Scene — Inside a Luxury Car
The tinted windows reflected the city lights as the sleek black car slid through the empty streets. Inside, two figures sat in silence before the older man broke it with a click of his tongue.
"Tch… such a waste. Do they really think they can humiliate us like that? We're among the top business tycoons in the world, Jurin. How dare they,does it have to be her?"
Jurin's gaze sharpened, a glint of obsession flickering in his eyes.
"No. It must be her. And father, wouldn't it be better to have ties with the crime department? That kind of influence could serve us well."
The older man's lips curled into a thin smirk.
"Haah… true enough. Just make sure you keep that woman and her father under your grip, Jason—"
Jurin's voice cut in, cold and emotionless.
"Father… I'd appreciate it if you didn't disrespect my future wife."
The way his deadpan eyes locked on him made even Jason Caelum's breath hitch. He looked away and fell silent.
Scene — Crime Department
Stacks of files covered the desks, the smell of coffee lingering in the air.
"Chief… it's already late. Should we take a rest?" Luther asked, rubbing his tired eyes.
"Yeah, go home if you want," Mary said from behind her desk. "We can continue tomorrow."
Brittney tilted her head.
"What about you, Chief?"
Mary's eyes stayed on the case file in front of her.
"I'm staying overnight. Maybe I'll dig up a clue."
"Fine… Chief, take care. We gotta go."
Brittney slung her bag over her shoulder, glancing at her brother."What about you? Are you coming?"
Derin smirked, leaning back in his chair."Who do you think I am, huh? The great Detective Derin. Without me, how do you think this case will get solved?"
Brittney sighed. "Fine. If you need something, call me."
"Mehh… get lost," he scoffed, sticking his tongue out like a child.
Sometimes I really wanna beat him, Brittney thought, shaking her head as she headed for the door.
"Oii! Brit—go home safely. Want me to drop you?" he called after her. Then, with that maddening smirk: "Just pay me for it."
Her eyes narrowed. "Do you think I'm a kid? Go away. I can go myself."
Truth was, she would have taken the offer just to spend a few extra minutes with her brother — but the way he'd worded it killed any warm feeling. She stomped off, heels clicking against the tiles.
Derin dropped back into his chair, pulling out a fresh stick of gum and spitting the last one into the bin."Hey, Chief… need any help?"
Mary didn't look up. "The best help you can give me is keeping quiet."
"Tch… don't wanna share? Fine. I'll find something to do myself." He chewed noisily.
Mary's fingers flipped through the latest files, her mind a tight knot of frustration.The autopsy reports… Bella said she'd show me in person, but she could've at least sent the details. what a tragedy..hah
Her pen tapped against the desk.Forensics at Drill's house… that piece of cloth. Imported fabric — rare, absurdly expensive. Only the kind the richest people use.
Her brow furrowed. And the DNA on it… Drill's. How the hell was he affording that? Why is everything in this case tangled in money and lies?
She turned another page, jaw tightening.The rooms were stripped clean — except for those burnt scraps it was French one-use paper. it disappears completely when burned as if he wanted every trace gone but why would he when he wanted to give us the chip there is someone else definitely involved. First of all the money and 2nd no way the house don't got a single clue unless it cleaned but who the fuck it doin it...
She leaned back, exhaling sharply."Fuck… this case is a goddamn puzzle," she muttered under her breath, the weight in her voice almost enough to crush the words.
Her gaze lingered on the photo of Drill and Lyla pinned to the board — their frozen smiles a cruel mockery of what she now knew.What on earth even happened to you two…
Her throat tightened. I need something to drink. She pushed back from her chair, the leather creaking under the strain.
Thud.A cold bottle of water slid across her desk.
"Drink some. You look like someone dying," Derin said casually, though his eyes softened for a fraction of a second. "Isn't it better if you change into something comfortable?"
She shot him a weary glance, one corner of her mouth twitching."…Yeah. At least you make some sense this time. I'll be back from the washroom. And remember—don't touch my stuff. You know. DON'T." Her voice sharpened at the last word.
He smirked. "Just go."
Mary turned, her steps slow. She knew exactly the kind of man she was warning — and exactly how much he would ignore her. Still, her mind was too heavy with other thoughts to fight him now.
Behind her, Derin's grin widened."Hehehe… finally. Let's see… who knows, maybe I'll solve it this instant." He spun her chair, settling into her seat like it was his throne.
In the bathroom
Splashhh.
The cold water bit at her skin, but she kept splashing it over her face, hoping it would wash away the fatigue.Her change of clothes — plain pants and a simple t-shirt — felt light against her body, but her chest carried a boulder.
Her mind replayed the broken voice in Lyla's recording, each sob a splinter digging deeper into her ribs.
