Chapter 194: Backup
"Do you have any backup for this auction invite that you received?"
Melanie let out a weary sigh and shook her head. "No. It was on my phone, and as you know, that’s been confiscated by the police. I never thought to screenshot it or forward it to anyone—I didn’t think I’d need to."
They were still sitting in the car, the air between them growing heavier with each passing minute as they sat just outside the hospital building, not going inside.
"That’s unfortunate and actually worrisome," he said after a pause, his tone neutral but firm. "Because according to my source—someone within the department—the police received an anonymous tip. A very specific one. It claimed you’d been planning to harm your husband. And when that kind of tip is followed by circumstantial evidence—like you showing up here without a way to prove the reason for your visit, and damning search history appearing on your personal laptop—it creates a dangerous narrative."
Melanie looked down at her lap, her hands tightly clenched. "I didn’t even know Adam was hurt when I received a call at the airport," she said quietly, almost to herself. "I didn’t know anything."
Elias nodded slowly, his expression unreadable. "I believe you. But unfortunately, belief alone isn’t going to cut it. Not here. Not in Maniwa."
He leaned slightly toward her, lowering his voice as he continued. "You need to understand the climate right now. Recently, there’s been a surge of incidents involving tourists—drunken fights, public disturbances, and property damage. It’s made the locals edgy, resentful even. People are looking for someone to blame. And when you add in an allegation like attempted murder—possibly escalating to murder, if your husband doesn’t pull through—this town will not be on your side. The prosecution won’t need to work hard to paint you as a foreign woman who came here with hidden motives and a troubled marriage."
Melanie’s chest tightened and she had to remind herself that this was not the time to panic.
"If this goes to trial," Elias continued, his voice calm but serious, "they won’t need a smoking gun. Not here. We’ve had convictions based on less evidence—less coherent stories. The courts can be unpredictable, especially when public sentiment is already poisoned."