Adrian Knight quickly passed Hank Voight’s instructions to Adam Ruzek, telling him to contact the Doran family and bring them back to the district for another face-to-face conversation.
Once that was handled, Adrian headed toward the CPD parking lot with Alvin Olinsky so they could check the repair shop where Darren Woodhall claimed his car had been sitting.
Before they reached Alvin’s Hyundai Sonata, however, someone unexpected approached them.
It was Michelle Sovana.
She still wore the same simple clothes Adrian remembered from outside juvenile detention and carried the same worn backpack over one shoulder.
She stopped beside Alvin’s car and gave her father an awkward greeting.
“Hi.” Alvin looked equally uncomfortable.
“Hi.” For a moment, father and daughter simply stood there without knowing what to say.
Alvin eventually broke the silence and asked, “Where are you staying right now?” Michelle shrugged and answered that she was living with some friends.
Alvin continued staring at her until Michelle finally sighed.
“Okay, friends of friends.” She shifted the backpack on her shoulder and added, “They’re covering most of the bills and stuff.” Then she hesitated.
“So…” Michelle said, “if you could give me three hundred dollars…
or even two hundred, that would help.” Alvin immediately shook his head.
“I don’t have that kind of cash on me.” He rubbed the side of his nose before trying another approach.
“But listen, how about we get lunch tomorrow?” Michelle frowned.
“We sit down, figure things out, and make a plan,” Alvin continued.
“A plan?” Michelle repeated irritably.
“I don’t need a plan.
I need two hundred dollars.” She stared directly at him.
“If you can’t even help me with two hundred bucks, what kind of plan are we supposed to make?” Alvin had no immediate answer.
At that moment, Adrian walked over from the direction of the district entrance.
He had been expecting to leave with Alvin and hadn’t imagined he would run into Michelle again so soon.
One look at their expressions was enough to tell him what they were arguing about.
Adrian reached into his pocket without hesitation and pulled out some cash.
He counted two hundred-dollar bills and held them toward Michelle.
“Here.” Michelle looked at the money.
“Two hundred, right?” Adrian asked.
She accepted it immediately.
“Yeah.” After putting the cash away, Michelle glanced at Adrian before looking back toward Alvin.
Her attitude softened just enough for her to say, “Okay…
maybe we can have lunch tomorrow.” Alvin let out a slow breath.
Michelle turned to leave, but Adrian called after her.
“Hey.” She stopped and looked back.
Adrian pulled out one of his business cards and held it toward her.
“If you need something, anything important, call me.” He gave her a small smile and added, “I’m Adrian Knight.
Your dad’s partner.” Michelle accepted the card and looked down at the name before glancing toward Alvin.
She turned it between her fingers for a moment and finally said, “I will.” Then she put it away and walked off.
Alvin watched until she disappeared before sighing.
“Adrian, you shouldn’t keep giving her money.” Adrian looked toward him.
“Right now, money might be one of the few practical things we can actually give her.” He paused before adding, “You two missed a lot of time.
Trust isn’t going to appear overnight.” Alvin fell silent.
Adrian understood that constantly handing Michelle cash wouldn’t solve the larger problem between father and daughter.
Still, a few hundred dollars meant almost nothing to him, while proving that she could call Alvin’s side of the family and receive help might matter.
It also didn’t hurt to show a veteran detective like Alvin that Adrian was willing to support him when things became complicated.
Neither man discussed it any further.
They got into the Sonata and returned their attention to the case.
A short time later, Adrian and Alvin arrived at the auto repair shop Darren had named.
Kevin Atwater met them there, and the three detectives entered together.
Tools, tires, and partially disassembled vehicles filled the building while mechanics moved between work bays.
Alvin approached the owner.
“Kurt Hollister?” A short, stocky man with a shaved head turned around.
“That’s me.” He wiped his hands and looked at them.
“What can I do for you?” Alvin showed his badge.
“Chicago Police.
We’re looking for Darren Woodhall’s car.” Kurt answered immediately.
