Two days passed.
No leads.
All they had were a date, a mask, and confirmation of a burned body.
Everything now depended on identification.
Normally, the process would take at least a week—but Bethy pushed the lab relentlessly.
By then, the case dominated the media.
News channels looped the same update.
Radio repeated it hourly:
"Authorities confirm that identification of the victim's body is still under process…"
Its Day Four
Anthony paced the corridor. Emily stood beside him.
"He still hasn't reported," Anthony said irritably.
Emily hesitated.
"Chief… I think something's wrong."
Anthony waved it off.
"It's nothing new. He's just disobeying orders again."
Emily's jaw tightened.
"I don't think so."
Silence followed—sharp, unresolved.
They walked away in opposite directions.
Evening time arrived.
Here Anthony's phone rang.
Bethy.
Her voice was cracked—almost unrecognizable.
"Chief… everyone needs to assemble. Immediately."
A pause.
"Identity confirmed."
The call ended.
Anthony stared at the phone.
Something felt off.
Within an Hour,
Everyone gathered at conference hall.
Bethy entered last—files clutched to her chest.
Her eyes were red. Her face pale. Broken.
The room sensed it.
Before anyone could speak, she said—
"We identified the victim."
She paused.
The air froze.
"…Senior."
Another pause.
"It was Senior. Officer Rick."
The world collapsed.
Anthony dropped into his chair, stunned—numb.
Emily staggered back, gripping the wall to stay upright.
Michael stood frozen, eyes fixed on Bethy.
Grief. Shock. Silence.
Seconds passed before breath returned to the room.
Suddenly—
Emily snapped.
"I told you something was wrong!" she shouted at Anthony.
"You ignored it—because of your ego. You ignored everything."
She drew her gun.
Pointed it at Anthony's head.
"I think you're involved. That's why you delayed this case."
The room exploded in disbelief.
Anthony looked up slowly—broken, but controlled.
"We reached the blast site together," he said coldly.
"You know where I was. You know about the party."
He met her eyes.
"Emotions have no place in duty."
Emily's hand trembled.
She knew it was irrational.
She knew it was grief.
Slowly, she lowered the gun.
No one spoke.
Everyone was shattered.
Later That Night
The announcement went public.
Radio crackled:
"The burned body has been confirmed as Officer Rick."
The real investigation began.