The Contract With Her Father's Billionaire Rival-Chapter 87. First Sign Of A Criminal

Nicolette’s phone rang again, but she ignored it, without knowing who it was.

Her head was hot, and her mind was racing with countless questions.

She jumped out of the car, her heart pounding. "Thank you, Wex. I’ll be back soon."

"Okay, ma’am," Wex replied.

Nicolette clutched her bag tightly as she made her way into the police station. Her stomach growled, reminding her that she still hadn’t eaten all day.

"Mrs. Allens," Detective Hector called, waving from upstairs.

She nodded and climbed the stairs, heading straight for his office.

"Hello, Detective."

"Hello, ma’am," Detective Hector said, gesturing to the chair opposite him.

Nicolette pulled out the chair and sat. "How was it?"

"Sally did very well with the description," he explained. "When the sketch was completed, we cross-referenced it with CCTV footage, and lo and behold, we found Miss Jones near the gallery."

Nicolette leaned back in the chair, her heart pounding at his words.

She didn’t know how to feel. She didn’t know what to think.

Why did Rachel come to her gallery? It wasn’t like they used to hang out before the fire. They had been rivals—practically enemies. So what was she doing there?

The thought tightened her chest as it spread like wildfire.

Was her father involved?

Had Rachael acted on her own?

Rachel had been at Lucian’s party, was she working for him too?

Was she working with the man with full hair?

Were they together or apart?

She had no answer to any of these questions, and it was driving her nuts.

Detective Hector didn’t say anything, he just sat there in silence, observing her.

She sighed, trying to release the pressure in her chest. "I don’t understand why... she..."

Detective Hector leaned in. "Just breathe in and out, ma’am. It can be overwhelming. Take it slowly."

Nicolette nodded and followed his instructions. She exhaled deeply, allowing herself to reach that dark abyss of emotion forming inside her.

She counted to ten before slowly letting the breath go.

Detective Hector’s face twisted with concern. "Are you feeling better?"

She nodded, afraid her emotions might spill if she spoke.

"Would there be any reason Ms Jones came to your gallery? Maybe she used to visit you?" 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"No," she replied, shaking her head. "We aren’t close. We don’t even talk. I haven’t seen her for months, until I saw her at Lucian’s party yesterday."

His brow furrowed. "You saw Ms. Jones yesterday?"

"Yes," she nodded. "Right before she stole my mother’s drawings and claimed them as her own."

Detective Hector blinked and raised his hand. "I’m confused, ma’am."

Nicolette sighed, and then dived into her history with Rachel, Ronald, and Lucian.

When she finished, Detective Hector rose to his feet and began pacing his office.

"She’s guilty, right?" she asked, watching him scratch his chin in thought. "She stole my mother’s drawings. She is working for my father. We found her near the gallery. I’m sure she was seen after the man with the full hair. That would have given her enough time to burn everywhere, right?"

Pain slammed into her chest as she spoke about the fire. She was hurt, but angry at the same time. Rachel had to pay from this emotional strain on her.

Detective Hector paused. "About that... they were found at the same time. Miss Jones just used the back door."

Nicolette lifted her head in excitement. Her heart was flipping with hope. "That’s it. That’s your evidence."

"Not quite, ma’am," Detective Hector said, shaking his head.

Pain crept into her chest, shattering the small hope she had gathered there. "What now, Detective? What more evidence do you need?"

He stopped pacing and looked at her. "I understand your frustration, ma’am, but we need more. The CCTV footage only shows what happened before and after the fire. There’s nothing that clearly links anyone to starting it. Not Ms Jones, not the stranger with the full hair."

Her heart sank as sadness washed over her. "So you have nothing?"

"Not nothing," he said softly, "but not enough."

She exhaled sharply as dread settled deep within her. How did the whole situation move from positive to hopeless?

She sank further in the chair, giving in to the pain in her chest.

"Hope is not lost, Mrs. Allens."

She scoffed. "Is it?"

Detective Hector sat back down. "We can bring Miss Jones in for questioning."

Nicolette sat up abruptly. "You can?"

"Yes. She was at the gallery shortly before the fire, and since we have identified her, it’s enough to bring her in for questioning."

Relief surged through Nicolette, and she pressed her fingers together in gratitude. "Thank you so much, Detective."

He nodded. "Excuse me please, I need to make a call." Then he stepped out of his office.

Nicolette heaved out a big sigh when she was alone.

Finally, they were making progress.

She still couldn’t believe Rachel had something to do with it. The thought alone made her stomach knot with curiosity and fear.

Detective Hector returned with a warm smile. "Good news, Mrs. Allens. Miss Jones has been contacted, she is on her way."

Nicolette shot to her feet. "Oh, wonderful!"

"Be assured that I will do everything within my power to solve this case," he said firmly.

She nodded, emotions swelling in her chest.

She believed him.

"Thank you, Detective," she said with a warm smile.

"You’re welcome, ma’am," he said, opening the door for her. "I will keep you updated on how it goes."

"Alright. Thank you."

Her smile widened as she left the office. Just as she reached the bottom of the stairs, she saw Rachel walk into the station.

Their eyes met, and Nicolette scowled at her.

"Nicolette?" Rachel said, her brow furrowed with confusion before fear filled her eyes. "What are you doing here? What’s going on?"

"You will find out soon," Nicolette said, walking past her.

"I... I didn’t want to do it!" Rachel called, her voice loud.

Nicolette kept walking, ignoring her.

First sign of a criminal—they lie.

"Believe me, Nicolette! Your father forced me into making those paintings!"

Nicolette stopped.

That got her attention. Confusion raced through her as she turned slowly.

Rachel was talking about the paintings, not the fire.

"What?" she asked, giving into the confusion.

Rachel’s face turned red. "Ronald forced me into making them. I would never have taken credit for—"

"Miss Jones," an officer called, interrupting her.

Rachel turned to the officer, then looked back at Nicolette. "I’ll call you. We’ll talk. Please, Nicolette."

Nicolette watched as Rachel walked away, anger boiling inside her.

Doubt crept in, but she shoved it aside.

Rachel was on on this too. She knew it.

It was clear.

Nothing would convince her otherwise, not the softness in Rachel’s eyes, nor the sincerity in her voice.

Rachel had switched sides at Lucian’s party, she could be doing it again now.

Nicolette shook her head in disbelief as she walked to the car.

It was time to show them all what she was made of. She had been too soft, too trusting, and she had allowed them mess with her.

Now it was time for revenge.

Ronald. Rachel. Lucian.

Enough was enough.

With determination burning in her veins, Nicolette slipped into the car.