CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FOUR - The Detective's Secret Dossier

They slid into the booth, Nia feeling suddenly nervous under the detective's scrutiny. "Can I get you folks anything?" a waitress asked, appearing at their table. Sanders waved her off. "Just some privacy, thanks. We won't be long." Once the waitress had moved away, Sanders leaned in, his voice low. "Before we start, I need to make something clear. What we're about to discuss... it's dangerous. Are you both sure you want to proceed?" Nia and Leon exchanged a glance before nodding in unison. "Alright then," Sanders sighed, reaching for the thick file he'd brought. "Let's begin." He opened the file, spreading out several documents and photographs. "I've been quietly reinvestigating your case since Leon approached me a few months back, Ms. Moreno. Truth is, I always had doubts about your conviction, but at the time, there was a lot of pressure to close the case quickly." Nia leaned forward, her heart racing. "What kind of doubts?" Sanders met her gaze steadily. "The kind that keep