You're so cruel!" grimaced Sebastian, as the two entered the courtroom.
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Eloise kept the letter back in the drawer without opening it, two days have passed still the letter remained unopened.
Eloise set back in the chair and replayed the clip she'd been replaying for two days, she had paused the video on her dad's smile, she was staring at the shadow of the person standing infront of her father in the recorded video, her focus broke when the door bell rang. She hurriedly stood up and plugged out everything, turning off the light she left the basement.
"Did you bring the food? "Asked Eloise holding the door open.
"I thought the dinner was on you? "Said Sebastian while walking inside.
"You know I can't cook, "Eloise rolled her eyes.
"But you could've ordered for us,"complained Sebastian. But you could've ordered for us,"complained Sebastian.
Eloise with both her hands pointed towards the bags of food in Sebastian's hand,"I did order the food for us." She completed the sentence with a slight smirk.
Sebastian just stared at her, in response.
"Now come on I'm hungry,"Eloise started walking towards the kitchen.
The food was set on the dining table, they both were seated across from each other.
"So, did you find your watch stealer?" Asked Eloise."
"Watch Stealer, I don't know but I know who broke into my house," said Sebastian while looking at her.
"Oh! Really?" Eloise maintained a gaze with him, "And who do you think it is?" She tried to maintain a smile.
"Oh drop the acting Eloise, I know it was you. I just don't know the reason," He dropped his spoons on the plate. "So I'm hoping you could spare me the suspense."
"You're blaming it all on me? Seriously!I can't believe this," said Eloise mocking the hurt. "
"The hat that you were wearing at the gym, 'MissNancy' was Henry's, he forgot it in my office, so I placed it on his desk outside, yes I looked at the cameras and yes I recognized you. I have no evidence against you for breaking into my house but I know that it was you who came to the gym, not because you're the only one who knows about that place but also because you wanted to confirm if I'm atmy house or not," he took a deep breath and sincerely said,
"what is it,Eloise?Just tell me.
"Did you kill my father?" Asked Eloise calmly.
"What the fuck?" Sebastian stood up in anger and confusion, spilling some curry on the table.
Now they were both standing in the basement looking at the video being played on the white wall used as a screen.
"What is this?" Asked Sebastian still baffled. "
"This is the evidence against you Sebastian, this.. is the clip that proves that you killed my father," said Eloise with unreadable expressions
"And you believe this? Do you believe this crap? I WAS ON THE PLANE, I have all the evidence to prove me innocent, I have alibies, I can show you everything."
Eloise walked towards the wall, the video paused again on the scene where her father is smiling and letting the killer inside.
"You see this shadow sebs, it's only here for two seconds, the rest of the time this man was standing on the door, there was nothing, no shadow, if you have a closer look into it you'll see that the shadow, the reflection of the person doesn't match the body of the person, now what does that mean you might ask, it means you're getting framed."
"Framed?
Why would someone try to frame me?This doesn't make any sense."
"Someone dressed up like you, went to kill my father, to perfect the body shape, he or she edited it.
Do you remember the letter I showed you? I've got more of them, they never
stopped and I'm hoping they're from the killer too and that person whoever it is trying to impersonate my father and is trying to convince me that you did it, he gave me this video, that is why I broke into your house to know the truth to find something and guess what I found? Huh! The bag in the video, it was in your room, in your wardrobe. We need to find out who this is."
"Don't be stupid Eloise, we're not doing anything. We're not detectives, this isn't our job, it's dangerous, we should give all of this information to the police, we know the heads we'll explain everything, let's leave it to the professionals," said Sebastian sharply.
"The professionals had this case for over two years, her voice pitching loud as she spoke, for two years they did nothing! No justice was served, and GOD! THERE WASN'T EVEN A SINGLE LEAD, and now finally when I have something you're asking me to give it all away, do you think they care about it?" Her voice dropped dramatically, she calmed herself,
"Look Sebastian I know that I am a lawyer, not a professional detective, but aren't we always taught that 'good lawyers always have to be both the detective and the lawyer, a lawyer can never be a lawyer if he isn't investigating his cases like a detective.
I need your help sebs, I cannot do this alone."
Sebastian looked at his boots, and looked at the surroundings, "I think we should start with the letters, said sebastian smiling.
Eloise smiled and hugged him, wiped her tears and said,
"I didn't open the last one, it's in the drawer next to you, let's start from that," said Eloise carrying a big wide smile.
"Oh but I see two of them," said Sebastian.
She rushed towards the drawer, and her smiled disappeared, "This is impossible, the last I checked, before you came in, there was only one of them," she looked at Sebastian with terror holding both the letters in her hand.