The Crime System

Not the Person

Luke didn't bother answering Bella's question. As soon as the call ended, he plunged into the crowd. His eyes darted frantically, searching for the woman playing the piano—Shaun's mother.

"Hey, it's you!" he called out as he spotted her. Without missing a beat, he asked, "Ma'am! Quickly, tell me, when you participated in that Grand Piano Competition years ago, did you know Mary Nelson, Yara Voss, or Lisa Mendes? Any of these three people?"

Her expression froze, and she backed away, looking at him as though he were the plague itself.

"No? After so many years, how could you be so sure right away?" he pressed. "Think carefully—did you know any of them? Were they in that competition with you?"

"I… I really can't remember!" she stammered, clearly rattled by his intensity. She turned away, trying to escape.

Luke grabbed her by the arms. "Ma'am, what are you so afraid of? I'm investigating a case!"

"Hey, you there! Parent, I've been watching you!" a white-haired teacher barked from behind a desk. He pounded the table as he rose, pointing a finger at Luke. "This is unacceptable! If you don't stop this, I'll call security. You're disrupting our school conference!"

"That's right!" chimed in a group of fathers nearby, their sleeves rolling up in unison. "Who do you think you are?"

Their words triggered a realization—Luke had to establish authority. He whipped out his badge and raised his voice, "I'm a police officer! I'm with the Special Crimes Unit! This is official business! This lady may be connected to a major case." He fixed his gaze back on Shaun's mother. "So, ma'am, answer my questions truthfully, or I'll have to take you down to the station. Your choice."

As soon as the words "major case" left his mouth, Shaun's mother's eyes rolled back, and she collapsed in a faint. The parents swarmed around her, patting her cheeks and rubbing her upper lip until she regained consciousness.

"Officer, is this how you conduct an investigation?" the teacher exclaimed as he hurried over. "Look at this chaos! You've turned our school conference into a circus!"

"Exactly!" A chorus of parents echoed. "You've scared her half to death! This is outrageous!"

"Are you even a real cop?" one man questioned suspiciously. "You're so crass! Mr. Parker," he said, addressing the teacher, "you should verify his badge!"

"Nonsense!" Luke shouted before the mob could gain momentum. "Let me make one thing clear—there's a high chance the culprit will strike again today. If you obstruct this investigation, you're not just interfering—you're enabling the criminal. You'll all be facing serious consequences!"

The room fell silent. His words had the intended effect; nobody dared speak up again.

Finally, Shaun's mother, pale and trembling, whispered, "Officer… It's been twenty years! How could I remember who competed? I was already so nervous performing on stage—I barely paid attention to the others! Those names you mentioned… I've never heard of them!"

Luke took a moment to think. Of course. It made sense now. The victims didn't recognize each other because of the nature of the competition. A piano contest is an individual effort; there's no real interaction between competitors.

"Wait," he said, a sudden idea striking him. "Which year's Grand Piano Competition did you participate in? You should at least remember that much, right?"

"I… I think it was either the second or third… fourth at most! It was still pretty new back then!"

Luke's heart sank. That didn't match. All the victims had competed in the tenth Grand Piano Competition. There was a gap of several years. She couldn't have known them.

He had to go back to the source—the competition records. If he could get his hands on the participant lists, he might find the lead he needed.

Luke turned to the white-haired teacher. "Who should I talk to if I need to access records of the piano competitions held here years ago?"

"Well," the teacher replied hesitantly, "you'd need to speak to the vice principal in charge of music. But I doubt those records still exist—it's been ages!"

"Where's the vice principal's office?" Luke demanded.

Reluctantly, the teacher gave him directions, and he stormed out of the hall. Behind him, he could hear the parents murmuring.

"Who is this guy?" one asked.

"I don't think he's a student's parent," the teacher muttered, clearly unnerved. "If he is, it's a tragedy for that child!"

"I know!" a woman chimed in. "He came in with Jenna Dalton! He must be her parent!"

Thud! Luke imagined the teacher collapsing to the floor in shock as he left.