Chapter 3

My family and I were taken to the airport security office. I was separated from the others and questioned alone.

"Mr. Castillo, security footage shows that you entered the restroom 23 minutes ago. When you came out, you were holding a small paring knife. Later, the knife disappeared. We believe you intentionally got rid of the evidence.

"We found the knife in an airport trash can. Tests confirmed that your DNA was on it. The shape of the blade also matches the fatal wound on Justin's body.

"The evidence is overwhelming. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

I wasn't about to confess to a crime I didn't commit.

"Sir, I've been framed. I did see Justin in the restroom. He tried to rob me, so I scared him off with the knife. After that, I never saw him again."

The detective frowned and tapped the table.

"Mateo, if you refuse to admit your guilt, the court won't look kindly on that.

"You also bought tickets for an international flight, but then suddenly canceled your check-in. We strongly believe you planned Justin's murder in advance."

I kept shaking my head. Someone had to be controlling all of this from the shadows.

The surveillance footage matched my movements. There was even physical evidence linking me to the murder. The whole setup was too perfect.

And when Justin ran away, the number above his head had clearly shown he still had 30 years left to live.

If I couldn't prove my innocence soon, the police would treat me as a murderer.

Wait... Where had they found the knife?

The moment I remembered, I quickly spoke up.

"Sir, after I scared him away, I put the knife back in my backpack. So how did it end up in the trash? If you don't believe me, search my bag."

The officer who had gone to check the evidence returned and quietly shook his head at the detective. The two whispered to each other for a moment.

Bang! The detective slammed his hand onto the table and glared at me.

"Stop making excuses. We searched your backpack from top to bottom. The knife wasn't inside.

"Besides, someone recorded the entire murder and uploaded it online. Just confess already."

I knew I had put the knife back into my backpack. And before I was taken away, I had handed the backpack to Lilly.

Besides, when Justin attacked me, no one else had been there. If anyone had been watching, a coward like him would have run away instead of continuing to attack me.

When the detective saw that I still refused to confess, he pulled out his phone and played a video in front of me.

The man in the video had his face hidden under the hood of a sun jacket, making it impossible to identify him. But from certain angles, he really did look like me.

He was wearing a white sun jacket, black pants, white sneakers, and even the same watch as mine.

The number above his head also showed only six hours left to live.

For a moment, even I started wondering if I had actually died in that car accident on the way to the airport.

Maybe the countdowns above people's heads and this murder were just hallucinations before my death.

I sat there in silence, staring blankly ahead.

Just as the detectives thought I was finally about to confess, an idea suddenly flashed through my mind.

I said, "I'll confess, but before I do, I want to speak to my parents and my wife separately."

The countdown above my head kept getting smaller. I had no choice but to gamble.

Lilly was the first to come in. The moment she saw me, she urged me to confess.

"Mateo, just admit it. I promise we'll hire the best lawyer we can and get you released on bail. We won't let you stay locked up for long."

Her words sent a chill through me.

She had lost a child before. Because of that, she had always loved me more than anything.

Yet before she even asked what had happened, she was already telling me to confess.