The Finder

Case 1;Covering Friendship-Chapter 2:

Commissioner Douglas's patrol car moved resolutely through the drenched and dark streets of the City, while Frank lost himself in thought. Daniel Harrington's confession had not gone unnoticed by him. He hadn't seen the eyes of a killer in the young man; he felt that he had lied or, at the very least, that something had made him nervous. Guilt, perhaps? The rain fell mercilessly, adding a layer of mystery to the night. Although Emily Sinclair and Daniel had kept their relationship a secret, there was always more to it than the façade we present to the world.

The place they arrived at, the police station, seemed straight out of a film noir, a gloomy and grim building with corridors illuminated by flickering lamps. Shadows twisted in the corners, and the echo of footsteps resonated in the dark hallways. Frank and Commissioner Douglas headed to the computer room, where they began searching for Mike Collins in the database.

Frank, with his skill, started typing deftly on the computer without touching the mouse or asking the Commissioner anything. Douglas, surprised, couldn't help but ask, — How did you do that? —

Frank, without stopping or turning to look at him, calmly replied, — Do what?

Slightly irritated, the Commissioner insisted, "How did you get into my computer when I didn't give you the password?"

Frank paused for a moment and turned to look at him, shrugging with a mischievous smile, —I just tried the 5 most likely ones: address, wife's name, birthday, wife's birthday, and school.

The Commissioner just sighed as he scratched his head.

As they continued their search, Frank couldn't help but make some deductions. Emily had kept her relationship a secret, suggesting she was afraid someone would find out. The killer seemed to be aware of this relationship and knew Emily's apartment, indicating that someone close to her might be involved. Or maybe that's what they want us to believe.

— Commissioner, it appears that Mike Collins has no criminal records or legal issues— Frank reported, his expression thoughtful. —But we can't rule him out as a suspect. We need to talk to him and find out what he knows.

Douglas nodded and got up from his chair.

— Let's go, Hughes, we have work to do. This case is getting more complicated than we expected.

1

The rain continued to fall heavily as Frank and Commissioner Douglas arrived at Mike Collins's apartment. With the search warrant on the way, they couldn't afford further delays. Frank knocked on the door, but silence enveloped them. They waited for several minutes but received no response. Tension grew in the air, and the rain beat against the windows relentlessly.

— Commissioner, we can't afford to waste any more time — Frank cautioned.

Commissioner Douglas nodded, concerned, and dialed his phone to expedite the arrival of the search warrant. While they waited, Frank remained alert, his senses sharpened and his mind working at full speed.

With five minutes to go before the search warrant's arrival, Frank took the initiative. He used a paperclip from his pocket to pick the lock, successfully opening the door within seconds. —I'm not even going to ask. —

Both entered cautiously, their guns drawn. Mike Collins's apartment was silent, dark, and messy. There was no sign of life. They ventured further into the room, examining every corner. Frank noticed scattered books on the coffee table, some papers in disarray, and a sense that someone had left in a hurry.

Finally, they reached the bathroom. Upon opening the door, a gruesome scene greeted them. Mike Collins lay on the floor, his head resting on the edge of the bathtub, surrounded by a pool of blood. A gunshot to the back of his head had silenced him forever.

— Oh my God — Commissioner Douglas murmured, shocked by the sight.

Frank, impassive, approached the body, his mind working at full speed. The situation had become even more enigmatic. What could have led Mike to end this way? Was he Emily's killer? Or perhaps he knew information that someone else wanted to silence?

— This has become much more complicated than we imagined, Commissioner," Frank said, his voice cold.

The rain outside continued to fall, as if nature itself wept for the shadows hidden in the City. As the sirens of the police approached, Frank knew they had to continue unraveling the mystery behind these tragic events, no matter how dark or dangerous the secrets they were about to uncover. The night had become even more mysterious, as if the City was weaving its web of mystery around them. Each step in that apartment seemed to reveal more questions than answers, and the enigma of Mike Collins was at the center of it all. The rain still beating against the windows was like tears from the City itself, a silent witness to the unfolding tragedy.

While Frank examined the crime scene, his mind analyzed every detail. The position of Mike's body suggested that it wasn't a suicide. There was a sense of violence in the way he lay on the floor, a violence that didn't fit the profile they had obtained of him so far.

Commissioner Douglas approached, still in a state of shock over what they had discovered. His expression reflected a mixture of horror and confusion. He rubbed his forehead with a trembling hand as he murmured quietly.

— I can't believe it's come to this, Frank. I don't know what's going on.

Frank nodded, sharing the sense of bewilderment. This was beyond what they had anticipated, and every new twist in the case seemed to take them deeper into the abyss of mystery.

— Commissioner, have you seen anything unusual here? — Frank asked as he examined the scattered objects in the room. There were documents related to people they didn't recognize and these notes... they seemed to be numbers and names that didn't make sense.

Commissioner Douglas began to review the papers and photographs with a more concentrated expression.

— This isn't what I expected to find. There are documents related to people we don't recognize. And these notes... they seem to be numbers and names that don't make sense.

Frank examined the numbers and names carefully. Nothing seemed to fit in the puzzle they were trying to solve. Emily Sinclair, Daniel Harrington, and now Mike Collins, they were all connected in some way, but the nature of that connection remained elusive.

Commissioner Douglas got up and looked out the window, his gaze lost in the rain still falling in the City. His voice reflected frustration.

— We have to keep investigating, Frank. We have to find the answers we need to solve this case.

The arrival of the forensic team marked the beginning of a new stage in the investigation. While they waited for the experts, Frank and the Commissioner continued to examine Mike Collins's apartment for clues that could shed light on what was happening. Every detail, every object, and every document became a possible link in the chain of events that had led to this tragedy.

The rain continued its serenade against the windows, and Frank knew it wouldn't stop until they discovered the truth behind these dark events. The City had revealed its most mysterious side, and Frank was determined to uncover every secret it hid. Every step in that investigation took them deeper into the abyss, and time was not on their side. The clock ticked relentlessly, and Frank knew they had to get to the truth before the darkness consumed them completely. The night bore witness to their determination as they awaited the forensics, ready to face whatever they discovered in that dark corner of the City.