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Chapter 2 - Case Begins

The precinct was a hive of activity, officers and detectives bustling about, phones ringing, and the hum of conversation filling the air. Thomas took a deep breath before stepping inside, the familiar sights and sounds both comforting and overwhelming."Tom!" Laura's voice cut through the din, and he spotted her waving him over from her desk. She looked the same as ever, her sharp eyes taking in every detail, her dark hair pulled back into a no-nonsense ponytail."Laura," Thomas greeted, trying to muster a smile."It's good to see you," she said, her tone sincere but tinged with concern. "How are you holding up?""I'm here, aren't I?" he replied, his voice gruff. "What do you have for me?"Laura handed him a file, her expression turning serious. "It's a murder. High-profile. The victim is Daniel Ross, a well-known tech entrepreneur. Found dead in his penthouse last night. The place was locked up tight, no signs of forced entry."Thomas flipped through the file, scanning the details. Daniel Ross, 34 years old, founder of a successful tech company. Cause of death: a single gunshot wound to the head. No weapon found at the scene."Any suspects?" he asked, looking up at Laura."His business partner, James Calloway, is our primary suspect," Laura replied. "They had a falling out recently, something about a new project. But Calloway has an alibi."Thomas nodded, his mind already whirring with possibilities. "Let's go to the scene. I need to see it for myself."The penthouse was an opulent space, the kind of place Thomas could never dream of affording. The living room was immaculate, with modern furnishings and floor-to-ceiling windows offering a breathtaking view of the city. But the crime scene itself told a different story.The body had been removed, but the bloodstain on the white carpet marked where Daniel Ross had fallen. Thomas moved through the room, taking in the details. The security system had been disabled, likely by someone with intimate knowledge of it. The lack of forced entry suggested the killer had been someone Ross knew."Did Ross have any other enemies?" Thomas asked, turning to Laura."Not that we know of," she replied. "But we're still digging into his background. He was involved in some pretty high-stakes projects. Could be corporate espionage, maybe even something personal."Thomas nodded, lost in thought. As he stood there, he felt a strange sense of clarity. This was what he was meant to do. Solve puzzles, uncover the truth. And maybe, just maybe, find a way to heal in the process.He looked around the room once more, a steely determination settling in his chest. This was his chance to prove himself again. To prove that he was more than his grief, more than his addiction. He was Thomas Reed, and he was ready to catch a killer