Murder by Preference (Continued)

#### Chapter 8: Echoes of the Past

In the weeks following Mr. Anderson's arrest, the town of Oakwood slowly began to heal. Emma's friends organized a memorial to celebrate her life and talent, but Thanh and Mai felt a lingering weight on their shoulders. Despite their success in solving the case, the shadows of betrayal and ambition still haunted them.

One evening, as they wrapped up a long day at the station, Mai suggested, “Let’s visit Emma’s studio one last time. I think it might help us process everything.”

Thanh agreed, and they made their way to the now-closed studio. Upon entering, the air felt heavy with unspoken words. The vibrant colors of Emma's paintings seemed muted in the absence of her spirit. They stood in silence, letting the memories wash over them.

“I still can’t believe how quickly things spiraled out of control,” Mai said, her voice barely above a whisper. “One moment she was thriving, and the next… gone.”

Thanh nodded, his eyes drawn to a particular canvas in the corner—a beautiful piece Emma had been working on before her death. It depicted a stormy sea with a single boat battling the waves, an image that felt strangely prophetic. “It’s like she was trying to warn us,” he mused, recalling the hidden messages in her journal.

Mai stepped closer, her brow furrowing. “Do you think there are more layers to this story? Something we missed?”

“Maybe. The art community can be a dangerous place, and we only scratched the surface with Anderson. There could be others who felt threatened by her success,” Thanh replied, feeling a sense of unease.

As they examined the painting, a sudden thought struck Thanh. “We need to look at Emma’s social media accounts again. If there were messages, there could be more clues.”

#### Chapter 9: The Investigation Reignited

Back at the station, they dug into Emma’s digital footprint, combing through her posts, messages, and interactions. They uncovered a series of conversations with other artists that hinted at deeper rivalries and jealousy, especially with a lesser-known painter named Jessica, who had once been part of the same art scene.

Jessica had fallen off the radar after Emma’s rise to fame, and her bitterness toward Emma was palpable in the messages. “I’m tired of living in her shadow,” one message read, laced with veiled threats.

“Looks like we need to pay Jessica a visit,” Mai said, her eyes gleaming with determination. “She might have more to say about Emma than we realized.”

The next day, they tracked down Jessica in a small, cluttered studio on the outskirts of town. The space was filled with half-finished canvases and remnants of her former work. Jessica’s demeanor shifted as they introduced themselves, her eyes darting nervously.

“I didn’t know Emma personally,” she said, avoiding eye contact. “We were never friends.”

“But you had a rivalry, didn’t you?” Thanh pressed. “Your messages indicate there was a lot of resentment.”

Jessica crossed her arms defensively. “So what? Just because I was jealous doesn’t mean I killed her!”

Mai stepped forward, her tone firm. “We’re not accusing you. We just want to understand the dynamics in the art community. Was there anyone who took things too far?”

Jessica hesitated, her facade cracking. “There were whispers. People in the community felt threatened by Emma’s success. It wasn’t just me.”

#### Chapter 10: Uncovering More Truths

Intrigued by Jessica’s words, Thanh and Mai dug deeper into the artist community, speaking to others who had connections to Emma. They discovered a network of artists who had resented her rise, including a few who had even taken to social media to undermine her work.

One name kept coming up—Tom, a painter who had a tumultuous past with Emma. He was known for his volatile temper and had been vocal about his opinions on her latest pieces. When they finally found him, he was defensive and agitated.

“What do you want?” he snapped. “I have nothing to say about Emma. She was a fraud!”

“Fraud or not, she’s dead,” Thanh replied evenly. “And we’re trying to find out who was responsible for that. You were very vocal about your feelings toward her work.”

Tom’s face darkened. “Just because I didn’t like her art doesn’t mean I wanted her dead!”

“But you were seen near her studio the night she died,” Mai countered, leaning in closer. “What were you doing there?”

“I… I was just passing by! I had nothing to do with it!” he shouted, his hands trembling.

Thanh exchanged a glance with Mai. “We need to look into Tom’s alibi and see if he has any connection to the crime scene.”

#### Chapter 11: The Final Piece

As they investigated Tom’s background, they learned that he had a history of violence, with several charges filed against him in the past. More concerning were the messages between him and Anderson. They had been in contact just days before Emma’s murder.

When they confronted Tom again with this new information, he cracked under the pressure. “Anderson wanted me to help him scare her. He said she was getting too powerful! I didn’t want to hurt her! I just wanted to show her what she was doing wrong!”

“What do you mean by ‘show her’?” Thanh asked, his heart racing.

“He told me to confront her. I thought he just meant to get her to listen, to make her understand!” Tom exclaimed, his voice breaking. “But when I went to her studio, Anderson was already there. I didn’t see him at first… But then…”

“Then what?” Mai pressed.

“I heard them arguing. I didn’t want to get involved. I left before anything happened! I swear!” Tom’s eyes were wild with panic.

#### Chapter 12: The Reckoning

With this new evidence, Thanh and Mai returned to Mr. Anderson for one final confrontation. The pieces were coming together, and they needed to confront him with everything they had.

As they entered the interrogation room, Anderson looked up, his expression shifting from arrogance to anxiety. “What now?” he sneered.

“Tom said you had a hand in Emma’s death. He claims you manipulated him into confronting her,” Thanh stated, watching closely for any sign of guilt.

Anderson’s facade cracked. “Tom is a fool! He didn’t follow my instructions! I only wanted to help her!”

“Help? Or control? You couldn’t stand the idea of her surpassing you!” Mai accused. “And when things went wrong, you let Tom take the fall.”

Anderson’s composure broke. “I didn’t mean for it to go that far! I just wanted to show her how things really work in this world!”

With a confession hanging in the air, Thanh and Mai felt the weight of the case begin to lift. They had followed the threads of ambition and jealousy through the tangled web of Oakwood’s art scene, ultimately unveiling the tragic truth behind Emma’s murder.

#### Chapter 13: Justice Restored

With Anderson’s confession, the case was officially closed. The town of Oakwood was left to process the aftermath of the scandal, the impact of Emma’s death lingering in the hearts of those who knew her.

In the following weeks, a tribute exhibition was held in Emma’s honor, showcasing her final works alongside those of artists who had supported her. Thanh and Mai attended, standing among the crowd that had gathered to celebrate Emma’s life and legacy.

“This is what she wanted,” Mai said softly, looking at the vibrant paintings that adorned the walls. “Her art brought people together, even in death.”

Thanh nodded, feeling a sense of peace wash over him. “We did what we could to ensure her story was told. Her art will live on.”

As they walked through the exhibition, they could see the hope and inspiration Emma had sparked in others. Though her life had been cut short, her impact would continue to resonate in the community.

In the end, the case of “Murder by Preference” was a reminder of the complexities of ambition and the consequences of unchecked desires. It was a story of love and rivalry, of art and betrayal, and ultimately, a quest for justice in a world where passions could both create and destroy.