In the opulent living room of the Whitmore mansion, Charles and Eleanor sat facing each other, their expressions tense and anxious. The room, with its high ceilings and luxurious furnishings, felt stifling under the weight of their conversation.

"Eleanor , you need to calm down," Charles said, his voice steady but strained. " Panicking won't help us now. "

Eleanor's hands trembled as she clutched a handkerchief. "Charles, the CIB is involved. They're digging into Thomas's case. What if they find out the truth? What if.... what if"

Charles leaned forward, his gaze intense. "Eleanor, first clam yourself ok? Even If we get caught, we'll take down everyone who's involved in Thomas's murder. We're not the only ones with our hands dirty. The rest should protect us to save their own skins. If not then we will rip their skins and die with them ok?"

Eleanor took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "You're right. We have powerful allies. We just need to stay calm and let them handle it. We don't want to fear. Yeah.... yeah"

Meanwhile, at Seattle Boys High 

Inspector Dean was still at the school, piecing together more details of Thomas's troubled time there. As he walked through the halls, he approached another group of students. This time, he asked specifically about Han, the boy Isaac mentioned as having been close to Thomas. 

One of the students, a girl named Megan, spoke up. "Han was one of the few who actually stood up for Thomas. They were good friends." 

Dean's curiosity was piqued. "What happened to Han?" 

"Han was selected in a major audition for a talent show a few days before Thomas's death," Megan explained. "After that, we didn't see much of him. He stopped hanging out with Thomas right after his selection in the show, some guys told that they had some fights. but we don't know what happened, and we heard he was busy preparing for the show." 

Dean took note of this information about Han. But it seemed odd that Han, who had been a staunch ally for Thomas from his bully, suddenly disappeared from his life just before Thomas's death. There might be more to Han's story. 

As Dean continued his inquiries, he found a quiet spot and called Lisa to update her on his findings. "Lisa, I've got some new leads. There's a boy named Han who was close to Thomas. He stood up for him during the bullying, but then he vanished from Thomas's life after being selected for an audition. We need to find out more about him and what happened during that time." 

Lisa responded, "I'll look into Han's background and see if we can track him down. There might some be a connection there that we're missing What about Whitmores." Dean continued that "I'm on the way to their mansion"

Dean ended the call and stood in the empty hallway, deep in thought. The pieces of Thomas's life in Seattle were slowly coming together, but there were still many unanswered questions like what happened that someone wanted to kill Thomas, why the police investigation pointed Harold, if Harold is innocent then why he was quiet till his hanging moment. The involvement of the Whitmores, the sudden disappearance of Han from Thomas's life, and the intense bullying he faced at school all pointed to a deeper, more sinister plot. 

As he gathered his thoughts, Dean knew he had to keep pressing forward. The truth about Thomas's death was within reach, and every new lead brought them closer to unraveling the tangled web of deceit and manipulation that had ensnared the young boy. With determination, he set out to find the next piece of the puzzle, determined to bring justice for Thomas Garrett. 

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Flashback - May 6, 2024 

The day of the model exam had finally arrived. Thomas sat nervously in his seat, glancing around the classroom. He was determined to do well, knowing how much his adoptive parents believed in him. The exam was tough, but he was well-prepared. 

As the test progressed, Thomas noticed David glancing down at a small piece of paper hidden in his palm. David was cheating. Thomas hesitated, unsure of what to do. His sense of fairness eventually overcame his fear, and he raised his hand to get the teacher's attention. 

"Sir, I think David is cheating," Thomas said quietly when the teacher approached. The teacher nodded and began walking towards David. 

Sensing trouble, David quickly shoved the paper into his mouth and swallowed it before the teacher could reach him. The teacher, unable to find any evidence, gave David a stern warning but nothing more. 

After the exam, David was furious. He stormed out of the classroom, searching for Han. He found him near the lockers, talking with some other students. 

"Han, we got caught because of a boy," David spat, his face red with anger. 

Han raised an eyebrow. "Who was it David?" 

" It was Thomas, Han" David replied, seething. "That boy ratted me out." 

Han thought for a moment, then smirked. "We need to teach him a lesson. Make sure he knows not to mess with you again." 

David nodded, his expression hardening. "Yeah, we'll show him, Han." 

Later that day, Thomas was in the bathroom washing his hands when David and his gang cornered him. They pushed him against the wall, their eyes filled with malice. 

"You think you can mess with us, plague boy?" David sneered. 

Thomas's heart raced. "I just did what was right ," he stammered. 

David shoved him harder. "you idiot, You're going to regret it ." 

Just as things were about to escalate, Han walked in. " Hey ! Leave that boy alone ," he shouted, stepping between Thomas and David. 

David glared at Han. "Why are you defending him Han ? He's nothing but a plague and country bumpkin." 

Han stood firm. "Just back off, David. This isn't right. Just go with the follow ok" 

Reluctantly, David and his gang backed down, grumbling as they left the bathroom. Thomas looked at Han with gratitude and relief.

"Thank you, Han," Thomas said, his voice shaking.

Han nodded. "Come with me dude. Let's get out of here. The place is smelly"

Han led Thomas to his dance practice room, a place of solace and escape for him. The room was filled with mirrors and a polished wooden floor. As they entered, Han turned on some music and started to stretch.

"This is where I come to clear my head dude," Han explained. "You should find something that helps you do the same."

Thomas watched as Han moved gracefully, his worries momentarily forgotten. The rhythmic motion and the music's beat provided a soothing contrast to the chaos of the day.

"You should try it," Han suggested. "Dancing can be a great way to release stress."

Thomas hesitated, then joined Han, trying to mimic his movements. They spent the next hour dancing and talking, forming a bond that offered Thomas a brief respite from the bullying and fear that plagued his days.

Back to Present

Dean listened intently as Isaac finished recounting the events. The flashback painted a vivid picture of the struggles Thomas faced and the friendship he found in Han.

"Han was the only one who stood up for Thomas ," Isaac said quietly. "But then he disappeared after the audition. I don't know what happened to him."

Dean nodded, deep in thought. "Thank you, Isaac. This information is invaluable. We need to find Han and see what he knows about Thomas's last days."

As Dean left the school, he felt a renewed sense of urgency. The pieces of Thomas's life were slowly coming together, revealing a story of bravery, friendship, and betrayal. The next step was clear: find Han and uncover the final details that would bring justice to Thomas Garrett.

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IN WHITMORE MANSION

In the opulent confines of the Whitmore mansion, Inspector Dean sat across from Charles and Eleanor Whitmore, Thomas's biological parents. The room was elegant, adorned with fine art and plush furnishings, but the atmosphere was tense and charged with underlying currents of fear and defensiveness.

Dean took a deep breath, ready to delve into the complex web surrounding Thomas. "Mr. and Mrs. Whitmore, can you tell me more about Thomas and your relationship with him?"

Eleanor exchanged a nervous glance with Charles before speaking. "We believed Thomas was our real son, Rio. We were told that Rio had been kidnapped as a baby and Thomas was brought to us as our long-lost child."

Charles added, "We only discovered he wasn't Rio after his death. It was devastating. But even before that, Thomas had already spoiled our family name."

Dean leaned in, puzzled. "What do you mean by that?"

Eleanor hesitated, her voice shaking. "Thomas got pregnant, even though he was a boy. We didn't believe it at first, but it was true."

Dean's eyes widened in shock. "A boy got pregnant? How is that possible?"

Charles nodded gravely. "Yes, he even gave birth to the child at school. It was a scandal. Search for 'boy giving birth on November 18' online. You'll find the details."