Emily couldn't shake off the feeling that she was being watched as she walked back to her car. She looked around, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Just people going about their daily business.
She got into her car and started the engine, but didn't move. Instead, she sat there, thinking. What was the mysterious woman's game? Was she trying to help Emily or hinder her?
Suddenly, Emily's phone rang. It was Ryan.
"Hey, what's up?" Emily asked, trying to sound casual.
"Not much," Ryan replied. "I just got a call from the lab. They've finished processing the evidence from the crime scene."
Emily's heart skipped a beat. "What did they find?"
"There was a piece of fabric caught in the window lock," Ryan said. "It looks like it might have come from a black hoodie."
Emily's mind was racing. A black hoodie? That was the same type of clothing the mysterious woman had been wearing.
"Do they have any idea who it belongs to?" Emily asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
"Not yet," Ryan replied. "But they're working on it. I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything."
Emily thanked Ryan and hung up the phone. She sat there for a moment, thinking. What did it all mean? Was the mysterious woman involved in the murder?
As she sat there, Emily noticed something strange. A piece of paper on the passenger seat. She hadn't put it there, and she was sure it hadn't been there before.
She picked it up and examined it. It was a note, written in the same handwriting as the message at the clock tower.
"Look closer at the victim," it read. "The truth is hidden in plain sight."
Emily's heart was racing. What did the note mean? And who was writing these messages?
Emily decided to investigate the victim's background, to see if she could uncover any clues that might lead her to the killer. She started by reviewing the victim's file, looking for any information that might have been missed.
As she scanned the file, Emily noticed something interesting. The victim, a woman named Sarah, had been involved in a contentious dispute with a former colleague several months before her death. The two had been at odds over a project, and the tension between them had been palpable.
Emily's ears perked up. Could this be a motive for the murder? She decided to pay a visit to the former colleague, to see if she had any information that might be relevant to the case.
When Emily arrived at the former colleague's office, she was greeted by a receptionist who showed her to the colleague's desk. The colleague, a woman named Rachel, looked up as Emily approached.
"Can I help you?" she asked, her expression neutral.
Emily introduced herself and explained that she was investigating Sarah's murder. Rachel's expression changed, and she looked nervous.
"I didn't have anything to do with it," she said quickly. "I know we had our differences, but I would never hurt her."
Emily smiled reassuringly. "I'm not accusing you of anything, Rachel," she said. "I just need to ask you some questions. Can you tell me more about your relationship with Sarah?"
Rachel nodded, and Emily asked her a series of questions about her interactions with Sarah. As they talked, Emily got the sense that Rachel was hiding something.
Suddenly, Rachel's phone rang. She answered it, listened for a moment, and then hung up.
"I'm sorry, Detective," she said. "I have to go. I have a meeting I need to attend."
Emily nodded, but she wasn't convinced. She had a feeling that Rachel was involved in the murder, and she was determined to find out more.
As she left the office, Emily couldn't shake the feeling that she was getting close to the truth. But she also had a feeling that she was in danger. She looked around, but saw nothing out of the ordinary.
Then, she noticed a piece of paper on her car windshield. It was another note, written in the same handwriting as the others.
"You're getting close," it read. "But be careful. You're not the only one looking for the truth."
Emily's heart was racing. What did the note mean? And who was writing these messages?