A few hours earlier.
Paul Albates sat alone in his dim apartment, the only light coming from a flickering lamp on the kitchen counter. The city's distant hum seeped through the thin walls, but inside, everything was still. Paul's hands rested on the table, fingers drumming a slow, thoughtful rhythm. He glanced at the clock. Time always seemed to move differently when he was waiting.
A sudden knock at the door broke the silence. Paul looked up, masking any surprise. He stood, straightened his shirt, and opened the door to find two uniformed officers standing in the hallway. Officer Lin Reyes was at the front, her expression calm but firm.
"Paul Albates?" she asked.
He nodded, keeping his face neutral.
"Please come with us to the precinct for questioning," Officer Lin continued. "We found footprints and tire tracks at the crime scene. Based on our investigation, all evidence points back to you."
Paul's eyes widened, just enough to look startled. "I… I understand," he said quietly, and allowed himself to be escorted out. As they led him down the hallway, a small, secretive smile flickered across his lips when no one was looking.
The ride to the precinct was silent. Paul sat in the back seat, Officer Lin beside him. The city lights flashed by, reflected in the rain-streaked windows. Paul broke the silence, his voice low. "I'll only talk if Detective Adrian is present for the interrogation."
Officer Lin didn't argue. She simply nodded, her gaze fixed ahead.
At the precinct, the officers led Paul through the bright, sterile corridors. The hum of fluorescent lights and the distant murmur of voices filled the air. Paul and Officer Lin entered the interrogation room, the door closing with a heavy thud behind them.
Officer Lin pulled out her phone and dialed Adrian.
"Cross," Adrian answered, his voice rough with exhaustion.
"Detective," Lin said, her tone brisk and professional. "We found something. The footprints near Andrew Smiles' body—we tracked them. Located the man. He's at the precinct now, waiting for interrogation."
Adrian gripped the steering wheel tighter, tension radiating through his voice. "Is he talking?"
"Not really. He's reluctant to testify. Says he was just passing by, doesn't want to get involved."
"Keep him on hold," Adrian said. "I've got business to take care of. I'll check in when I'm done."
"Understood," Lin replied. "But if he's not the killer—"
"I'll handle it," Adrian said, ending the call.
Paul, sitting across the table, heard every word. Just as planned, he was not a suspect—at least, not yet.
Officer Lin turned to Paul. "Detective Adrian will join us later. He has some business to attend to."
Paul smiled, the expression never quite reaching his eyes. "Perfect. Once Detective Adrian is here, wait for me outside the station. I have a plan to help apprehend the killer. We'll support Detective Adrian from the background, so don't tell him we have a plan."
A long, heavy silence settled over the room. The clock on the wall ticked steadily, each second stretching out. Officer Lin watched Paul, waiting for him to speak, but he remained silent, his gaze distant.
After nearly an hour of silence, Officer Lin finally stood and left the room. In the hallway, she ran into Adrian. He looked tired, always on the move, always chasing the next lead. They spoke briefly—no need for words here, just the understanding of two people caught in the same storm.
"It's possible Paul knows more than he's letting on," she said. "He's been reluctant to talk, but maybe you can get through to him."
Adrian nodded and moved to open the interrogation room door.
Officer Lin left the station, heading out to the parking lot. She sat in her car, parked far from the entrance, watching the station's doors through the rain-streaked windshield. After a while, she saw Adrian running out, heading straight for his car. He flicked on the siren and sped off into the night.
Officer Lin watched him go, thinking he must have found a lead. Maybe this was it—the break they needed.
Soon after, Paul Albates emerged from the station. Officer Lin stepped out of her car and waved to him. Paul spotted her and walked over, slipping into the passenger seat beside her.
As Paul settled in, he glanced at Officer Lin, his expression unreadable. Then, with a movement so smooth it seemed almost impossible, a taser appeared in his hand—seemingly conjured from thin air, as if he had his own hidden inventory, just like Adrian's system. One moment his hands were empty, the next the device was pressed against her side.
Before Officer Lin could react, electricity surged through her, and she slumped against the seat, unconscious.
Paul worked quickly, slipping a small capsule of paralyzing drugs into her mouth and making sure she swallowed. He checked her pulse, satisfied she was out cold, then slid behind the wheel.
He started the engine, glancing at the rearview mirror. The rain continued to fall, masking their departure as he pulled out of the lot.
"Yes, system, I know," Paul muttered under his breath, a twisted smile on his lips. "She's almost out of time. Don't bug me, please."
The car disappeared into sight, leaving only the echo of the ticking clock behind.