A Moment Suspended

Kate was strolling through the brightly lit corridors of the Global News Network office, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor, when she suddenly heard someone call her name from behind. The voice was familiar, prompting her to stop mid-step and turn around. Just a few feet away, she spotted Rodrick, his tall frame and confident stance unmistakable.

"Hello, Rodrick," Kate greeted, offering him a gentle smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Rodrick crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow, looking at her with mild disapproval. "Where have you been? I haven't seen you in so many days," he said, his voice edged with curiosity.

Kate sighed, shifting the folder she was carrying to her other hand as she took a step closer. "You were out of the country, and I was busy working on the case. That’s why we didn’t cross paths," she explained, her tone carrying a hint of exhaustion. The weight of the investigation she had been drowning in was evident in her voice.

Rodrick didn’t seem entirely convinced. "I came back four days ago," he pointed out, "and you still didn't have time to see me?" His words carried a trace of something—concern, maybe even disappointment.

Kate exhaled, rubbing the back of her neck. "You know everything, Rodrick. This case... it’s like a never-ending puzzle. Just when I think I’ve figured out one piece, another part gets jumbled up again," she said, shaking her head in frustration.

Rodrick studied her for a moment before nodding. "Hmm... come with me. We need to sit down and talk about what's tangling your mind," he suggested, his voice calm yet firm.

Kate hesitated briefly before shaking her head. "You go ahead to your office. I need to make a quick phone call first, and then I’ll join you," she replied, her tone even but laced with distraction.

Rodrick watched her for a second longer before relenting. "Alright," he said simply before turning and heading toward his office.

Kate waited until he disappeared down the hall before looking around. Once she was sure no one was paying attention to her, she quickly moved toward her office. As soon as she stepped inside, she reached for her phone, ready to call Ophelia. However, before she could even dial the number, a firm knock sounded on her door, followed by it creaking open.

She adjusted her posture in her chair and called out, "Yes, come in."

Today, she was dressed in a sleek brown two-piece suit, the sharp cut of the blazer complementing her poised demeanor. Her makeup was minimal, just enough to enhance her naturally striking features without drawing attention away from the intensity of her sharp eyes.

An office boy hurried inside, looking slightly flustered. "Ms. Kate, there's a courier for you," he announced, his breath a little uneven as if he had rushed to deliver the message.

Kate arched an eyebrow. "Give it to me," she said, extending her hand. Then, before the boy could turn to leave, she added, "When did it arrive?"

"A few minutes ago," he answered as he handed over the package. Without another word, he took a step back.

Kate eyed the small package carefully. It was wrapped in plain grey paper—no sender information, no markings, nothing to indicate who had sent it or where it had come from. Her fingers ran over the smooth paper as she turned it over, a small frown forming on her lips.

Noticing that the office boy was still standing there, she glanced up. "What else?" she asked, her tone neutral but expectant.

"Mr. Jason is waiting for you," he replied promptly.

Kate nodded, placing the package on her desk. "Let him in," she instructed.

The office boy scurried away, and within a minute, Jason stepped inside, his expression serious. He wasn’t one for small talk, and today was no different.

"Hello, Kate," he greeted, closing the door behind him.

"Hello, Jason," she replied in an equally plain tone, leaning back slightly in her chair as she observed him.

Jason wasted no time getting to the point. "I found something in the footage from the Montana Club," he stated, his voice edged with urgency.

Kate immediately sat up straighter, her brows knitting together. "What did you find?" she asked, all traces of fatigue vanishing in an instant.

Jason pulled out his phone and swiped at the screen before speaking again. "I reviewed the CCTV footage from the Montana Club, specifically from April 23, 2020. At first glance, everything looked normal—people dining, drinking, chatting. Nothing seemed out of place. But then, at exactly 10:23 PM, something caught my eye," he explained, his tone darkening.

Kate leaned forward, her fingers unconsciously tightening around the edge of her desk. "And what did you see?" she pressed.

Jason met her gaze, his expression grim. "At 10:23, Juan Loo left the dining area of the club and walked out into one of the gardens. He was alone, just standing there for about two minutes, looking around as if he was waiting for someone. And then—out of nowhere—someone approached him from behind and landed a hard punch right at the back of his neck. The attack was so swift, Juan went down immediately," Jason detailed, his voice steady but intense.

Kate narrowed her eyes. "And when he got back up?" she prompted.

Jason exhaled. "When he stood up and turned toward his attacker, the assailant’s face wasn’t visible. They were wearing a mask—full coverage, nothing identifiable," he said.

Kate let out a slow breath, absorbing the information. "If you couldn’t see the face, what was significant about it?" she asked, her mind already racing.

Jason tapped his fingers against his phone before answering. "True, I couldn’t see the face," he admitted. "But I did notice one key detail—the attacker was wearing a polo shirt. Not just any polo shirt, though. It had a distinct logo and a number on the back."

Kate’s eyes flickered with intrigue. "A logo and a number?" she echoed.

Jason nodded. "Yeah. And that might just be the clue we need to figure out who’s behind this."