Mary gripped the sink, knuckles whitening. Her eyes trembled as she tried to hold the mask in place.What is happening? why can't there be any lead? Am I just losing my patience…or trying to force this forward?
Her reflection stared back at her — pale skin, deep shadows under her eyes, lips pressed thin. A stranger wearing her face.
And what if… what if that child is still alive? was I wrong scolding Derin on that opinion.
The thought made her chest ache.
"You look like hell too," she whispered to the mirror, her voice breaking into something dangerously close to a laugh. But it wasn't joy.
Mary was known for her patience, her precision, her ability to read truth from shadows. She'd cracked cases others couldn't touch. But she'd also watched some slip through her fingers — not because she failed or gave them up… but because her father decided when to close them in order to not tarnish the reputation of the department and Mary and sometimes he had no choice because of orders from above.
She hated that.
She hated more the feeling of being powerless when someone — especially a child — was suffering. That was the one thing that could strip away her cold facade and leave her… bare.
Her lips curved into a hollow smile, one that didn't reach her eyes. She closed the locker door with a soft metallic click, the sound echoing too loud in the empty bathroom, and started walking back.
The night air was crisp, carrying a faint scent of rain-soaked asphalt, as Brittney and Ben walked side by side. The quiet hum of the city seemed to cocoon them in a fragile calm.
"I still can't wrap my head around that audio clip," Brittney said, her breath forming little clouds in the cold. Her fingers tugged nervously at the strap of her bag. "It… it was such a tragic feeling. I don't know… she sounded like she was in so much pain."
Ben let out a low chuckle, though his eyes remained thoughtful. "Yeah… by this, we're sure something is really going on. Either way, it's giving everyone a headache."
Brittney smirked, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks despite the chill. "But, at least we finally got something, maybe we can find the truth through it."
Ben nodded, shaking his head with a faint smile. There was a short silence, punctuated only by their footsteps echoing against the wet pavement. Brittney glanced at him, a small nervous hope in her eyes. "You… uh… your brother asked you to accompany me, right?"
Ben's lips quirked. "Umm… yeah… he urged me to before you left. Well… besides that, I kinda… wanted to make sure you weren't walking alone."
Scene — After Brittney Left
Ben was just about to sling his bag over his shoulder when a familiar, exasperating voice cut through the silence.
"Hey, dungshit!" Derin called, leaning casually against the wall, one eyebrow arched in that infuriatingly smug way.
Ben froze mid-motion. "What…?" he muttered, irritation creeping into his tone.
"I need you to accompany Brittney. I'm working tonight," Derin said, his voice deceptively calm, but there was that edge—like he already knew Ben would argue.
Ben's jaw tightened. "Uhh… why should I—"
Before he could finish, Derin grabbed his wrist with that unrelenting grip. "Just do it. I'll give you one of my premium chewing gums," he added with a cheeky smirk.
Ben blinked, caught between rage and disbelief. "What—are you—"
"I'll take that as a yes," Derin interrupted, tossing a casual wink. "Bye!" And just like that, he sprinted off, leaving a trail of arrogance in his wake.
Ben's mouth twitched, his fists balling slightly. "This… this fucker…" he muttered under his breath, a mix of exasperation, grudging amusement, and the faintest pang of admiration buried deep somewhere.
He shook his head, exhaling sharply, feeling simultaneously defeated and oddly compelled to follow through.
At present:-
A soft warmth bloomed in Brittney's chest, though the words felt awkward on her tongue. They rounded a quiet corner, the glow of the streetlights bouncing off the slick pavement, reflecting in tiny puddles. Their conversation drifted—casual office banter, weekend plans—the kind of chatter that made the long hours at the precinct feel lighter, almost human.
Then… a shadow shifted unnaturally ahead. A flicker of movement, too precise to be random.
Before either could react, a figure lunged out from the darkness.
Brittney stumbled backward, a sharp, instinctive cry tearing from her throat. Fear coursed through her veins like ice.
Ben's hand shot out instinctively, his pulse thundering in his ears, but the stranger was impossibly fast, closing the distance in seconds.
"Brittney—!" His voice cracked, strained with panic, and his chest tightened as adrenaline surged.
The figure froze them in place, just a few meters away, the dim streetlight catching the glint of something sharp in their hand.
Brittney's eyes widened, heart hammering so hard it felt like it might burst. "Ben… what—"
Time seemed to stretch, the hum of the city fading into a tense, suffocating silence. The cold seeped into their bones, but it wasn't the chill that made Brittney shiver.
And then—
A flash of movement.
Ben's breath hitched. Fear and instinct coiled tight in his chest.
The world tilted.
Before either of them could react, the figure stepped closer, deliberate, silent, deadly, and the sharp edge of menace pressed against the air around them like a living thing.