Liam’s face softened, a flicker of relief crossing his features. He had given the police detailed descriptions of the men. He was sure they were the same men, the same men who had left him and Isabelle shaken.
“Dismiss the meeting,” he said, his voice firm yet tinged with relief. He moved to his desk, his hand reaching for the phone.
“I’m coming in now,” he said into the phone, his voice laced with hope. “Bring them in. I want to see them.”
He turned to Sarah, his gaze intense. “Get the car ready,” he ordered. “We’re going to the station.”
He was going to see the men who had attacked him, the men who had threatened his safety and Isabelle’s safety. He was going to look into their eyes, face them, and let them see the rage burning within him. He was going to find out why they had targeted him, and he was going to make them pay for their crimes. He was going to bring Isabelle with him. He wanted her to see them too, to see the men who had dared to harm her, to see the men who had threatened their fragile peace.
The drive to the station was silent, the tension in the car thick enough to cut with a knife. Liam’s face was a mask of grim determination, his eyes flicking to Isabelle now and then as if trying to gauge her reaction. He could see the fear mirrored on her face, the same fear that had gripped him when those men had attacked them.
They pulled up to the station, the imposing building looming over them like a menacing sentinel. Liam took Isabelle’s hand, his grip firm, his eyes searching hers. He didn’t need to say anything. She knew what was coming. He was terrified of what he might discover, just as she was.
The station was a cavern of concrete and harsh fluorescent lights. Isabelle felt a shiver go down her spine as she followed Liam inside, the air thick with the smell of stale coffee and fear. They walked through a labyrinth of corridors, the silence broken only by the clatter of footsteps and the drone of distant conversations.
Liam paused outside a small room, the door marked with a sign that read “Interview Room 2.” He turned to Isabelle, his face tight, his eyes imploring.
“Are you sure about this, Isabelle?” he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
She squeezed his hand, her heart pounding in her chest. “I’m with you,” she said, her voice firm, though she was trembling inside.
He nodded, his eyes locking onto hers. He pulled open the door, and they entered the room, a small, sterile space with a table and two chairs. They took their places, facing a man in a uniform, his face etched with weariness.
“Mr. Callahan.” the officer said, his tone polite but reserved. “We have the three suspects in custody. We believe they are the ones who attacked you and your wife.”
Liam’s breath hitched. He had been bracing himself for this moment, for the confirmation, but now that it was here, he felt a wave of fear wash over him.
“Can we see them?” he asked, his voice tight.
The officer nodded. “Of course. We’ll bring them in one at a time. You can identify them if you wish.”
Liam felt a strange mix of relief and apprehension. He had been waiting for this moment, but now that it was here, he felt a wave of dread wash over him. What if he was wrong? What if these weren’t the men who had attacked them?
“Isabelle,” he said, his voice barely a whisper. “Are you ready?”
She took a deep breath, straightening her back. She knew this was something she had to do, even though the sight of those men, the men who had hurt them, terrified her.
Liam gave her a look that was a mixture of determination and anxiety. He knew she was scared, just as he was.
“We’ll do this together,” he said, his voice firm, his hand reaching out to squeeze hers.
She nodded a silent promise passing between them. They were in this together. They would face this, together. They would find out who had attacked them, and they would make them pay.
The officer opened the door, and the first suspect emerged. The sight of the man sent a jolt of fear through Isabelle. The man was tall and muscular, his eyes cold and menacing.
Liam kept his gaze steady, his face a mask of controlled fury. He recognized the man immediately. He was one of the three who had attacked them, the one who had held the knife. He didn’t need the officer’s confirmation. He knew this was one of them.
As the next suspect was brought in, a similar feeling of recognition washed over Liam. He knew this one too. The man, shorter and wiry, had been the one who had dragged Isabelle back, the one who had yelled threats.
Liam’s grip tightened on Isabelle’s hand. He was angry, furious, but he didn’t show it. He kept his gaze steady, his face a mask of controlled rage.
The officer ushered the third suspect into the room, a man with a cruel sneer on his face. He was the one who had punched Liam, the one who had left him bleeding on the ground.
Liam’s hand clenched into a fist. He wanted to grab the man, to choke him, to make him pay for what he had done.
Isabelle, her face pale, her eyes wide with terror, kept her gaze focused on the floor. She couldn’t bear to look at them. She couldn’t bear to think about what they had done to her, to Liam.
“Mr. Callahan.” the officer said, his voice calm. “Are these the men who attacked you?”
Liam didn’t need to answer. The answer was clear. These were the men who had threatened their lives.
He turned to Isabelle, his face a mixture of relief and apprehension. He had found them, but what next? What would happen to these men? What were the consequences of their actions?
“I’m going to see the Chief.” the officer said, breaking the silence. “We’ll discuss the next steps. Please stay here.”
Liam nodded. He watched as the officer left the room, his mind racing, his heart pounding in his chest. He was relieved that they had found the men, but he knew the journey was just beginning. He knew he had a long road ahead of him, a road filled with justice, with vengeance. And he knew, with a certainty that chilled him to the bone, that he would not rest until these men had paid for their crime…