Detecting Love (ENEMIES TO LOVERS-DETECTIVES)

𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝟏𝟑: 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓫𝓻𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 (𝓔𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓷𝓸𝓻)

I meticulously sketched out every detail and strategy Adrian and I had concocted. Mind maps sprawled across the table, outlines and notes of our plans for November 23 littered the surface. Surprisingly, teaming up with Adrian today wasn't the catastrophe I'd anticipated. I'd feared clashes, maybe even a full-on feud, but none of that surfaced. It's like both of us silently agreed to shelve whatever's between us and focus solely on cracking this case. And that's a relief—I don't want to dwell on any lingering awkwardness.

After wrapping up our discussion in the dimly lit meeting room, I reached out to Miller. We needed an undercover agent to infiltrate the Cobras, and Miller's eye for recruits was unparalleled. Our undercover unit was exceptional—armed, highly trained, masters of psychological tricks. It's almost unsettling how good they are, but when you're facing a dangerous syndicate, blending in is your safest bet.

The department had been monitoring the locations flagged in the case files. Some remained active, but most lay abandoned, likely still under the Cobras radar. Right now, our primary focus was delving deeper with Branko. There was something suspicious about the reemergence of the Gabriele and Charles connection after all these years, especially with his son now in the mix. Branko had been cooperative, providing a sturdy foundation of answers, but there were layers yet to uncover, and extracting truth from him might be what we need right now.

I wondered how Adrian was handling the weight of his family's convoluted history, especially amidst the chaos of our detective work. Juggling the emotional turmoil stemming from his father and brother's entanglement with dangerous circles while striving to solve their family feud was an immense burden. Leaning back in my chair, I debated prying into his affairs. But this was more than personal—it was a case consuming both of us. Still, I felt the need to give him space, to let him navigate the tangle of his emotions without my probing.

Later today, Adrian and I planned to reconvene at the parking lot and investigate the location listed in Charles and Gabriele's case—567 Oak Avenue, Queens, NY 11375. As for the mysterious bank account with its last transaction dating back to 2008—a whooping 10 million dollars transferred—initially for Gabriele, it now raised suspicions regarding its controller under the name 'Prince'. Another suspect, now demanding our focus.

Closing my journal, I glanced at the clock perched above my door. It read 11 AM. Time to head to the parking lot and meet Adrian, initiating the next phase of our investigation.

"Alright, so the location is only 30 min which is not to far, and I already talked to Miller hes recruiting someone to go undercover. Have you heard anything from the department regarding the locations that are being monitored?" I say as I buckle my seatbelt and Adrian begins driving out of the garage. 

 We eventually stop at a red light, his eyes focusing on the car infront of our, his mind seemingly miles away.

"Adrian?" I ventured softly.

"Hmm?" His attention snapped back to me.

"Did the department mention anything about the monitored locations?"

"They didn't give specifics, just dispatching some officers," Adrian replied, his gaze returning to the road ahead.

As I glanced out the window at the bustling city, the sun painted everything in a warm glow. 

Adrian spoke up again, his focus still on driving. "Do we trust him?"

"I'm not sure. It feels rushed. We don't know if he's aligned with the Cobras or merely pretending," I pondered aloud.

"Yeah, and it's suspicious how he knew we'd show up the day he took you. Was he meeting the others? How did he predict that?" Adrian's words echoed my own doubts.