Chapter 193

Chapter 193

Third-Person POV

The special investigation team's office was filled with an atmosphere of efficient tension. Unlike the Major Crimes Unit, their work rhythm was faster and their actions more decisive. A group of technicians gathered around computers, rapidly advancing their investigation.

The screen displayed Sophia Grey's email correspondence, which the technicians were analyzing one by one.

"Sophia frequently communicated with someone using the handle 'Nightingale'," one technician reported. "The emails extensively discuss the psychological restructuring project and Nathan Evans's situation."

Dennis placed both hands on the desk and leaned toward the screen. His lips curled into a slight smile: "It seems Nathan wasn't lying. This Nightingale is the mastermind." He straightened up and turned to the technician. "Can you identify who uses this email?"

The technician pushed his glasses up and cautiously replied, "This email is registered on a foreign server without identity verification... but I can try logging in to view the contents, maybe find identity clues."

"I don't need to hear excuses, just give me results," Dennis interrupted sharply. "Can you find out who this person is?"

The technician quickly nodded, his fingers rapidly typing on the keyboard. A few minutes later, he successfully logged into the email account and began checking the correspondence.

"The email content confirms that this account belongs to Emily Grey," the technician said.

The office suddenly fell silent. All investigators were stunned.

Dennis's face displayed a smug smile as he announced to everyone in the office, "Wasn't evidence what we needed? This is conclusive proof. We can proceed with the arrest."

"We haven't verified the login devices. What if the account was compromised?" Aaron frowned.

The technician quickly added, "I checked the login records. This email has been accessed exclusively from Riverstone for the past year."

Dennis turned to Aaron. "Did you hear that? No account theft!"

Aaron tried to speak, but Dennis raised his hand to stop him.

"Enough! The evidence is irrefutable."

Dennis looked around sternly. "Keep this absolutely confidential. If anyone leaks information causing the suspect to escape," his eyes narrowed, "I'll make you regret it."

He quickly turned and ordered, "Now, go to Major Crimes and arrest her!"

"Emily Grey has been suspended. She's not at Major Crimes," an officer reminded him.

Dennis immediately changed plans. "Immediately track her phone signal to locate her position. We can't let her escape."

"Location successful, she's at home," the technician reported after operating the computer for a few minutes.

Several police cars began heading toward Emily's apartment.

---

Thomas's POV

Michael stormed into the office with that manila folder. Though his face remained expressionless as always, the urgency in his movements betrayed his anxiety. Without finding evidence quickly, Emily would face serious charges.

"We need to recheck everything about Caitlin Weber's case," he announced, dropping the folder onto my desk. "I pulled some strings to get these files."

Daniel and Michael focused on the documents while I continued analyzing the email records. The timestamp immediately caught my attention.

"Wait a second," I said, my pulse quickening. "Look at this email sent to Sophia. It was sent on February 16th at 8:13 PM."

Michael looked up sharply. "What about it?"

"That night, between 7 and 10 PM, you and Emily were interrogating Jonas. There's surveillance footage proving you were both in the interrogation room."

Daniel frowned. "Could it have been scheduled to send automatically?"

"No," I replied, checking the data. "No scheduling settings were used. And there's no evidence the account was hacked. The login was done using the correct password."

"From what device?" Michael asked.

I clicked through several screens. "Two devices accessed this account: Emily's laptop and... a MacBook that's not in our device registry."

Michael's face remained impassive, but his eyes flickered with hope.

Suddenly, the wail of police sirens erupted outside. I jumped up and pressed my face against the window. Three police cruisers were peeling out of the parking lot, lights flashing.

"Are they going after Emily?" I asked, panic rising in my throat.

Michael was already halfway to the door. "Keep digging. Call me if you find anything else."

He disappeared, leaving only the echo of his rapid footsteps in the hallway.

I watched Michael's retreating form with concern, then noticed Nolan observing from across the room, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips as Michael rushed out. Something about that expression made my skin crawl.

"Hey, Daisy," I deliberately called out, raising my voice. "We just found evidence connecting Nathan Evans' gang to another member. Michael's gone to collect evidence."

Daisy looked confused. "He did? I thought he was just—"

I cut her off with a significant look, noticing how Nolan's expression changed, his smug smile dropping instantly.

"Why is Michael going alone?" Nolan asked, his tone casual but his posture tense.

"Oh, he's not alone," I replied. "Emily's with him. They're following a lead together."

Nolan's face twitched slightly. "I see," he said, turning away.

Daniel waited until Nolan was out of earshot before whispering to me, "Nice performance. Your acting's improved."

I knew Nolan couldn't be trusted now.

---

Michael's POV

I screeched to a halt at the entrance to Emily's apartment complex just as several police cars were pulling away. My heart was hammering against my ribs. I jumped out and managed to flag down Dennis's car before it could leave.

"Where is she?" I demanded as Dennis stepped out, his face set in a grim expression.

"Stone, you need to back off," he warned. "Emily Grey is a suspect in an ongoing investigation. Interfering would be obstruction of justice."

I looked past him at the cars. Emily wasn't there. My stomach dropped.

"Where is she?" I repeated, struggling to keep my voice steady.

Aaron pulled me aside. "She ran, Michael. She left about fifteen minutes ago. We're tracking her phone."

"I'm coming with you," I said immediately.

"That's not a good idea," Dennis interjected. "You're too close to this. It could compromise the investigation."

Aaron gave me a sympathetic look. "He's right, Michael. You'll only make things worse for yourself—and for her."

"We'll follow the evidence," Aaron assured me. "If she's innocent, the evidence will show that."

"And if she's guilty, we'll find that out too," Dennis added pointedly before climbing back into his car.

I watched helplessly as they drove away, my thoughts racing.

I pulled out my phone and called Daniel. "I need you to track Emily's phone."

"Okay."

"Is Emily missing?" Thomas's voice came through in the background.

I didn't answer, thinking about all the places Emily might have gone.

"The signal's moving," Daniel confirmed after a moment. "Looks like... wait, it's following the Route 5 bus line almost exactly."

"Emily wouldn't take a bus. She doesn't like the smell," I said.

"Signal just stopped," Thomas called out. "Riverview Bus Terminal, eastern platform."

A bad feeling was rising within me. Emily wasn't running—she was taken.

"Check her call history for today," I instructed. "I need to know who she spoke to before she left."

I ended the call and headed toward her apartment building. I needed to figure out why she had left so suddenly.

The security guard at Emily's building reluctantly showed me the elevator surveillance footage from earlier that night. At 9:53 PM, just 21 minutes ago, Emily had hurried into the elevator alone. She repeatedly jabbed at the door close button, her expression anxious. The footage from the lobby showed her running out.

"Do you have cameras at the building entrance?" I asked.

"Been broken for days," the guard shrugged. "Management hasn't fixed it yet."

My phone rang—it was Daniel.

"She received a call at 9:47 PM," he said without preamble. "Lasted less than a minute."

"From who?"

There was a pause. "That's the weird part. The number is registered to Sophia."

"Sophia?" I repeated, feeling like I'd been punched in the gut. "Sophia's dead."

"Exactly," Daniel said. "How does a dead woman make a phone call?"