“Outside.
Blue sedan.” Adrian and Kevin exchanged a glance.
Kevin turned around and headed outside to inspect the vehicle while Adrian remained with Alvin.
Before Adrian could follow, Kurt spoke again.
“You guys looking for him because of that murder?” Adrian stopped.
Kurt gave a dismissive shake of his head.
“Honestly, that guy always gave me the creeps.” Adrian frowned slightly.
“What makes you say that?” Kurt shrugged.
“Can’t really explain it.
You ever meet somebody and just get a bad feeling?” He leaned against the counter.
“He’s always alone.
Keeps to himself.” Kurt’s expression hardened.
“People like that shouldn’t even be walking around.” Adrian’s eyebrows drew together.
That was considerably more hostility than he expected from a mechanic talking about one of his customers.
Before Adrian could question him further, Kevin’s voice came from outside.
“Alvin!
Adrian!” “I found something.” Both detectives immediately headed out.
Kevin stood beside the open trunk of Darren’s blue sedan.
He had lifted part of the interior mat and was pointing toward a dark stain underneath.
“There’s blood under the trunk mat.” Adrian and Alvin leaned closer.
Their expressions immediately became serious.
There was no obvious explanation for why blood would be hidden underneath the lining of Darren Woodhall’s trunk.
If testing connected it to Jeremy, the evidence could completely change the case.
Still, Adrian couldn’t shake the feeling that something about it was wrong.
He looked toward Alvin.
“If you killed somebody and transported the body in your own car, would you leave blood this obvious?” Alvin studied the stain without answering immediately.
Adrian continued, “You’d have plenty of chances to clean the car before sending it to a repair shop.
Leaving this here almost feels like advertising.” The point made Alvin pause.
Even someone with no professional criminal experience would probably notice a significant bloodstain in a trunk.
Sending the vehicle to strangers for repairs without cleaning it seemed unusually careless.
That didn’t make the evidence meaningless, but it made the circumstances suspicious.
Alvin finally nodded toward the trunk.
“Maybe.” He looked at Adrian.
“But right now, blood is evidence.” Adrian glanced back toward the repair shop.
“And Kurt?” Alvin followed his gaze.
“Guy practically told us Darren shouldn’t be alive,” Adrian said.
“He really hates him.” Alvin gave a small nod.
“I noticed.” Adrian waited.
Alvin’s expression remained serious.
“But suspicion isn’t enough.” He pointed toward the car.
“We need evidence.” Meanwhile, back at the 21st District, Rochelle Doran sat across from Hank Voight and Adam Ruzek.
Hank had no interest in another vague conversation, and the moment she sat down he made it clear that Intelligence had uncovered new information.
Adam stayed beside him with Jeremy’s case file open.
“We’re going to tell you where the investigation stands,” Adam said.
“We have a suspect.” Rochelle immediately looked up.
“Who?” Adam didn’t answer.
Hank leaned forward instead.
“Your neighbors told us nobody heard Jeremy scream when he disappeared.” Rochelle’s expression tightened.
Hank continued in his gravelly voice.
“Maybe he didn’t scream because he knew the person he went with.” He watched her carefully.
“Darren Woodhall lived near you.” Rochelle gave a small nod.
“Everybody knew Darren.” Her expression became cold.
“He was a pervert.
He’d been in prison.” Hank didn’t react to the insult.
“He’s missing.” Rochelle answered almost automatically.
“Maybe he ran because he knew you were looking at him.” Adam closed the file in front of him.
“Rochelle,” he said, “where’s Richard?” The question changed everything.
Rochelle stopped speaking.
Hank’s eyes narrowed as the silence stretched.
“Where is your husband?” he demanded.
She still didn’t answer.
Hank suddenly raised his voice.
“Tell me!” Rochelle flinched.
Her eyes were already red from grief, but something else appeared in them now.
She slowly looked up at Hank.
“He went to do what a father should do.” [Support Goal: [Support Goal: 10 Reviews → +1 Chapter] Your review helps the story grow.