BURN THE TRUTH

Episode Twenty-eight

Velda's car eventually came to a stop in the parking space of the office building. She grabbed her coffee cup and swiftly got out of the car. Devyn had brought her back to her apartment the night before, together with Asteria who was a bit reluctant to leave Casey's company.

If it was left to her, she rather spend a more extra day at the classic mansion surrounded by nature, and next to Devyn. He owns her now. She had imagined him in the shower this morning— she could feel herself fall, not just physically, but emotionally. If it wasn't for the hot shower, she'd probably be able to feel the heat emanating from her body at just the thought of him. Yet no thought or dream could ever come close to how it felt being with him. She can't deny that fact.

Her mind kept travelling back to him no matter how many times she tried to prepare her mind for the day's work.

Velda had just walked to the front entrance when she glimpsed Louisa in the near distance also walking toward the entrance.

"Morning Captain"

"Morning Louisa" Velda returned as the young detective got to her. "Any case?" She asked and took a brief look in the opposite direction of the hallway before Louisa pressed the elevator button.

Velda stepped in first

"Certainly" Louisa responded before pushing their floor button. "Our victim's name is Anna Hale, age twenty-one. Cause of death, fall from the window of a twelve-story building. The window glass was hard enough to hold a harsh strike, so definitely there was another, also as to the bruises on her body, they were not made by the fall"

"When was the accident?" Velda asked stepping out of the elevator.

"She's been deceased for, I'd say 2100 hours yesterday" She followed behind. "Carter is working on the prints, but we got a suspect already. The incident occurred in the apartment of a guy named Enzo"

"Any idea of his location?"

"Not yet. He hasn't been seen since the incident"

"Hey, you look like I feel" Clyde suddenly remarked walking up to them.

"No, I'm pretty sure that my issues are much different to yours. Trust me" Velda replied, coming to a stop before Clyde.

"No. I mean that you're gleaming. It seems my thoughts were... exact. It probably makes more sense. It must have been a nice adventure"

“Not now Clyde”

"What happened to Ms Lone wolf doesn't need anybody?"

Louisa's eyes skimmed back and forth, her eyes widened in alarm "Did you go on a date, Captain?" Her lips parted a silent surprise.

"Don't listen to Clyde" Velda told her. "I need the case file" She demanded, departing from the spot.

"I'm brainstorming," Louisa said and began to go after her.

"Sounds like it. Crack a window too" Clyde told her, his tone was mocking as if he enjoyed pissing her off.

"Captain" Louisa called out in protest.

"Kill me, Jesus. Don't drag me into this, please "

At Velda's office, Louisa motioned at the picture on the screen "That is Enzo, our suspect. Age thirty-three, not sure what he does as no one seems to know him much. Though his credit card was used last at 2:38 midnight. Carter had gone to interrogate the worker on duty at the time of the transaction and to check the necessary footage"

"So he's on the run" Velda let out. Hands folded across her chest. She sighed.

"The victim is discovered to be a stripper at a club, her last shift was four days ago" Louisa illustrated.

"What about—" The door to the room opened causing Velda to turn in that direction. Carter walked.

"Any progress?" Clyde asked him.

"No. Nothing, no useful information. We might just lay low until his next appearance" Carter said leaning his palms on the edge of the desk.

"So your big plan is no plan?"

"Oi! At least he's trying, Clyde. You shitty little squid. What have you contributed?"

"Enough" Velda shushed calmly "Carter, you come with me. Need to pay a visit to the club, there must be something we're missing from that angle" She said grabbing her coat. "Louisa. See what you can get from the surveillance," She told her and picked up her cell phone.

Velda was about to open her car door when Clyde showed up from behind. "I will join you," He said, Velda only nodded and proceeded into her car.

Velda headed to the manager to get the necessary information while the two followed her closely. It took some time, but Velda succeeded in obtaining a few valuable pieces of information.

"What now?" Clyde asked as they walked out of the building. "It seems this was where they had met"

"The question is— why did he pick her? What could have gone wrong?" Carter corrected.

"I think I need a drink" Velda suddenly said and began walking to the car.

"But the store is that way. I kind of glimpse a near café about three blocks away" Carter informed.

