Luke noticed her apparent remorse and seized the moment, "Maria, you are not inherently a bad person. You have saved so many patients, and I believe you are kind-hearted.
Everyone has moments of weakness, and everyone makes mistakes. As long as you rectify them in time, you are still a good person.
Give yourself a chance, don't give up on yourself, you still have an opportunity."
Maria looked up at Luke, "Really?"
"I heard you have two lovely children, think about your kids, they still need your care.
As long as you assist the police investigation and disclose the mastermind behind this, we can help you turn into a witness with immunity."
"Wuu wuu…" As soon as her children were mentioned, Maria cried even harder, "Pek, Martha, my poor children…"
Luke knew he had hit a soft spot.
Seeing her so distraught, Luke decided…
Luke pulled out a photo, "This was found in your locker, it has a picture of you and your kids. You can tell they are very attached to you.
I have learned that you are a single mother.
If you go to jail, they might end up in foster care.
You know? We're investigating a murder case, the victim was a 14-year-old boy in foster care.
His mother was also an inmate.
He had always looked forward to reuniting with his mother, hoping she would get out of prison soon…
He wrote a thick diary, where he recorded his longing for his mother.
His living conditions were dire, he used both sides of each page, and each side noted three things.
The next scheduled visit to see his mother.
And, how many more days until his mother's sentence was over…
That was the time noted on his last diary entry.
There were only 78 days left until his mother's release.
He was happy because it meant he was one day closer to his mother.
He had waited for this day for five whole years.
Time did not erode his love for his mother; instead, it deepened his attachment and love.
But after writing that entry, he left this world forever.
Hearing Luke's story, Maria cried even harder, as if she was thinking about her own future.
Luke handed her a few tissues, spoke earnestly, "Maria, I want to help you, I really do.
To be precise, I want to help your kids.
I don't want to see a similar thing happen again.
As long as you tell us who directed you, I promise you can get a decent plea deal and reunite with your children sooner."
George sat on the side, his eyes red, although he knew Luke was lying, but... damn, it was really moving.
"Maria, think about your children, they too will…"
"Stop!" Maria cried even harder, "I didn't want this either, I don't want to lose my children, I had no choice but to do this.
My children were kidnapped!
The kidnapper threatened to kill George if I didn't do it; if I refused, I would never see my children again.
I didn't want to kill.
"Who threatened you?"
"I don't know, he sent me a photo of the kids and then called to threaten me. He told me to kill George, or he would kill my children."
"When did this happen?"
"Did you know George before?"
"Why didn't you call the police?"
"The kidnapper said that they had my children, and if I called the police, they would kill my two children. I didn't dare call the police."
"How did the kidnapper contact you?"
"They called using my daughter's phone."
"Do you have a recording?"
"No, I was terrified at that moment, my mind filled with fear, I couldn't believe this was happening to me.
I'm just a regular nurse, oh God, why are you doing this to me!" Maria was very emotional and burst into tears again.
George handed her a pack of tissues, suddenly feeling some sympathy for her, "Maria, you don't have to be scared, we will get your children back.
I promise, it won't happen..."
Luke patted his shoulder, stopping him from continuing, "Maria, are you sure your children were kidnapped? And not just deceived by the kidnapper."
"I am sure, I heard my children's voices on the phone, their voices were full of terror, and when I heard that, I completely broke down.
Like you said, I'm a nurse, I wouldn't have killed if it wasn't absolutely necessary."
Luke held a bag containing Maria's phone, "Find the picture sent by the kidnapper."
Maria operated her phone for a while, then handed it to Luke.
The background of the photo was in the living room of a house, a black boy and a black girl were sitting on the couch, enlarging the picture, one could see the children's faces were panicked, the person who took the photos was likely the kidnapper.
"Do you know where the photo was taken?"
"My house, please, save them!"
Luke led a team to the vicinity of Maria's home.
The kidnapper had called using Maria's son's phone at four in the afternoon and had also sent Maria a photo.
Later, around six in the evening, the kidnapper called again with Maria's son's phone, threatening Maria to kill George.