“Tell Chief Modric, Get word to” Knight said urgently.
“Have Traffic pull footage from every intersection camera.
We’ll trace that vehicle’s route.
There’s no mistake… that’s the one.”
Two hours after leaving Andrea’s house, the investigative team followed the lead from the statement and arrived in the Tesla district.
The neighbourhood was considerably more affluent than the places they had passed through.
There were no fences, only rows of trees planted in front of each house a thin wall of green that protected no one, yet made the entire neighbourhood look peaceful in an almost artificial way.
White stepped out of the battered old police car.
The door closed with a tired metallic click.
In stark contrast, Jay and Mariana stepped out of a gleaming new vehicle, the two sides of the street seeming to divide them into light and shadow.
Mariana walked up to the gate and pressed the bell.
A few seconds later, the door opened.
Steven appeared in the doorway.
Tall and lean, with neatly combed moss-green hair and silver-framed glasses catching the sunlight.
He looked like the kind of person trouble itself would rather avoid.
Mariana raised her police badge, her movements precise and practised.
“We’re with the Major Crimes Unit of GlassTower Headquarters.
Thank you for taking the time to meet with us.”
She extended her hand out of courtesy.
Steven smiled and shook it with the polished ease of someone stepping out of a tea party
“A pleasure to meet you, Inspectors.
What brings you here today?”
ay glanced back at White, who still hadn’t bothered to come forward.
“Alice!
You, intern girl—pick up the pace.”
Mariana ignored him completely, keeping her voice level as though she hadn’t heard a thing.
“Your friend, Andrea Emily Garvic, is under suspicion in connection with the series of murders targeting students.
We need your assistance in providing additional information to complete the prosecution file.”
“Andrea…!?”
Steven faltered.
Only for an instant, but it was unmistakable.
“That’s impossible.
There must be some mistake…”
At last, White stepped forward, a sweet tucked in the corner of her mouth.
Her voice cut through the quiet afternoon like a blade.
“Your friend was caught by Collaborative Detective White with the knife still stained with the first victim’s blood.
The strand of hair recovered at the scene matches too.
She’s not getting out of this easily.
The death penalty is practically a straight road ahead.”
Jay spun around, teeth clenched.
“You’re just spilling internal information like that, Alice!?”
White exhaled softly, as if the matter were no more than a passing breeze.
She linked her hands behind her head, completely untroubled.
“The press will dig it up sooner or later.
No point getting worked up about it.”