Chapter 8

Travis's face darkened as he stared at the photos on his phone.

Kian, looking terrified, said, "Gun smuggling? Drug trafficking? This is way out of our league."

"Let's head to Jay's place. Jay wouldn't get mixed up with these guys for no reason."

"Kian, you head back to the station and wait for updates."

When they arrived at Jay's house, the sight before them made their hearts sink.

White flowers were hung all around the entrance, and an empty coffin was placed in the center of the yard.

Jay's wife and child rushed up to them as soon as they saw Travis and the others.

With red-rimmed eyes, Jay's wife grabbed Travis's hand, "Travis, when is Jay coming back?"

"Captain Smith, I don't want my dad to stay there. He never spent enough time with me, and now he's gone. Can I bring his body back to be with me?"

Kelvin turned away to wipe his tears.

Travis's voice trembled, "Mary, I'm so sorry."

"You said Jay didn't commit suicide, that he was murdered, and we agreed to keep the body for a few more days."

"But it's been so long now. We just want Jay to come home."

Jay's son, Jeremy Lewis, couldn't hold back anymore and started sobbing, "You said my dad was murdered. Go find the killer!"

"My dad worked at the police station his whole life, and even in death, he still has to work for you guys?"

Hearing Jeremy's words, the mother and son hugged each other and cried.

Travis took a deep breath, his eyes red, "Mary, I understand how you feel."

"But I can't let Jay die without knowing why. The killer is very cunning, and I need more clues to find them."

"You know Jay better than anyone."

Jay's wife, Mary Clark, looked at Travis, "What do you want to know?"

"What could we possibly know?"

Jay was diligent his whole life; he didn't have any enemies.

"Mary, did Jay ever say anything to you while he was alive?"

Travis suddenly asked, looking at Mary.

She froze, a moment of panic flashing across her face.

The crying stopped.

Travis noticed the anomaly and grabbed Mary's shoulders, "Mary, this is important. If you don't want Jay to die without clarity, you need to tell me everything you know."

Mary didn't speak. She glanced at Jeremy in her arms and said softly, "You go inside first."

Jeremy stared at his mom, and even if he was slow, he could guess that Mary was hiding something from him.

After Jeremy left, Mary led Travis to the coffin.

"Jay was acting a bit strange."

"In what way?"

Mary sighed, "He was using drugs."

Travis froze, feeling like he'd been struck by lightning.

Drugs!

Jay, a veteran detective, how could he be involved with drugs?

"Mary, what's going on?"

Mary sighed again and slowly closed her eyes, "Fifteen days ago, Jay went out on a mission."

"He got injured, and shotgun pellets lodged in his body."

At this point, Mary couldn't help but cry, her eyes red as she looked at Travis, "Did you know?"

"He was in so much pain, he banged his head against the wall, leaving it bloody."

"So how did Jay get involved with drugs?" Travis asked.

Mary looked up at Travis, "It's my fault."

"Tony told me he had a new drug that could relieve pain, and he happened to have some, so I took it for Jay to try."

After saying this, Mary collapsed weakly to the ground.

"I thought it wouldn't be addictive, but after one time, Jay couldn't do without it."

"At first, he could control himself, but later, he often stayed out all night. When I asked him where he went, he wouldn't tell me."

"I haven't seen Tony since."

"I didn't dare tell Jeremy, and I didn't dare tell you guys at the station."

"After all, he was using drugs. As a cop, that's a lifelong shame."

Travis didn't speak, gently patting Mary's shoulder, "I won't tell anyone else."

Mary held back her sobs, "Thank you, Travis."

Leaving Jay's house, Travis sat in the car, silent.

Kelvin noticed something was off and curiously asked, "Captain Smith? Did you find something?"

"Drive. Tell Chief Johnson to close Jay's case."

Kelvin slammed on the brakes.

Elaine's head accidentally hit the front of the passenger seat. She rubbed her forehead and glared at Kelvin, "Kelvin, what the hell?"

Kelvin smiled apologetically and turned to Travis, "Captain Smith, are we really closing the case? Jay died without clarity, this..."

"Close the case. Continue investigating Tony and Ryan." Travis closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead.

Kelvin didn't speak, but kept giving Elaine signals.

Unfortunately, Elaine, who had just joined the team, didn't understand what Kelvin meant.

Back at the station, Travis went straight to his office, looking lost.

Kian curiously approached, nudging Kelvin with his shoulder, "What did you and the Captain Smith do? Why is he so upset?"

"I want to know too. Captain Smith wants to close the case."

"Close the case?"

Kian couldn't help but shout, immediately covering his mouth and lowering his voice, looking at Elaine, "Jay's case?"

Elaine and Kelvin both nodded.

"Is Captain Smith crazy? There are so many suspicious points at the scene, and he wants to close the case!"

Kelvin shrugged, "I don't know. If you have questions, ask Captain Smith."

"But Tony and Ryan's case still needs to be followed up. I'll go get approval from the chief. You stay busy."

Kian stood there, stunned.

Elaine cautiously approached Travis's office.

Seeing Travis lying on the couch, she whispered, "Everyone's talking about Jay's case."

"What did Jay's wife tell you?" Elaine asked curiously.

"I said close the case!"

Travis sat up from the couch, speaking with a hint of anger.

"If you have nothing to do, go learn about the case instead of asking me these questions."

Elaine retorted, "The case has suspicious points. As a consultant, I have the right to know the details."

"Even if we close the case, I need relevant evidence."

"Jay's movements before his death, surveillance, interviews all have suspicious points. I can't just close the case."

Travis sighed, "Jay did commit suicide, there's no doubt about that."

"Focus on investigating Tony and Ryan's activities before their deaths. Also, notify the narcotics department; we need their help."

"Narcotics department?" Elaine looked at Travis, full of confusion.

"Leave."

Travis issued a dismissal order, and Elaine left the office, bewildered.

How did this get connected to the narcotics department? She sat at her computer, puzzled.