Daniel and Johnny made their way to the prison where the accused was being held. Johnny had gathered information from the prison guards about the location of the inmate beforehand.

Standing before the cell, Daniel observed the man inside, who was slumped in a corner facing the ceiling, lost in thought. Daniel scanned the cell, noting the scribbles on the walls. The prison guard accompanying them opened the cell door.

As the noise caught the man's attention, he slowly shifted his gaze from the ceiling to the visitors. His eyes appeared sunken with dark circles, his long hair nearly obscuring his vision, and stubble adorned his chin. Daniel estimated his age to be around mid-twenties.

The guard provided a chair for Daniel, then left them alone for the interrogation. Daniel, with one leg crossed over the other, sat in silence for a moment, studying the man before him.

"Diego, isn't it?" Daniel finally spoke.

The man remained silent, his expression blank as he looked at them.

"A graduate in social work, you worked as a volunteer in a welfare organization for three years before becoming a caretaker at Gaston's orphanage. So, tell me, why did you confess to something you didn't do?" Daniel inquired.

The man remained silent but annoyance was evident in his eyes as he glared at them.

"I know it's not you, but Gaston," Daniel remarked, a smirk playing on his lips as he noticed a flicker of vengeance in the man's eyes at the mention of that name.

"How many times do I have to repeat myself? It's not him, it's me. I assaulted her, I blackmailed him for money, I spread the rumors," the man shouted, his voice filled with frustration, as he launched forward in an attempt to strike Daniel.

Before his hand could connect, Johnny, standing beside Daniel, swiftly moved forward, immobilizing the man by twisting his hands behind his back and pressing his head to the floor.

Daniel remained unfazed by the sudden attack. "Let him go, Johnny," he ordered calmly.

Johnny released his grip and stepped back, poised to defend against any further aggression. Despite his lean appearance, years of training in the police academy had honed his skills for moments like these.

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"What do you want? I've already confessed to everything," Diego yelled in frustration. He had endured daily interrogations from individuals intent on forcing him to admit to crimes he hadn't committed. Initially, he had refused to yield, determined to seek justice for the young girl. But the memories of that fateful day filled him with fear, causing his resolve to waver.

"So you're admitting that you're the one who assaulted the little girl," Daniel stated calmly, observing Diego's reaction.

Diego remained silent, weariness evident in his posture. He was exhausted from the relentless interrogations he had endured since his imprisonment. But more than physical exhaustion, the burden of guilt weighed heavily on him. He lowered his head, a single tear tracing its path down his cheek.

"Yes, it's me. It's… me," Diego confessed, his voice breaking as he surrendered to his emotions, banging the floor in helplessness.

"Do you think admitting to this crime will make everything right? That girl, Hazel... she's no longer at the orphanage," Daniel informed him solemnly.

Diego's eyes widened in shock, shaking his head in denial. "No, no... you're lying. He... He said he wouldn't harm her if I confessed."

"She was transferred to an orphanage for recuperation two weeks after leaving the hospital. But when the police attempted to obtain her statement, the orphanage staff claimed she was sent to Gaston's house for a change of environment," Daniel explained.

"Now she's in Gaston's custody, still unwilling to speak," he added, his expression grave.

"It was a month after I joined there. Hazel was an orphan but a cute and silly girl. She always said even if she lacks parents she has more siblings by her side who love and care for her. She is always cheerful and sees good in bad" he smiled when he thought about the little girl who jumps around his side calling him brother sweetly.

"But she grew silent, locked in her room and isolating herself from others. Her once radiant smile faded day by day, nearly disappearing altogether. I noticed several bruises on her arms by chance, and it immediately raised alarm bells. When I asked her about it, she... she cried," Diego recounted, his voice thick with emotion.

"She cried, saying that it hurt. She was just a little girl, innocent and unaware of the cruelties of the world. I spent days trying to comfort her, assuring her that I would protect her from whoever had harmed her. Eventually, she confided in me," he continued, his gaze distant as he recalled the painful memories.

"My blood boiled when she mentioned his name. I couldn't believe it at first, but the bruises on her body told a different story. He may have projected an image of moral rectitude and kindness, but beneath it all, he was nothing but a piece of shit. I began gathering evidence of his crimes," Diego explained, his voice tinged with anger and sorrow.

He wiped away his tears and met Daniel's gaze squarely. "Do you believe he ran the orphanage out of the goodness of his heart? No, there's something sinister at play. I delved into the orphanage records and discovered that several children, especially girls, had gone missing. But these incidents occurred before my time there, so I reached out to the caretaker who worked at the orphanage prior to me," he revealed, his voice trailing off as tears welled in his eyes.

"What did you uncover?" Daniel inquired, his tone gentle yet insistent.