3. Chapter 3 Suspension and Investigation

Chapter 3: Suspension and Investigation

ALEXEI

I sit in my office, my new reality settling in. The news came this morning: I'm suspended from my duties as mayor and placed under house arrest. It's a bitter pill to swallow, but I know I have no choice but to comply. I have to work hand in hand with the sheriff's department if I want them to prove my innocence.

Evelyn arrives, her face a mask of professional detachment. My heart aches to see her like this, knowing she's caught between her duty and her love for me.

"Alexei," she says, her voice steady. "I have to read you the rules of your house arrest."

I nod, bracing myself. "Go ahead."

"You're not allowed to leave your house unless there's an emergency," she begins. "You'll be under the watch of three sheriff deputies at all times."

"Understood," I say, my voice hollow. "I accept my fate."

She looks at me, her eyes softening for just a moment. "We'll figure this out," she whispers, her voice breaking slightly. I know it's even harder for her to investigate the love of her life with all the pressure on her.

I nod, trying to muster a smile. "I know we will."

I head home, the familiar walls of my house feeling like a prison. The deputies take their positions, and I retreat to my study, trying to focus on anything but the impending doom.

Later that evening, I'm summoned to face the supernatural council. The room is filled with tense silence as I take my seat. Evelyn is there, but she remains silent, her eyes avoiding mine.

The council chamber is heavy with tension as I stand before them, the weight of my fate pressing down on my shoulders. Evelyn stands beside me, her presence a small comfort amid this nightmare. My sister, Ana, sits among the council, her expression unreadable.

"Alexei," begins Elder Martin, his voice echoing in the silence. "You stand accused of a grievous crime. The evidence against you is significant. We must decide how to proceed."

"I am innocent," I say, my voice steady. "I have no memory of that night, but I know I didn't kill those witches."

There's a murmur among the council members. Elder Lydia, a stern woman with piercing eyes, leans forward. "Your lack of memory is troubling, Alexei. We have no proof to exonerate you. Karla has confirmed there is dark magic being used to block your memory. How do we know you didn't do that yourself? The witches killed deserve justice for losing their lives."

"Sheriff, how is the investigation going?" They directed the question to Evelyn, and she cleared her throat before stepping forward.

"We're getting closer," Evelyn insists. "We just need more time."

Elder Martin sighs, his face weary. "Time is something we don't have in abundance. The town is on edge. We must resolve this quickly."

"Give us one more week," Evelyn pleads. "We're making progress. We can find the real killer."

The room falls silent as the council deliberates. I feel every second stretch into an eternity.

The council murmurs amongst themselves, their expressions a mix of doubt and concern.

Karla nods. "We've started investigating possible suspects who could have wanted my witches dead. As for who could be controlling the dark magic, we'll keep you informed of any progress."

"I'll help in any way I can," I say, desperate to contribute despite my house arrest.

"You will remain under house arrest," Elder Martin says firmly. "But any information you can provide will be valuable. Remember, the safety of Harmony Grove is of the utmost importance."

Finally, Karla speaks up. "We all have two weeks to find the real killer. If we can't, you'll have to pay for the crimes."

My heart sinks, but I nod. "I understand."

The meeting is adjourned, and I head back home, the weight of their words weighing heavily on my mind. Evelyn follows, but we walk in silence.

Back at the house, I collapse onto the couch, my mind racing. Evelyn sits beside me, her hand resting on mine.

"Soon enough, we're going to break this case," she says softly.

I nod, but the doubt lingers. "What if we don't?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

She squeezes my hand. "We will."

She wanted to say something else, but she didn't; she just paused, nodding slowly before making her way out of the house. She had an investigation to lead, and if we are being honest, she is my last chance to prove my innocence. I remain rooted to the floor of the sitting room; it is hard to take in my new reality.

I am a murder suspect in the town that I have toiled my entire life to build, and now I am being framed by someone so good that it will take the whole town to catch them. I can't bring myself to think I killed those witches; if I did it, then why can't I remember? Why is something blocking off my memories and making them impossible to access?

The mere thought of killing those witches makes me want to throw up.

Ana arrives, her face etched with worry. "How are you holding up?" she asks, sitting beside me. She had been out of town recently on her usual trip, and I'm sure Evelyn probably called her to say I needed moral support.

"Barely," I admit. "This house arrest is suffocating. But not as suffocating as not being able to lift this damn dark magic block on my memories."

"We're doing everything we can to find the real killer," she says, her voice determined. "We won't let them punish you for something you didn't do. I know you didn't do this; Evelyn knows you didn't too. Now we just need time to prove to everyone else that you didn't and find the real killer."

"Thank you," I say, my voice choked with emotion. It feels so good knowing that you have a solid family behind you in trying times like this. "I just feel so helpless."

"You're not alone," she reminds me. "We're all in this together. We won't sit back and let somebody ruin everything you have worked for in Harmony Grove."

I nod, drawing strength from her words. "I know. I am suspended as the mayor; if Evelyn can't prove my innocence in a few days, they will have to appoint a temporary mayor till this is over. I still need to clear out my desks." I added, and Ana agreed.

At the office, the familiar surroundings feel alien. I look around, taking in the details—my desk, my chair, the photos on the wall—everything I built, everything I worked for, now tainted by this nightmare.

One of the deputies, Mark, hands me a piece of paper. "You need to see this, sir."

I unfold it, my eyes scanning the headlines. "Mayor of Harmony Grove Accused of Murder: Six Dead in Brutal Killing Spree." My heart skips a beat. "This can't be happening," I mutter. "How did this get out?"

Mark looks uncomfortable. "Someone leaked it. The press is all over it."

I slump into my chair, feeling the weight of the entire thing on my shoulders. "It's going to be harder to prove my innocence now."

Ana steps forward, her face set with determination. "We'll get through this. We just need to stay calm."

But staying calm is impossible. Outside, I hear the commotion of the press gathering. Cameras flashing, reporters shouting questions.

I take a deep breath and stand up. "I guess I have to face them."

Ana nods. "I'll be right beside you. Or we can wait them out before returning home."

We step out, and the noise hits me like a wave. Questions fly at me from all directions.

"Mr. Mayor, did you kill those women?"

"Are you stepping down?"

"What do you have to say about the allegations?"

I hold up a hand, trying to project calm. "I did not kill those women. This is a misunderstanding, and I will prove my innocence."

The deputies usher me into the waiting car, and we drive off, the press still shouting behind us. The tension in the car is palpable. Now, with the rest of the town involved, the killer already has a perfect cover. It won't be long before they start calling for my head on a platter.

"We need to find out who did this," Ana says, her voice surprisingly calm. "And we need to do it fast."

"I know," I reply, staring out the window. "But where do we start?"

"We'll go over everything again," she says. "There has to be something we missed."

"I don't even have enough in my head for us to go over. What do you think? Even Karla can't figure out what's blocking my memories and I doubt other witches would want to help, since it's their sisters dead and not vampires."

As we drive, my mind races. Who would want to frame me? And why? The questions pile up, but the answers remain elusive. I can't even think with my memory blank; whoever I pissed off this time has it all out for me.