Kyle, the usually cheerful and carefree young detective of the major crime unit of the Coldor Police Department, is somber today. As he ponders what he just witnessed, a sudden telepathic call interrupts his thoughts.
"What now?" Kyle answers in his mind, a bit irritated.
"How's it going?" Anna's thought comes through the telepathic link. "Did you look further into it?"
Kyle hastily sits back in his chair and replies testily, "Look into what? You mean Gabriel meeting that woman? I told you it's his own business. I'm in over my head with the ongoing murder case already."
"Come on!" Anna insists. "Your case's at a stall anyway. Doesn't your gut tell you there's something off about Gabriel? If he's clean, there's nothing to worry about, right?"
She adds an unnerving question when Kyle remains silent. "You heard that woman's words too. She called him a 'murderer'. What has he been doing all these years?"
___
The next few days are extremely busy for Detective Kyle. He runs around collecting and rechecking all the files and evidence of the current serial murder case, referred to as "The Black Hood" based on the witness's latest description.
After the previous murders, the police have searched all the footage and CCTVs in the area, trying to find the culprit. But the crime scenes didn't have functioning cameras and were thoroughly cleaned. There was no eye witness. The case seemed to reach a dead end.
But now there's a survivor and a witness. Though the surviving victim is still unconscious, the passerby caught a glimpse of a young man wielding a knife.
This time, through the blurry camera view due to the heavy rain, they spotted him. Tall, thin, wearing a black hooded raincoat, matching the description, his face was visible for a second in a nearby CCTV.
"There he is!" a detective in the team exclaims in excitement.
"Quick! Find his information!" another officer calls out.
"W... wait!" Kyle flusters. Unlike the other team members, he recognizes Gabriel right away. The sudden turn of events leaves him shocked and unable to accept.
"Let's... check if there were others, too," Kyle tries to remain composed. "It was rainy; many people might wear this type of raincoat."
While his team dives into the recent footage to look for other potential suspects, Kyle hurriedly checks the camera in his house. His uneasy feeling only deepens when he sees Gabriel running out of their house late that same night, putting on that same raincoat.
Flustered but not wanting to jump to conclusions, Kyle carefully reviews all the footage of the previous murders, and notices something he hasn't paid attention to before. Gabriel appeared fleetingly at a crowded street event near one of the crime scenes right before the estimated time of the murder. This event occurred about three months before Gabriel returned home, a time when he should have still been in prison. To verify Gabriel's location, Kyle contacts Coldor Prison, but their response is unhelpful.
"This person is not in our records, Detective," an officer tells him from the other end of the line. "Either he's never been here, or his information is in an area that our rank can't access. If you require more details, please fill out this document..."
"I'm his brother!" Kyle exclaims in surprise. "Do I have to go through all this procedure?"
"Sorry, sir. But we have to follow the rules," the officer replies.
Frustrated, Kyle rushes to the Residence Management Department to inquire about the family living in the house Gabriel visited.
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"What? Address Confidentiality Program?" Kyle asks the office lady in surprise.
"That household is under the ACP, sir," the lady politely informs him. "If you need their information, you must submit a formal request signed by your chief officer. Then the ACP will verify the validity of the request. If it's valid, the result will be returned within five working days..."
"Fine, fine. I get it!" Kyle interrupts impatiently. "I just want to know why they are registered in the program. Can you tell me, please?"
He looks at her with his charming light blue eyes, but the office lady stands firm.
"They wanted not to be found. Why do you think they did?"
"Well... they must be hiding from... someone?" Kyle guesses.
The lady shrugs.
Kyle falls silent for a moment, then asks, "Okay, there's this person who is not their relative and just a normal civilian, but he still found them and talked to them. How's that possible?"
"All I can say is that the ACP does not guarantee complete safety," the lady answers, returning to her work. "Since the participant hasn't reported being harmed or threatened, there's nothing for us to do. Now, Detective, if you could excuse me..."
Realizing her obvious wish to see him off, Kyle reluctantly leaves. This vague clue only leaves him with more doubt.
"If only I had more concrete evidence," Kyle thinks to himself. "I would be able to ask the chief to sign all the requests."
Kyle doesn't have to wait long. At the end of the day, they receive information that the surviving victim has regained consciousness.
"The hospital called!" James, Kyle's team leader, announces to the team. "I'm going to pay a visit."
"I'll go with you!" Kyle seizes the chance immediately.
Five minutes later, thanks to Kyle's teleportation, they are at the hospital room of Sarah Ryler, the young woman assaulted by the so-called "Black Hood". She lies on her bed, still looking weak and tired from her wound.
"Let me recap your testimony, Ms. Ryler," James speaks softly.
"On January 7th, around 11-12 pm, you were attacked by a man wearing a black hooded raincoat. He followed you into an alley. When you tried to run, he chased you and stabbed you from behind with a knife, injuring you and causing you to fall. You tried to scream for help as your consciousness faded. Did I get it right?"
"Yes, that's all I can remember," Sarah nods weakly. "I'm sorry I can't tell you more. It was dark and rainy, and I didn't dare look at his face. I was scared... he would kill me if I did."
She starts crying and trembling as the terrifying night replays in her mind.
"It's okay. You're safe now. Just rest," James consoles her gently.
Standing beside him, Kyle suddenly asks, "But do you have any impression of him? Anything?"
"He... has a thin build." Sarah frowns, thinking. "Taller than me... his hands were pale, with long and slender fingers... I... I saw his shoes!"
"Really? We have a sketch artist with us. Please describe what you saw to her," James tells Sarah, nodding at Kyle. They both sense an important clue's coming.
Back in his office, Kyle's heart sinks as he looks at the drawing of the culprit's shoes based on Sarah's description. They are just normal sneakers, but they have these old-fashioned elastic no-tie lock laces instead of ordinary strings. He remembers seeing a similar pair of shoes, matching every detail, which makes his head throb just thinking about it.
"Are you okay, Kyle?" James asks with concern, seeing his subordinate pulling his hair in distress.
After a harsh internal struggle, Kyle looks up at James with saddened eyes. "I think... we need to bring my brother in for questioning. This is too much of a coincidence."
"Your brother?" James looks confused. "Jason?"
Kyle shakes his head, his voice choking. "My younger brother, Gabriel."
___
In the evening, the arrival of a police group at the Lanes' house causes quite a stir among the people inside. Each family member reacts differently upon hearing the reason for the police visit. Daniel raises his voice in disbelief, demanding an official announcement, refusing to accept the disturbance otherwise. Mary, in tears, pleads with Kyle to recheck, insisting there must be a misunderstanding. Kyle, having recused himself from the case due to his familial connection to the suspect, tells her there's nothing he can do. Jason stands protectively in front of Gabriel, stating that his brother is sick and not in a suitable condition for interrogation. Anna silently observes, her disappointed expression clearly saying, "I knew it." May and Clara watch nervously from the side, not sure what's happening.
The house is in commotion for a while, but the police team has a warrant, so the Lanes have to comply. A muscular detective puts handcuffs on Gabriel, gazing at him coldly, clearly aware of how dangerous the suspect can be. Nearby, James explains to Daniel and Mary with respect and consideration.
"I know this is sudden. But please understand that this is just a detention for questioning, not an arrest."
Daniel and Mary nod reluctantly, trying to remain calm. But as Gabriel is led away, he hears his mother collapse, sobbing.
"Not again, Daniel, not again..."
Gabriel doesn't dare look back. His chest tightens as he follows the detectives to their car.