Chapter 380: Next step
It’s been days since Amelia had been held up in the police cell awaiting trial. During these days, the police had done their best to make her talk or reveal anything about Natalia’s location.
Amelia remained silent. Not only did she say nothing about Natalia’s possible location, but she also refused to plead guilty to any of the crimes. Although the evidence Lucien provided was ironclad and there was no way of proving otherwise for now, she refused to change her testimony.
From the evidence Lucien provided, framing her in Richard’s death, it showed her planning everything, although in truth Richard didn’t die then, all public records proved he did.
Mrs Sinclair was seated in the DPO office with her lawyer. Although the DPO himself was a good friend of the Sinclairs, this matter was way beyond him.
"Is there really nothing that could be done?" Mrs Sinclair asked. The Sinclair family had already collapsed from bankruptcy. Her husband had aged overnight, and her only child was being held for grave crimes. She couldn’t let Amelia rot here.
Although the Sinclair family’s influence had declined, Mrs Sinclair pulled every string she could to get the best lawyer. She was ready to do whatever it took to get her daughter out of here.
Even if it meant them disappearing. After all, they had nothing left.
The DPO, a man in his early fifties with a few grey hairs, shook his head. "I owe Mr Sinclair a favour, but my hands are currently tied. This case was deliberately hidden from the public by the higher-ups. Even the minister is aware of everything. Amelia messed with people she shouldn’t have," he admitted.
Even a corrupt official like him knew his limits. This case was clearly beyond him.
Mrs Sinclair clutched her chest. It felt like a weight was pressing down on it. She glanced at her lawyer, the top lawyer she had pulled several strings to get on this case. "Is it entirely impossible?" she asked in a shaky voice.
Her lawyer was Mr San Marco, a man with sharp eyes. He had gotten top criminals out of jail as a defence attorney, but in his entire career, he hadn’t seen such a case drawn with so much bureaucracy. Even before the court date, Amelia’s sentence was already set in stone.
The court was just for formalities. Under normal conditions, no lawyer would accept a case with so much influence from the government, but he wasn’t just any lawyer. He loved a good challenge. Even if he didn’t win, getting her a lower sentence would still be considered a victory.
He adjusted his glasses, then his sharp gaze fell on Mrs Sinclair. "The evidence is ironclad. Unless we find a gap, the best we can do is fight for a lower sentence," he revealed, and Mrs Sinclair’s face fell.
The thought of her daughter going to prison didn’t sit well with her at all. Her mind raced, searching for possible solutions.
A knock on the door drew everyone’s attention. The DPO gave permission, and the door was pushed open. A police officer stood behind Amelia, who was dressed in a detention uniform. Her hair was a mess, and her old wound had reopened. She looked nothing like the proud heiress her mother remembered.
Mrs Sinclair’s eyes burned. Her hand flew to her mouth to stop a whimper as she stumbled from her seat. Her shaky hand reached for Amelia’s face. "My baby, what happened to you?" she asked in a trembling voice. Amelia’s face remained blank.
Mrs Sinclair glanced around the room, then her eyes fell on the DPO. "Please, can I have a private moment with my daughter?"
The DPO wanted to refuse, but he saw the look in Mrs Sinclair’s eyes. She was falling apart.
His heart tugged. He was also a father. "Alright then," he nodded. "Uncuff her."
The police officer who brought Amelia hesitated, but he couldn’t defy a direct order. He pulled his keys from his waist and unlocked the cuffs with a sharp click.
As soon as Amelia’s hands were free, she rubbed her sore wrists. Mrs Sinclair’s eyes burned. She grabbed Amelia’s red wrists, her heart clenching with complex emotions. "Oh dear," she gasped.
The DPO sighed, then signalled everyone to leave. The lawyer politely stood up. The DPO was the last to leave. He left a warning. "You have just 15 minutes," he informed them before the door shut.
Mrs Sinclair took Amelia’s hand and pulled her to a small lounge area in the office. She opened her bag and brought out the takeaway box and drinks she had brought for Amelia. "Come on, dear. Eat something. I am sure you haven’t been able to have a proper meal," Mrs Sinclair said, already opening the thermos flask that had some soup inside. "Have some soup to warm your stomach first."
She poured Amelia a serving. Amelia quietly accepted the cup and took a long sip before her eyes went to her mother. She had been locked up here and had no idea what was happening outside. No one told her anything.
"Any news from outside? When am I getting out? Have they gotten to Natalia?" she fired several questions. Mrs Sinclair didn’t know where to start. She shook her head first.
"It is a complete mess outside. The company is gone, and your father isn’t taking it well." Amelia’s eyes narrowed. She expected this. Lucien wasn’t letting her off by the slightest chance.
"We plan on leaving the country with new identities to hide from debtors. Your dad has the funds to cover most of the debt, but if we pay up, we would be dirt broke, and there won’t be anything left for your case," Mrs Sinclair sighed. If Lucien had planned to arrest Amelia a day later, he would have missed her.
The Sinclair family knew it was game over as soon as Lucien was revealed as Killian Orlov with confirmed ties to the Orlov family. It was only a matter of time before Volkov Apex crumbled, and if they did, their family was finished because all their dealings depended on Volkov Apex.
Mr Sinclair already had plans and their papers ready. Amelia was meant to be discharged the next day, and they would have fled, but Lucien beat them to it. Her fists clenched at the thought.
"And Volkov Apex and my case, what’s happening? Don’t tell me Natalia disappeared," Amelia gritted her teeth.
Mrs Sinclair shook her head. "I don’t know the details of Volkov Apex, but things aren’t good for them. Both the Voss and Orlov families have blacklisted them. Word on the street is that the conglomerate is nearing its end. Investors are pulling out, with shareholders selling at very low prices," Mrs Sinclair briefly explained. Her heart was heavy speaking about Volkov Apex. They had placed all their cards on them.
"As for your case, someone at the top wants you locked up. If we avoid a death sentence, it would be a miracle," she sighed heavily. "As for Natalia, she disappeared without a trace."
Something calculating flashed in Amelia’s eyes. She smiled. Natalia thought she could escape. Mrs Sinclair was surprised by Amelia’s smile. She didn’t know the deal between Amelia and Natalia, but for some unknown reason, Natalia was scared of Amelia.
"Mum," Amelia called, her gaze turning calm. "Send a message to Natalia."
Mrs Sinclair’s brows furrowed. How was she going to contact Natalia? "How?" she blurted.
"Give me a pen and a note," Amelia requested. Mrs Sinclair nodded and quickly presented it to her. Amelia took the pen and wrote down an encrypted email address, along with a message.
Mrs Sinclair saw it and frowned. Amelia’s smile widened. "Send the email to Natalia. If she doesn’t reply, add that I will tell everyone the secret she hid for decades, and we will see if she can hide anywhere on this globe."
The next step of the game had just begun.