Chapter 4

“Adrian Lancaster?”

Anneth repeated the name as she examined the photo of the access card sent by the investigator. Leonard stood beside her, reading the same report on his phone.

“Victoria’s younger brother,” he said. “And his card was used at 9:57 p.m.”

“Six minutes after Ethan left.”

“Then we don’t need an excuse to talk to him.”

They returned to Victoria’s apartment building before noon. Adrian was already there with the family’s lawyer when Anneth and Leonard arrived.

Unlike Marcus, who had seemed determined to maintain his composure, Adrian appeared visibly uneasy. He was around twenty-seven, wearing a dark shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. While they waited, he checked his phone several times.

“You want to talk about Victoria?” he asked once they were seated.

Anneth immediately opened her case file.

“We want to confirm your whereabouts on the night of her death.”

“I’ve already given a statement to the police.”

“We know. But we have new information.”

Leonard placed the photo of the access card on the table.

“At 9:57 p.m., a card registered under your name was used to unlock Victoria’s apartment door.”

Adrian stared at the photo, and his expression changed instantly.

“That’s impossible.”

“Why?”

“Because I never used that card that night.”

Anneth held his gaze.

“Do you still have the card?”

He hesitated for a few seconds.

“No.”

“Where is it?”

“I don’t know.”

“When did you last see it?”

“I only realized it was missing a few days ago.”

Leonard leaned back in his chair.

“And you didn’t report it?”

Adrian rubbed his face.

“I thought I’d dropped it somewhere.”

“Where?”

“I don’t know.”

Anneth studied his growing unease.

“You told the police you weren’t at Victoria’s apartment that night.”

“I wasn’t.”

“So you have no idea who used your card?”

“No.”

“Could anyone else have taken it?”

Adrian remained silent for a long moment before answering.

“I usually keep the card in my car.”

Leonard immediately followed up. “Who has access to your car?”

Adrian looked at him, then shook his head.

“No one.”

“Adrian,” Anneth said, “we’re not trying to frame you. If someone took your card and used it to enter Victoria’s apartment, that information could help us identify them.”

Adrian rubbed the back of his neck.

“I know.”

“Then tell us everything.”

He finally leaned back and stared at the floor.

“I had an argument with Victoria that night.”

Anneth and Leonard exchanged glances.

“When?”

“Around eight. I went to her apartment before Marcus arrived.”

“What for?”

“A family matter.”

“What kind of matter?”

Adrian shook his head.

“I can’t talk about it.”

Leonard fixed him with a sharp look.

“Your sister is dead. If that matter has anything to do with her death, you need to talk about it.”

Adrian sighed.

“Victoria found something out about the family company.”

“What?”

“I don’t know all the details. She said some transactions didn’t add up and that someone was using the company to move money around.”

Anneth immediately began taking notes.

“Who was involved?”

“I don’t know.”

“Did Victoria mention anyone by name?”

Adrian shook his head.

“She only said that if anything happened to her, I should look for the person closest to our family.”

Anneth stopped writing.

“Why didn’t you tell the police?”

“Because I wasn’t sure who I could trust.”

Leonard studied him for a moment.

“Including the police?”

Adrian didn't answer.

Anneth returned to the matter of the access card.

“After your argument with Victoria, when did you leave the building?”

“Around 8:30 p.m.”

“And where did you go afterward?”

“To a friend’s house.”

“Who?”

Adrian gave them a name and an address. Anneth promptly wrote them down.

“Was Victoria still alive when you left?”

He nodded.

“She was.”

“Was anyone else in the apartment?”

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

“I didn’t see anyone.”

Anneth closed the file.

“One more thing. Did you know Victoria was pregnant?”

Adrian stared at her in obvious surprise.

“No.”

“You never heard anything about it?”

“No.”

This time, his answer sounded more spontaneous than his previous ones.

Leonard stood.

“We’ll verify your alibi. If you really left at 8:30, our investigation will focus on whoever used your card after Ethan left the apartment.”

Adrian rose as well, but just as they were about to leave, he called out to Anneth.

“There’s something else you should probably know.”

Anneth turned around.

“A few days before Victoria died, she received a phone call. Afterward, she seemed terrified.”

“Who called her?”

“I don’t know. But I once heard her mention a name.”

“Whose name?”

Adrian hesitated before answering.

“Julian.”

Leonard, who had remained composed throughout the interview, suddenly fell silent.

Anneth noticed the change in his expression.

“You know him?” she asked.

Leonard didn't answer immediately. He simply picked up his jacket and walked toward the door.

Anneth hurried after him.

“Who is Julian?”

Leonard stopped in the hallway and turned to face her.

“Julian Reeves.”

“And?”

Leonard held her gaze for several seconds.

“He used to be my client.”