The Final Question

"Check Sasha's emails," Juan had written.

Kate stared at the notepad, trying to piece together what Juan’s cryptic message meant. Her mind raced, piecing together the scattered clues she had gathered from their brief conversation. "What could be in Sasha's emails?" she wondered aloud, furrowing her brow.

"Is there a clue about the killer in her email?" she pressed, trying to draw him out further. But Juan remained silent, his face a mask of stress and tension. His eyes darted around the room, avoiding her gaze. Kate could feel the weight of the silence pressing down on her. She leaned forward, her voice soft but insistent, "Juan, have you seen the killer?" She locked eyes with him, trying to read the hidden emotions behind his distant expression.

Juan’s lips tightened, and he remained motionless. There was no answer, but Kate could see the subtle signs of fear creeping into his features. She wasn’t sure if he was too terrified to speak or if he was simply protecting someone.

"Tell me, have you seen him?" she asked again, her voice firmer this time, hoping to break through his shell.

Oliver, standing at the door, shifted uncomfortably. He had been quiet during the entire conversation, but now, with the tension escalating, he couldn’t remain silent any longer. "Miss Kate, we should leave now," Oliver interjected, his voice low and urgent.

Kate sighed, knowing the clock was ticking. "Just two more minutes," she pleaded, her eyes not leaving Juan’s face, willing him to speak.

"Miss, try to understand our position..." Oliver said, glancing at the door, anxiety clear in his voice. "If someone saw you here, all of us would get in trouble."

Kate’s shoulders slumped as she realized the truth in his words. There was no time to waste. "Okay, just one last minute," she conceded, her eyes still fixed on Juan. She could feel the urgency building within her as she tried to extract every bit of information from him.

"Juan, look at me," Kate insisted, her voice barely a whisper. "Look here," she repeated, her tone almost pleading now. There was no more room for hesitation. "We need to wrap up this meeting."

She took a deep breath, her gaze unwavering. "At least tell me, when did you last meet with the killer? Do you know anything about his current profile?" she asked, her words cutting through the silence. She was desperate now, her frustration mounting as she realized just how little time they had.

"Please, help me," she added, her voice tinged with desperation. She was so close, but still, Juan remained silent, his face betraying nothing. For a moment, it seemed like he might never speak.

Juan stared at the table, his eyes unfocused, his hands trembling slightly. He took a deep breath, then reached for the notepad again, his movements deliberate but shaky. He scribbled something quickly before pushing the notepad and pen toward Kate.

Kate’s heart raced as she grabbed the notepad and read the words Juan had written: "CCTV footage of 23rd April 2020, Montana Club."

The words hung in the air, and for a moment, Kate just stared at them. Her mind raced as she processed the information. "Montana Club... April 23rd, 2020?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. The name struck her with a sudden recognition, but she couldn't quite place why it felt so important.

Before she could say anything else, Oliver stood up abruptly, his face a mixture of urgency and frustration. "Miss Kate, please, let's go," he urged, his voice strained.

Kate looked at Juan one last time, her expression softening slightly. "Thank you, Juan," she said quietly, acknowledging the small breakthrough he had given her.

After a brief pause, Kate squared her shoulders, her tone turning serious again. "Juan, I'm going to ask you one last question..." She leaned forward slightly, her gaze never leaving his. "Did you kill Sasha Paula?" She watched his reaction carefully, hoping for a hint, a change in his demeanor that would confirm her suspicions.

"Juan, tell me, are you the killer we're looking for?" Kate asked again, her voice firm but calm. The silence stretched between them, thick and heavy.

Juan’s eyes met Kate’s for the first time since the conversation had begun, and with a slow, deliberate motion, he shook his head. The denial was clear in his gesture, and Kate felt a momentary sense of relief wash over her.

His rejection of the accusation didn’t give her the answers she had hoped for, but it was one thing she could rule out. Juan was not the killer. That much was certain.

Her relief, however, was short-lived. The realization that the actual killer was still out there, hiding in the shadows, gnawed at her insides. The weight of that knowledge pressed down heavily on her, fueling the urgency in her next words.

"Miss, let's go," Oliver urged again, his tone growing more insistent as time continued to slip away.

Kate gave Juan one last look before stepping out of the room. Jason was already waiting for her, his face tight with concern. "I told you that you only had ten minutes... and you're coming out so late."

Ignoring his question, Kate walked straight past him. "I told you he is not the killer," she stated firmly, her voice unwavering.

Jason's expression tightened further. "Has he spoken?" he asked immediately, his tone sharp.

"No, sir," Oliver responded, shaking his head.

Jason’s eyes narrowed as he turned back to Kate. "How can you be so sure that Juan is not the killer?" he pressed, his voice filled with disbelief.

Kate stood her ground. "First, you get and check the CCTV footage of Montana Club from April 23, 2020, and I'll review Sasha's emails again. Then I'll explain why I'm certain that Juan is not the killer," she said confidently, her words firm.

Jason hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "I have to make the charge sheet against Juan Luu," he declared, the pressure of the situation clear in his voice.

Kate didn't flinch. "Oliver can handle the charge sheet. You check the CCTV footage," she suggested, her voice steady despite the rising tension. "Just imagine if Juan is not the killer and the real culprit targets their next victim. Think about how Bob would react."

Jason knew exactly what she meant. Bob’s reaction would be swift and severe, considering the mounting pressure he was under from his superiors. He knew the stakes were high.

"Okay," Jason agreed, his voice tight with frustration. "Oliver, you make the charge sheet, and I'll retrieve the CCTV footage. Let's get to work."

Kate nodded, her expression resolute. Without another word, she and Oliver parted ways with Jason, each moving toward their respective tasks. The clock was ticking, and Kate knew they were running out of time.

Inside the interrogation room, Juan remained seated, his eyes now glazed with a deep, unsettling fear. Suddenly, his expression shifted, and it was as if he had seen something truly horrifying. His face contorted in terror, and he lowered his head, his arms wrapping around himself as though trying to shield himself from something unseen. It was as if the very air in the room had grown colder, darker, as if something had emerged from the shadows to haunt him.