BURN THE TRUTH

Episode Thirty-six

"I thought I was going to lose you for a second there," Devyn admitted, looking at Velda. He had a serious expression on his face when she glanced up to face him, indicating that his statement wasn't a joke.

“I never thought you were capable of feeling emotions like fear," She said with a light giggle to ease the tension between them.

Devyn gave a ghost smirk “I've known fear since the day I met you. And now my heart can't stop worrying about you,” he stated solemnly. “What kind of case could you be working on that puts your safety in jeopardy in this way?" he inquired, his voice tinged with curiosity or frustration.

Velda looked away for a brief second and slowly returned to him “I am helpless in the situation. I have to figure out the culprits, the case... It is...” She sighed “For me, it is very important because the captain is like family. I can't desert him now because he supported me throughout college. I just can't let him languish in jail. Asteria is now my primary concern. I don't want those bastards anywhere near her”

"Can you identify the men who attacked you by their faces?" He enquired with a curious tone in an effort to learn more from her.

“It was dim, I could barely see their faces, but I'll know if I see any of them," She added, attempting to remember.

“You're aware that these men might be paid to go after you,"

“Yes, I know that. You don't have to worry about this, Devyn. We somethings go through stuff in this line of work" She responded, shrugging her shoulders. “I am aware of your worries…" She said before she comes to a sudden stop as the door opens, revealing Asteria holding a red balloon in one hand.

"Mummy! Mummy!" she sings enthusiastically, filling the room with her voice, a cheerful grin on her face. She hurried to Velda's bedside from the opposite side and gave her a tight hug, causing Velda to wince in pain.

“I've really missed you" Asteria muttered to her mother. Even with the discomfort around her ribs, Velda gives her a strong hug as she considers what would have occurred if Asteria had been in any way affected by the incident.

“I've missed you too, sweetheart," she said to her little girl, running her hand through her hair.

“I stayed with Louisa, she's so nice and she lets me eat lots of ice cream. Yesterday, Devyn took me ice skating after we performed a ballet together” She says in satisfaction.

Velda made a surprised face “Wow! You've been quite busy, young lady" Velda muttered playfully and Asteria delightedly chuckled.

“You failed to inform me about that," She remarked to Devyn, who simply shrugged.

“I'm sorry captain that I came late. I've been preoccupied, therefore I couldn't come sooner." Louisa ultimately apologized.

“It's all right, Louisa, I appreciate you taking care of Asteria," Velda remarked...

Velda held a cup of coffee as she walked out of the elevator into the sweeping aisle of her headquarters edifice. She unbuttoned the button holding her coat together as she head off to her office. Most of the detectives on their deck seemed to be pretty much surprised by her sudden presence, many’s eyebrows arching while their jaw hangs slack as they stared, unmoving and unblinking at her as she crossed over to the part leading to her office.

Louisa immediately froze in place as her eyes came to capture the image of Velda walking into the hall sections. Velda likely understood the cause of that reaction from her, it was natural for them to bear the same expression because she hasn't fully recovered, except she doesn't give a headache about it.

“Captain, you- you're already discharged?” Louisa managed to ask as the door shuts behind her or maybe it was only a remark as she didn't stand by for any answer. “The doctor did say it would take three more days” She indicated.

Velda did not attempt to respond as she walked to her table and placed the coffee cup down on the table and swiftly took off her coat. “You know me, I pulled a few strings and it got me here, you don't need to bother because it doesn't matter,” She said turning to face Louisa before she hung the coat on the office coat stand near the window.

“But captain, don't you think the doctor should be the judge in this case” Louisa tries to give a point.

Velda could see the turmoil on her face, she sighed “I know... It's just, with every breath I take in there is one too many. You can't blame someone for not wanting to spend a lot of time in a hospital”

Eventually, a flicker of defeat joins Louisa’s expression and then she sighs. Though she was about to speak when a knock came on the door and then it slowly opened before Clyde walked in, the same confused look on his face. “Captain, you should be resting,”

“I can't believe you both are on the same line today, never did I imagine that. Such an inconvenience. I'm alright, detective Clyde, there is nothing to worry about. I can't take more days off considering how tough this case is. Whatever your fears are, I've survived things that make the deep roads look like a pleasant stroll. And I assure you, this one is no different” She shifted to her seat, hands resting on her table as she watched them both.

“You don’t look too well, detective Clyde. It seems you’re deader than me” Velda pointed out and with a look that states her mind, she slumped on her seat.

“You know I hate the winter, but yours is a different case, captain,” he said.

“I appreciate what you're trying to do, but you know quite well in our line of work, there is an urgent need for time. There are things I have to find out and the answers lie in my ability to investigate on time. Louisa, get me the report on the case we worked on last” She demanded relaxing further “Thanks again for taking care of Asteria,” Velda unexpectedly said in a low, genuine and pleased tone as Louisa tried to leave the room.

She looked back with a warm smile “Of course, captain, I'm happy to help”

Velda gave a quiet smirk “That's fair” she muttered. That smirk of hers brought out a sense of approval, of a pleased warmth, but still has that business line. Louisa nodded genuinely before she left the room.

“I assume there is a case you're working on at the moment?” She brought up with both elbows leaning on the table.

“Yes”

“What's the situation?”

“The culprit broke into the home of a University professor, Adams Smith and killed him in cold blood. He fought with the police unit who rushed to the scene and inflicted casualties. I've obtained an internal report from the police, and it sounds rather unlikely that the culprit is a student at the same university he teaches, but oddly, not a student if his class. I'm still investigating the whereabouts of the student, but I have a feeling this case is not as I may have perceived it, it's like there's something I'm missing”

“That’s one hell of a deduction there, detective. I might say we all have those specific instincts, but I will advise you to follow them with caution. I'm certain you will be able to pull the case on your own. I shall take over the case in finding the remainder of the culprits that paid me a visit, you can submit the file now” Velda coordinatedly instructed him before her hands leaned in.

“If someone wants you dead, captain, don't you think another person should handle the case instead of you?”

“I told you, forget about that case. It's much more dangerous than you think and I don't want the lives of my crew members to be sabotaged because of this very case. Forget about the case until you're called in, detective. It's an order” She said firmly.

Clyde nodded “Okay. I shall get you the files at once,” He stated but stopped midway. “By the way, captain. The package on the side of your desk came in for you this morning. It's as if whoever sent it knew you do be resuming today. It was brought in by a young boy, who was definitely paid to do the job of bringing it in. The boy knows nothing of the actual sender. Just to be on the safe side, Catter had it scanned”

“Thank you, detective” She appreciated.

As Clyde walked out of the room, Velda calmly attained the brown box by the flank of the table. Her mind wandered to what the content would be. She rolled up her sleeves and collectively cleared the centre part of her table and as she opened the box with a small cutter, she gently, one after the other began retrieving the items from the box and gradually her table came to be crammed with a series of files, weapons bagged in transparent nylons and photos.

Velda stood in a stiffening posture, with rigid muscles as she dropped the last item. A heavy feeling in her stomach while her eyes trained on the photos across the table. Reaching further with a hand she lightly picked up a photo, which particularly was of the actual guy that shot her, Benjamin. It wasn't the perfect picture a person would wish to see, though as a detective it was rather normal. And as she turned the back of the photo, the letter - Q-16 - was written in a corner.

A photo of the abandoned factory lay next to that of the leader from the factory and more, much more information about the case and documents revealing every nook and cranny of their operations and their base. And then she picked up a note that stated - ‘Do what you gotta do’ - Which was perfectly written in black ink.