Chapter 28

Chapter 28

"Hey, Captain Smith, you've been working hard!"

Elaine handed Travis a cup of coffee, a playful smile on her face.

Travis rolled his eyes. "Did you know about his plan?"

"Uh, no, I don't know anything," Elaine quickly made an excuse and left.

Jerry patted Travis on the shoulder. "Don't sweat it, man."

The two of them headed to the interrogation room.

Jerry sat down and slapped the table. 

"You really are cops. I didn't expect officers to start using entrapment tactics."

The man sitting in the chair looked at them with a smirk.

"How else would we catch you, right, Ralph?"

The man's expression changed. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Jerry picked up a file. "Ralph, real name Ralph Cook, local of Silverpeak City. Seven years ago, you were sentenced to three years for assault."

"After getting out, you moved to Hillcrest and got involved in shady business through some friends."

He threw the file in front of Ralph. "Need me to spell it out more?"

"You think we brought you here for no reason?"

Jerry sat down. "Talk now, while I'm still in a good mood."

Ralph let out a bitter laugh. "Got a smoke?"

Jerry handed him a cigarette, and Ralph took a deep drag.

"Who's your supplier?"

"I don't know."

Jerry slammed the table. "Ralph, don't push your luck."

"Officer, I really don't know. Every time we meet, he wears a black mask. On the streets, they call him 'Mole.'"

"Where do you meet for the deals?"

"They always pick the spot and tell me an hour before."

"How do they contact you?"

"They reach out monthly, always using different methods."

"I can't find them."

Jerry stared at Ralph, who let out another bitter laugh. "Officer, at this point, why would I lie?"

"When's the next deal?" Travis asked, curious.

Ralph checked the time. "In two days, same as every month."

Jerry signaled to the one-way mirror, and soon two officers entered the room.

"Lock him up."

Jerry took the notes back to the office and sat down.

"He looks pretty mild-mannered, but he's involved in the drug dealing," Travis said.

Jerry gave a wry smile. "It's common. You haven't seen how these dealers use kids with disabilities to move their product."

"That's why we never judge by appearances."

Travis nodded in agreement. "But why not catch him during a deal? That way, we could nab the buyers too."

Jerry chuckled. "You've watched too many movies."

"They're more cautious than most. Once we act, we make sure it's solid."

"Here, he'll spill everything. Catching him during a deal is too risky."

"Got it. Anything else? If not, I'm heading out."

Jerry shook his head. "I'll treat you to dinner another day."

As Travis left, Jerry added, "Just dinner, don't worry."

Travis didn't leave the narcotics unit but instead went to Elaine's lab.

Looking at the data on the computer, Travis asked softly, "Did you transfer from the crime unit to narcotics just for this data?"

Elaine straightened up. "What are you doing here?"

"What, not welcome?"

Elaine smiled. "You can see how busy I am."

"It won't take long." Travis stood beside her. "How's the analysis of the semen from Aurora's body going?"

"It's being processed. With the data comparison, we should have results by tomorrow noon."

"You're the best."

Elaine rolled her eyes. "Anything else?"

"Nope, I'm out."

Travis left the lab with a smile.

Elaine watched him leave, a thoughtful expression on her face.

She murmured, "Maybe Travis is the right fit."

Back at the crime unit.

Charles approached with a laptop. "Captain Smith, we've got something."

Travis stopped, and Charles opened the laptop, showing two students.

"This is from the semen analysis in Aurora's body."

"That fast?"

Charles pointed to his dark circles. "Had to be."

"Good work. Let's go to the office."

Once seated, Charles spoke softly. "We matched the DNA to these two."

"One of them is Henry."

"Kelvin checked it out. These two are Henry's guys."

"They're just street thugs. After Aurora's incident, they disappeared the next day."

"Ran off?"

Charles nodded. "Seems like it."

"Did you check their identities?"

"Yes, they're Roy Murphy and Eugene Bailey, Hillcrest thugs with no real jobs."

Travis looked puzzled. "How did Henry get mixed up with street thugs?"

Charles pondered. "Maybe drugs?"

"Bring Henry back from narcotics. I need to ask him some questions."

"Got it."

About half an hour later.

Charles and Kian brought Henry to the interrogation room.

Henry looked like a different person.

His eyes were bloodshot, and he had new injuries.

He sat in the chair, looking empty and defeated.

Seeing Henry's state, Travis took a deep breath. "Henry, you know Roy and Eugene, right?"

"Yes," Henry said weakly.

"After you three did drugs, Aurora died. Do you have anything to say?"

Henry quickly replied, "Officer, it wasn't me! It was Roy and Eugene! They killed Aurora, not me."

"Explain."

Henry avoided Travis's eyes, speaking softly. "I was the first, and it was only a few minutes."

"I couldn't have killed Aurora."

Travis glanced at Kian. "Got that?"

"Yes."

"Can you contact Roy and Eugene now?"

Henry shook his head. "No, they ran off the next day."

"Who cleaned up the scene?"

Henry sat there. "They did. We left after they finished."

Travis leaned back. "Henry, don't make me ask every single question."

"How did you meet them?"

Henry's eyes were bloodshot.

"At Ethan's café. They got me into drugs. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't be like this."

"They worked as waiters at Ethan's café. I was generous, so we got to know each other."