CHAPTER SEVEN
493 Words
As I followed Officer Rachel through the deserted streets of Singware, memories of my school days flooded my mind. We arrived at a nondescript apartment building, and she led me to a small flat on the third floor. An elderly woman, her eyes cloudy with cataracts, greeted us warmly.
"Ah, Sir Kelvin, I've been expecting you," she said, her voice wispy but determined. "My name is Thionally, and I've known Pope for many years. I have information that can help you bring him down."
I leaned forward, intrigued. "What do you know, Thionally?"
Thionally settled into her armchair, her hands clasped together. "Pope's rise to power wasn't accidental. He had help from someone powerful, someone who's still pulling the strings from behind the scenes."
As Thionally led us deeper into her apartment, Officer Rachel and I exchanged skeptical glances. What could this frail old woman possibly have to prove Professor Lernad's involvement with Pope?
Thionally stopped at a dusty bookshelf, her gnarled fingers tracing the spines of the books. "I was once a secretary for Professor Lernad," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I saw documents, letters, and records of meetings between him and Pope."
She pulled out a worn leather book, its pages yellowed with age. "This is Professor Lernad's personal journal. It details his plans to manipulate Pope's rise to power."
Officer Rachel's eyes widened as she took the journal from Thionally. "This is explosive evidence," she said, scanning the pages.
I felt a surge of determination. "We need to get this to the authorities immediately."
Thionally's eyes locked onto mine, a fierce intensity burning within. "Be careful, Sir Kelvin. Professor Lernad will stop at nothing to protect himself."
As we prepared to leave, I turned to Thionally. "How did you manage to keep this journal all these years?"
Thionally's smile was sly. "Let's just say I've been waiting for the right moment to strike."
With the journal in hand, we left Thionally's apartment, ready to bring Professor Lernad and Pope to justice. But the shadows seemed to grow longer, and I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched.
Officer Rachel's eyes narrowed. "Who is it, Thionally?"
The old lady's gaze seemed to bore into my soul. "It's someone you least expect, Sir Kelvin. Someone who's been hiding in plain sight."
I felt a shiver run down my spine. "Who is it?"
Thionally's voice dropped to a whisper. "It's your old friend, Professor Everard. He's been Pope's mentor and benefactor all along."
My mind reeled as I tried to process this bombshell. Professor Everard, my trusted advisor and friend? It couldn't be. But Thionally's words sparked a chain of memories, and I realized that the clues had been there all along.
"What proof do you have, Thionally?" I asked, my voice firm.
Thionally smiled, a sly glint in her eye. "Oh, I have something that will make your case against Pope and Professor Everard rock-solid. Follow me."
- Writer
