Terrell is no dummy, he quickly picked up on the whole story. He eyed Seraphina, his voice chilling, "So that's the way it is! I really underestimated you, I thought it was all about Leandro…"
Seraphina responded without hesitation, "Leandro...that was just a fluke."
"And what's your excuse for putting me through all this?" Terrell asked angrily.
Seraphina looked at him, surprised. "Terrell, I just thought I might've dragged you into this, but if you're going to put all the blame on me, I'm not having it."
Terrell glared at Seraphina for a moment, then turned and walked out to the balcony, lighting up a cigarette.
Seraphina returned to the dining table, checked on Valerio's meal, then joined Terrell on the balcony after eating something herself.
Terrell's cigarette was almost burnt out, his stress clearly showing.
Hearing Seraphina's footsteps, he didn't turn around, but after a while he asked, "What's your interest in Balch?"
Seraphina leaned against the balcony door, her voice measured. "What other cases involve you and Balch?"
A stiff and tired expression passed over Terrell's face. He was all too familiar with the case Seraphina mentioned – the murder of Balch's wife, Janetta.
"What does this case have to do with you?" he inquired.
"I was hired," Seraphina replied.
"By whom?"
"The girlfriend of Wilbur, the man who was convicted as the murderer."
Terrell finally turned to face Seraphina directly, "That case was closed two years ago. Wilbur died in prison not long after, didn't you know?"
"I did," Seraphina nodded, "but that's why I agreed to help his girlfriend reopen the investigation."
"Investigate?" Terrell scoffed, "Based on a few words from that woman, how do you investigate? Do you even know what concrete evidence is?"
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