Without wasting time, James, Merry, and Ben quickly headed out for the new case. When they arrived at the scene, they were greeted by an officer, who approached them and began explaining the situation.
"We've got a murder here, at first it looked like a suicide but since we were unable to locate the drug which was used to poison, it gave it a second thought" the officer said in a grim tone. "Happened last night, The victim, Darreb Merv, 38 years old, was found inside the house. Poisoned, No signs of a struggle, and nothing appears to have been stolen. He was a local car dealer, well-known in the area."
Ben, folding his arms, asked, "Who found him?"
"The housekeeper," the officer replied. "She came in this morning and found him lying in the living room."
Merry stepped forward. "Any family? Anyone who might've had a motive?"
"He lived alone," the officer answered, "but we're questioning some people close to him…colleagues, a few clients. Nothing suspicious yet, but we're digging deeper."
Ben glanced at Merry, then asked, "And the neighbors? Did anyone hear or see anything?"
"Not much," the officer replied. "A few said they heard some faint noise, but no one saw anyone coming or going around the time of the murder."
While Ben and Merry were doing the investigation in the living area, James started to look around with those eagle eyes, going upstairs in his room, James's gaze then shifted to the window. It was slightly ajar, letting in a faint breeze. He crouched down, running his fingers along the frame, noticing a few faint smudges, fingerprints. Someone had either come through the window or left in a hurry. On the floor near the desk, he spotted an overturned drawer, its contents spilled out, documents, pens, and a few personal items. something caught his attention. a small hidden compartment tucked under the mess. He quickly opened it, only to find an empty envelope marked Confidential with the company name "CARUNIVERSE" written at bottom.
With all the dots connecting James concluded 'someone stole the thing which was inside the envelope, he/she first poisoned Darren and took the envelope. bypassing the cameras he got in and out from the window. whoever it was, must be skilled to pull something like this without making any fuss. one thing is clear they had two targets and completed both. probably someone from the company which means we need to visit it for more leads'
With everything now pieced together in his mind, James walked downstairs, hands casually tucked into his pockets. He didn't say a word or glance at Ben or Merry, simply heading straight for the door. As he passed, his cool demeanor caught Merry's eye. For a brief moment, she found herself watching him closely, the way his black shirt fit perfectly, his confident stride, and how the sunlight from the window hit his face just right, highlighting his sharp features. She couldn't deny that he looked undeniably handsome, more than she wanted to admit.
Her gaze lingered, following his every move. 'Ugh', she thought, 'What am I thinking? He's still a jerk.' Shaking her head, she mentally scolded herself, trying to push away the brief distraction.
Merry snapped out of her thoughts and quickly followed after James. "Hey, where are you going?" she called, catching up to him as he walked out the door.
Without breaking his stride or looking back, James replied, "I'm heading to the dealership where Darren worked. Need to dig a bit deeper into that company."
Merry, not to be left behind, started walking alongside him. "I'm coming with you," she said firmly.
James suddenly stopped mid-walk, turning to face her with a piercing stare. Merry, caught off guard, halted as well. The air around them seemed to thicken with tension as James slowly stepped closer, his eyes locked on hers. Merry's face began to flush a light shade of red, her heart skipping a beat as he moved in, his presence almost overwhelming.
Leaning in, his lips close to her ear, James whispered softly, "No, you're not." His voice was low, teasing, but it sent a shiver down her spine.
Merry's face flushed deeper as James's words sent a shiver through her, but she quickly gathered herself, stepping back slightly. Her glare intensified, and she snapped, "I hate you."
James smirked, amused by her reaction. "Really? Because your face says otherwise," he teased, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
Merry crossed her arms, trying to compose herself. "No, seriously. I hate everything about you. Your stupid smirk, your attitude, everything." Her voice wavered slightly, betraying her frustration.
James raised an eyebrow, still standing close. "Then why not kill me?" he asked, his tone dripping with mock innocence.
Merry's eyes narrowed as James's teasing words sank in. "Kill you? Don't tempt me," she retorted, her voice laced with irritation.
James smirked, clearly enjoying the game. "Well, if you hate me so much, you've had plenty of chances," he said, stepping even closer. "So why haven't you?"
Merry's face flushed again, but she held her ground. "Because…because I'd rather watch you suffer and die a slow, painful death" she shot back, her voice firm but tinged with the slightest hint of uncertainty.
"Fine!" James said, heading toward the car. "Just don't get yourself into trouble again, I won't be saving you this time."
Merry rolled her eyes but smirked. "Deal, but if I stay out of trouble, you start treating me like an equal."
James glanced at her as he opened the car door, raising an eyebrow. "We'll see about that."
They both sat into the car, the tension between them easing slightly as they set off for the car dealership. After a short drive, they arrived at CARUNIVERSE Dealership, a sleek, modern building with luxury cars lined up in front.
James and Merry stepped inside the dealership, where the polished showroom buzzed with quiet activity. Merry approached the receptionist, flashing her badge. "We're here to ask a few questions regarding Darren Merv. We need to speak with the manager."
A few minutes later, they were led into a spacious office where the manager, a well-dressed man with a stern expression, gestured for them to sit.
Once seated, James leaned forward, addressing the manager directly. "We're conducting an investigation into Darren's death. I need you to gather all employees and anyone else in the building. I have a few questions, and it's easier if everyone's in one place."
The manager, looking slightly puzzled but, nodded. "Of course. I'll have everyone gather in the conference room." He stood up and left the office, leaving James and Merry alone for a moment as they prepared for the next step in their investigation.
As the door closed behind him, Merry turned to James, her brow furrowed in curiosity. "What exactly are you trying to do?"
James smirked and reached into his pocket, pulling out the envelope he had found at Darren's house. "This," he said, handing it to Merry. "When we get into the conference room, I need you to drop this on the floor, make it look like an accident. When everyone's watching."
Merry raised an eyebrow. "And why am I doing this?"
James leaned back in his chair, his expression confident. "Whoever stole the contents of that envelope will react. They'll recognize it, and I'll be watching for the slightest sign of guilt. You just need to make it look natural and more eye catching"
A few minutes later, the manager returned, leading James and Merry to the conference room where the staff and employees had gathered. The room buzzed with quiet murmurs, and all eyes turned to the two detectives as they took their places at the front.
James scanned the room, assessing the crowd before speaking. "We're here investigating the murder of Darren Merv. I'm sure many of you have heard the news by now." He paused, watching their reactions closely. "I need to ask a few questions about Darren. How was he as a colleague? Did anyone notice anything unusual with him recently?"
The employees exchanged glances, some murmuring in response about Darren being a decent guy, hardworking, and well-liked. James kept the questions going, looking for anyone who seemed particularly nervous or uncomfortable. As he continued speaking, Merry casually stepped out of the room, pretending to take a phone call.
Moments later, she returned, slipping back into the room quietly. As she moved toward her spot, she dropped the envelope in front of everyone. It fluttered to the floor, making it unnoticed by her, immediately catching the attention of several employees nearby.
James watched carefully, waiting for the telltale sign of recognition or panic from the crowd.
"Uh, miss, you dropped this," one of the employees said, pointing to the envelope.