If I Had You

Emily Grant, a determined and ambitious police detective, left her hometown of Oakdale after a tumultuous high school romance with a local boy, Alex. The two were young and in love, but their passion was hindered by a fundamental incompatibility in their social classes and long-distance relationships proving too difficult to sustain. After years apart, Emily is now a seasoned detective in the city, but she receives news that her mother has been gravely ill. Emily returns to Oakdale to care for her ailing mother and reconnect with her past. Upon returning, Emily settles back into her childhood home, reimmersing herself into the familiar sights and sounds of her hometown. However, Emily's tranquility is short-lived as she is thrust into a gruesome and high-profile murder investigation in Oakdale. The victim, 17-year-old Samantha, a bright and ambitious student, was found dead near the town's lake. The killer left behind a disturbing message at the crime scene, signed with a red lipstick, the same shade that Emily and Alex had once used as a secret calling card during their affair. As Emily delves into the investigation, she quickly becomes convinced that Alex, now a married man, is the prime suspect. The police department, in an effort to placate the community, has publicly named Alex as the key suspect in the murder investigation. Emily knows that Alex is innocent and that her mother's friend, a retired detective, had also mentioned a possible alternative suspect. Emily starts to explore this alternative clue and begins her discreet and thorough inquiry into the case. Detective Grant encounters her old high school friends and acquaintances, who are all caught up in the fervor of the investigation. They're shocked and terrified by the murder, and Emily's return is seen as a coincidence rather than a deliberate decision. Her colleagues express their suspicions about her relationship to Alex, as their social media and news outlets sensationalize the connection. Emily struggles to separate her professional obligation to solve the case and her personal loyalty to her former lover. Emily starts questioning Alex's wife, Rachel, and their friends, trying to find out if they noticed anything unusual before Samantha's death. Rachel seems nervous but cooperative, providing information and alibis for her husband's whereabouts on the night of the murder. Emily finds inconsistencies in Rachel's story, sparking her suspicion and making her even more determined to uncover the truth. While probing deeper, Emily starts reexperiencing past love and emotions, stirring up unresolved issues from her long-lost romance with Alex. The rekindled feelings create tension within Emily as she struggles to separate past and present. Emily starts doubting her professional judgment and wonders if she should recuse herself from this particular case. As time progresses, Emily continues digging for evidence, uncovering clues and pieces of information that point to a different killer. She finds inconsistencies in the original crime scene and starts piecing together an alternative theory. However, Emily's efforts draw the attention of the police department's top brass who suspect her involvement in covering up her personal connection to Alex and fear that Emily's involvement is compromising the integrity of the investigation. Emily must navigate the treacherous waters of her personal and professional lives while trying to find the real killer and exonerate Alex. She's constantly pushed by her superiors to wrap up the case quickly, putting her professionalism to test, as she battles between her duty as a detective and her loyalty to Alex. With each passing day, Emily finds herself entangled in a twisted web of lies and deceit, where the truth keeps shifting. She knows that if she gets the wrong suspect, the real killer will walk free, and someone might get hurt all over again. Emily makes a crucial decision to continue working on the case, even when threatened by the department, knowing that justice can only be served by finding the truth, no matter who it concerns. Ultimately, Emily's meticulous investigation and her tenacious pursuit of truth prevail. She uncovers the true killer and reveals the web of lies and deceit that had hidden the truth from her and the entire town. The film ends with Emily exonerating Alex, saving her former lover from the jaws of injustice, and redeeming her professional reputation in the eyes of her colleagues. In the process, Emily has come full circle – finding her way from her complicated past to a better understanding of her own identity and personal loyalties in the present.