"Hello, my name is James, I am a private Detective. I was told to come here and here is my card",
James adjusted his coat as he stepped into the sleek Central Airport lobby. The receptionist, a woman with sharp eyes and a professional demeanor, glanced at him as he approached the counter.
The receptionist took the card, scrutinized it for a moment, then ran it through her system. After a soft beep indicating verification, she handed it back with a nod. "Welcome to the Central Airport, Detective James."
Further inside, Agents Molly and Shaun were waiting impatiently. Molly's arms were crossed, her foot tapping against the tiled floor. As James approached, she didn't bother hiding her irritation.
"Detective, we've been waiting for you for over thirty minutes! What if the plane had taken off? You were supposed to be here early!"
James sighed, his voice calm but apologetic. "With all due respect, Ms. Shannon, I left my apartment on time, but the traffic delayed me. I tried calling, but the signals were poor."
Shaun raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "Traffic? At 7:28 A.M.? That doesn't sound plausible for your part of the city."
James opened his mouth to argue, but Shaun waved it off. "It's fine, Detective. The plane will arrive at 7:50. Let's find a quieter place to wait."
As they find a place and sat James questions 'Ms. Shannon, I have a question about the money you guys gave me the second time, where did you guys get that much amount?
Molly, who is in a frustrated mood due to her early wake and the travel still answers, 'It was a drug bust, out agency caught 100 kilos of white powder packets and the money.' 'You see detective, we to are good at our jobs so, if you don't mind can I have peace for myself?'
Her tone ended the conversation abruptly and the answer was swift like it was pre-matured; James notices and stays away for the time being.
11:45 A.M., Cloudy with chance of rain.
The trio took a taxi after getting out from the plane. Detective James sits beside the driver while agents Molly and Shaun sat behind. Few moments have passed unless the song coming from the radio; there is no source of volume between the people inside, Shaun breaks the silence by pointing 'Detective, you are quiet for a long time. Is everything ok? Is this your first time travelling through a plane?'
Detective keeps his silence while watching outside, the streets filled with people, rich and poor walking, talking, begging, going on about 'their' lives and business and mostly not stopping, each person engrossed in their own world, oblivious to the others.
The driver attempted a detour, but Molly, sharp as ever, caught on. "Take the next left and then two streets later, another left. It'll save us time," she instructed firmly. The driver complied, and soon they arrived at their destination: a government-funded facility.
As they entered, James, impressed by Molly's geographical instincts, couldn't resist asking, "Ms. Shannon, how did you know the shortcut? G-maps?"
She answers 'No Mr. James I live here, my house is couple of blocks away from where we started.'
James raised an eyebrow but chose not to comment further and follows the agents and was eager to find the first 'clue' of the case.
12:05 P.M., Overcast, Inside the Government Facility.
"So, this is the place where the alleged burglary took place?". The Detective enters the place and starts tasking questions from the first person he sees,
'You there. Stop, I know that look of yours, tell me what has transpired here?' 'No sir, please, I didn't do it, I was at the bar last night, I don't know anything, Sir. Please.' the man shivering but James was confident about this one.
'Ms. Shannon, we found one of the fugitives, he says he's not there but I never asked about the day or night, tskk, you see my friend, the art of catching..'
An officer interrupts James' monologue, 'Detective, he is a janitor, we checked him thoroughly. You can let him go, I am officer Dave Vespucci I am in charge of the case you took. Welcome agents, you guys have arrived earlier than expected.'
Molly sighed, pulling James aside. "Thank you, Officer. What suspects or witnesses do we have?"
Officer Dave's tone turned grim; 'I am sorry ma'am, but we do not have any suspects to go after as the cameras did not any view of the culprits and the witness did not arrive yet. They are scientists and quoted 'to not be disturbed while the orchestra of Science and Nature is happening in the palm of man's hand'. We tried but there were strict orders of not to disturb them until they are ready.'
'Then what about the leads, evidence that we can look into, officer?' Agent Shaun questions as their options are getting thinner by the minute, the officer responds, "'About that' I might know a place we can start. You guys can follow me, we will take my car and dete..."
While the others are trying, James was on a duty keeping eyes on everyone and their working duties but he was snapped and was taken into the car.
12:45P.M., Temp's Packers and Movers, Overcast.
At the factory, James dives into his work, observing the bustling workers and machinery. While the others tried to keep up, James questioned everyone he encountered, blending seamlessly into the environment.
The location is a factory where lots of vehicles and workers are present, doing their jobs in the vast open area.
1:25P.M.,
Detective James comes out of the factory escorted by the workers while all of them are laughing and talking to each other. The agents and the officer were waiting for him outside and as he reaches them, Molly lashes out on him, 'Why and why can't you work with people you are supposed to?! There's a theft and a murder that happened in this city and you are just strolling around laughing rather than getting the culprit! Is everything a joke to you, Mister?!'
James calmly listens to her rant while Shaun and Dave stood still. 'I am sorry for not informing, these workers are very good people, polite and they even offered me to take part in their lunch but I said 'Thank you, but no. I have my friends outside who are hungry'.
Coming to the point, these guys are sort of travel agents, they take stuff from one place to another without providing information to anyone. 'Discretion'. Officer Dave, your hunch is that these people have a hand in the theft; No and yes at the same time but I need to look into one of their vehicles but it requires your police permit, So, may I have it?'
Officer Dave was about to give his I.D., but the detective questions, 'Wait! You said there has been a murder? ,where?' Officer Dave responds, 'Yeah, one the units have found a body near the central park but I don't see it being an issue to this case, detective.'
James takes a pause and asks the officer to take him to the crime scene, 'I can be helpful, for all of us until the witnesses arrive.' His eyes sparked like he wants to be there. The determination in his voice made others change their opinion.
1:45:P.M., Central Park, Raining,
A large crowd was gathered around and the police are trying establish a perimeter and stopping the media and the people to not disturb the crime scene while the medical team are working.
Rain fell steadily as the group arrived at the park. Police struggled to hold back a growing crowd. Officer Dave led them closer, stopping as a medic approached, visibly shaken.
Officer Dave enquires him about the victim to whom he responds, 'I am sorry, officer. I can't tell anything now. The body is mangled inside and outside. We might know more once the body is shifted to the coroner's; the only thing we found was an I.D but I don't think that it may not even belongs to the body, the I.D. stated the victim name might be one 'Jessica Cheng', a Civic student.
Officer Dave is shocked by the information while the others were shocked regarding the situation, Detective James questions, 'Officer, do you know who she is? Officer, are you there?'
'Yes. I know her, She was the daughter of one of our witnesses. Prof. David Cheng, the man who filed the case at the first place.'
2:00P.M.
"You know what I like about people; they try to look organized and strong but deep down they are weak; Like sheep, they follow what is in front not knowing where it leads. Make sure he knows what he is doing. We do not want any mistakes, yes?"
"Yes. Thank you."
The call dis-connects again.