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"Yes, sir," he responds, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Did you notice anything unusual that night? Anyone lingering around his drink, perhaps?" My words are razor-sharp, intended to convey the severity of his situation.
"No, sir... Everyone was... I mean, it was just a normal party," he stammers, his eyes darting around the room nervously. “It was at his home, so when he came back from conducting business, I never saw him again.”
“James,” I lean forward, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Do you understand the position you're in? Should I find out you're lying or withholding information, the consequences will be severe."
James swallows hard, his Adam's apple bobbing. "I-I understand, sir. I... I don't know anything, sir."
I lean back, and my gaze never leaves his face. "You better hope for your sake that's the truth, James. Dismissed."
As James practically sprints out of my office, I don't even need to signal for the next person. She walks in a mere second later. Mrs. Collins has been around for a long time. She’s known my brother and me since we were kids. My demeanor softens slightly out of respect for the history we share, but my tone retains a stern edge.
"Mrs. Collins," I begin, gesturing for her to sit. Her back is straight, an indication of her years of impeccable posture, and her eyes meet mine unflinchingly. "You've been with our family for years. I need you to think back to the night of the party. Did you see anything unusual?"
She hesitates just a bit before answering. "Mr. Blackhart, it was a regular party. Nothing was out of the ordinary that night."
I lean forward with my eyes drilling into hers. "I need you to be absolutely certain, Mrs. Collins. Did you notice anything? Anyone new or out of place?"
She ponders on this for a moment, then shakes her head. "No, sir. I didn't see anything or anyone unusual."
Maintaining my gaze, I let my tone drop a notch. "You understand the gravity of this situation, Mrs. Collins? If you're withholding anything..."
She interrupts me, a touch of steel in her voice. "Mr. Blackhart, I've been loyal to this family for a long time. If I knew anything about your brother’s death, I would tell you."
Her conviction rings true, and I find myself nodding. However, until I find my brother's killer, no stone can be left unturned. "Very well. That will be all, Mrs. Collins."
The room empties, leaving me alone with my thoughts, each one darker than the last. Anger bubbles beneath my skin, a hot, raw force that threatens to consume me from the inside. I clench and unclench my hands, trying to tame this beast within me. It's not just anger. It's guilt, sorrow, and a deep, relentless need for vengeance. My brother was taken from me, and every cell in my body screams for retribution.
I rise from my chair and pace the length of the room, each step echoing in the silence. I stop to stare out the window into the descending darkness. Somewhere out there is the person who poisoned my brother. I swear an oath to myself, and the words echo in the empty room. I will find out who did this, and when I do, they will pay. They will understand the consequences of crossing a Blackhart. Victor walks back into my office.
“Don’t you ever knock?” I ask him as I walk back to my desk. “Also, aren’t you supposed to be out fining me answers?”
“I brought back another person. Besides, I’ve got men working on it,” he tells me. “You delegate to me, and I delegate to them. There are some things I’m doing myself.”
Just as I’m about to respond, the next person walks in. It’s Harrison, Isabella’s driver.
"Harrison," I begin, my tone sharp as a knife. "You drove Isabella frequently, correct?"
"Yes, sir," he replies, his voice steady under my scrutinizing gaze.
"Tell me about her activities. Where did she go? Who did she meet?" My words are clipped, a clear warning of the consequences if he's found lying.
"Well, Miss Isabella, she wasn't one for going out much, sir. She mostly stayed at the house," he starts with a soft respect coloring his words. "Sometimes, she'd meet her friend, Miss Seraphina. She used to stop by her family home. Cleaned and dusted it. Kept it nice since it sat empty. That’s all she did. She’s a really nice woman.”
I stay quiet for a moment as I weigh his words. There's no apparent deception, no hints of untruths. I nod at him, keeping my tone as imposing as ever. "That's all, Harrison. You may leave."
Harrison nods, and with a final "sir,” he's gone.
“Was he describing the same Isabella that Jackson told us about,” Victor says to me, surprise clear in his voice.
“She’s the only Isabella, so yes, dumbass,” I reply. “Clearly, the woman knows how to manipulate men.”
“She did seem standoffish at the party. I tried to talk to her, and she snapped at me to leave her alone,” Victor says.
“Maybe she was too busy slipping the poison to my brother,” I growl. “Send in the next person.”
Victor gets up and walks out to get the next person. There’s a commotion outside before the door bangs open.
