INGRID'S POV
Committing a crime is easy but solving one is one hell of a big headache. I've solved many tough cases before but this one is the toughest. There were no leads or traces that would link us to the evidence or the killer.
Miguel, too, was having a hard time. He did all he could to crack the case,e, but nothing proved useful.
One afternoon as we were driving through the streets of Malin. We decided to stop at a nearby restaurant to have some lunch. The Sun was fully out on that particular day and the atmosphere was full of heat, making it very uncomfortable for everyone except for those in air-conditioning offices.
Miguel lets out a heave. (Sigh!) "This case is driving me crazy."
"You're not the only one. It's so stressful and tiring. The case is a dead end, with no leads and no evidence. We're just wasting our time chasing the wind." Ingrid said as she came through the door Miguel held out.
"Yes, but still, the killer is out there,e, and whoever it is, he or she is very, very smart and organized. Maybe we should drop the case."
"So you want the captain to fire us? Sorry, I can't be jobless." Ingrid said before placing her order. "We'll take two jumbo packs please."
Their orders were soon delivered to them, and they both took a seat to begin eating. "So what do we do? Pin the blame on some petty criminal? Because if not, there's no way we can solve this case. If only we have someone who knows about the underworld of crime." Miguel suggested.
"Hmm, now that you've mentioned it. I believe I know someone else."
"Really? Is it anyone I know?" Miguel said, his voice muffled by the food he had stuffed in his mouth.
"No. Her boss was once a government mafia but he was killed some years ago. Come on, let's get going." Ingrid said, getting up hurriedly from her seat, leaving her meal half-eaten.
"No, you go. Here's the car keys. I'm not done with my meal."
Ingrid grabbed the keys from his hand. "You're seriously going to stay here? What about the case?"
"My top priority right now is to feed my stomach with food. Once you're done, you can come back for me."
As soon as Miguel gave me the keys to the car, I left the restaurant and entered the car driving off into the busy street. After 40 minutes of driving, I arrived at my destination and then parked the car in front of a three-story building.
The person I was looking for lives here in Durham and this building is where she resides. Her name is Faith; she's known for selling drugs. Her business allows her to meet
dangerous people and listen to information that is highly valuable and dangerous.
Faith and I met in awkward circumstances. The first day we met was also the first time I nabbed her during a drug exchange, and that wasn't the last time I've been apprehending her, but she always managed to get out.
So eventually, she called for a truce and her demands weren't that bad. She demanded that I stop apprehending her, and in return, she would help me out with information regarding any case I was working on, that is, if she had any knowledge about it. So since then, we've been doing things that way without any problems but it's not always that I get the information I need.
Just as I was about to get into the building, her security guard stood in my way so that I wouldn't pass but as soon as I showed him my ID, he stepped aside and allowed me to enter.
Faith was smoking some weed when I entered the room. She was high, but there was some part of her that wasn't. As soon as she saw me, her eyes widened with shock.
"What now? Why are you here?"
"Relax, I'm not here to arrest you. I'm here for some information. " Ingrid replied. "Are you aware of the deaths that occurred last week?"
"Which one?" Faith asked.
"The death of those four men in power," Ingrid said as she tried to bring out a picture from her pocket, which she showed Faith.
"Yes." Faith acknowledged with a nod.
"I want you to tell me if you know anything about it. We've been tasked to find the criminal. If you have any idea who it is, Tell me now."
Faith's weed fell from her lips as soon as she heard what I said. She quickly looked around the room and then looked back at me.
"Look Ingrid, this is over my head. I can't help you."
"Don't play with me. Your reaction says otherwise. Tell me now or I'll throw the book at you."
"See, you have a husband and kids, right? If you value your life and theirs. Drop this case. It's a death sentence." Faith said, responding to the threat from Ingrid.
"What are you talking about? Do you know who did it?"
Faith was very cautious about the things she was saying next. "Let's just say that the people behind this are very powerful and dangerous. They're untouchable. They don't exist."
"I don't understand. How come they do not exist?" Ingrid asked she was puzzled by the way the conversation was going already.
"I don't know either. All I know is that they can't be found. They can do whatever they want and get away with it. Fine and simple."
Ingrid tried one of her calling cards again. "Nonsense. No one is above the law."
"These people are above any law, in short, they've been protected by the government. If you keep working on this case, you'll die like a cockroach and no one will do anything about it." Faith advised the brave detective.
Never in my life have I seen anyone looking so terrified. Any sensible human being would have listened and backed down immediately after hearing this, but not me; I was ignorant and blind to the warnings directed towards me. "Just tell me who it is and I'll be on my way."
"I can't tell you. I don't want to die young but there's someone that I know that might tell you. She's a friend and an ex-member."
Ingrid's face lit up immediately. She was finally getting a lead that could speed up her process. "Where is she?"
"She lives in the North, in a neighborhood called Upper. But a word of advice, Go alone and don't try to intimidate her. She has a family now and deserves the life she's living. She's been through hell so please drop your ego and behave." Faith saw the expression on Ingrid's face before she continued. "Don't try to be cocky. She has a short temper and is liable to give you a direct ticket to the afterlife. Ask simple questions and never go out of context."
"Alright then. I'll behave. Let's hope that she's willing to cooperate." Ingrid said as she turned to take her leave.
"What you should be worried about is making it out alive. Good luck."