Velda veered around "I guess another cup of coffee doesn't sound so bad" She mentioned. In that winter cold, she could not help but feel the need to have a taste of another coffee.

Velda made her way to the coffee bar at the end of the shop made of reclaimed wood. A brilliant young lady stood before her. She welcomed her with a charming smile. Velda got a cup of Americano while Carter purchased another for himself and Clyde who had taken off for the restroom. Finally, they made their payments at the next counter. The aged wooden floor creaked beneath her as she began walking towards the front door.

Slowly they both began strolling back to where Velda had packed the car.

"Captain!" Carter suddenly called pushing her off her feet and just on cue, a bullet brushed Carter, allowing him to fall to the ground. The shut had come from the pathway on the side of the café. Velda had only gotten her balance when another shut was directed to her which she rashly dogged, hiding behind a wall. More shots were directed to the wall causing her to dive to a different location before the endless shots suddenly stopped.

Velda took a few thrusts to grab a rod before throwing it at the shooter since he was still a bit far away.

The shooter barely had the full mag halfway into the heel of the pistol when it hit him. Glancing off of his body with a dull thud. It hits him awkwardly before clattering to the floor. He did manage to reload the pistol but did not prime it before she was upon him. Kicking the pistol out of his hand, and then rashly landed her other foot hard against his midriff.

Groaning from the impact, he tries to pull the slide back.

“s**t," Velda faintly heard a male’s voice frantically spouting off as she continued to battle with the unknown gunman. Velda moved the second the incoming man was about to shoot, using her opponent as her shield as the other shot at her which resulted in the opponent taking the bullets.

Using the momentum of the lifeless body against her. She planted it firmly onto the muzzle of the other rifle, the lifeless body again took in more bullets before she shoved them both. The lifeless body hit the floor with a nasty wet thud. Watching as the other man took out another pistol from his holster to bear down on her. She Caught him mid-way through the motion with her left hand, bringing a heavy fist to meet his face with her right. The pistol goes off into one of his fellow. Velda struck him again, and another round fired into the dead. Taking hold of his arm with both hands, she unpinned the pistol hand and broke it on his forearm. The man howled in pain letting the pistol dropped from his grip.

“Who the f**k are you!” Velda voiced harshly “You can either make this a pleasant experience, or we can do it the hard way,” She told him pointing her pistol at him.

“You're a detective. You won't shoot me” He returned.

“I see what you're doing” She sighed and smashed his nose with the flack of the pistol’s grip.

The man groaned, spitting out blood and then he began to laugh. “That look on your face” He continued to laugh mockingly.

“I can see we're going for the hard way” Velda let out before Clyde suddenly appeared. The sight of him caused her to be off-guard, and right on cue, the pinned man brushed her off the ground.

“f**k!” She hissed as the man fled the scene.

“What the f**k is going on here,” Clyde said, “God. You are absolutely deranged” He let out as she began walking toward him. Clyde’s eyes suddenly travelled to Carter and he snappily moved to him.

“Bullet clipped him. He's unconscious but he will be okay" Velda told him. “Somehow they were after me”

“Did you offend an apparition? How would you run into an armed burglar on the street in broad daylight?"

“I mean, I don't know. Who's to say? I'm yet to understand their motive” She turned to the dead man “Call for backup,” She told him.

“Where are you going?” Clyde perked up from where he squatted next to Carter.

“I'm going after him” And instantly, she was gone before Clyde could conjure some words to stop her.

“Anything?" Velda questioned Louisa on the phone as she drove through the narrow street.

“Still negatory" She replied.

“Call for backup as soon as you've located the target. Keep in mind that he is armed"

“Got it”

“Continue monitoring the situation" She ordered before tossing her cell phone to the passenger’s seat.

Almost half an hour passed before she arrived at the scene where she was notified that the suspect was found.

“Inform the team that they don't need to search anymore. We found what we were looking for" Velda told Clyde on the phone before she hung up the call.

“The police are handling the case. Please do not disturb" She overheard the police saying to the civilians as she got off her car.

“Captain” Louisa called, approaching her. “Who said we do never find him again,” She said with a slight proud grin. “The suspect is with us, he is just a little worse,” Louisa told her as they head to the scene.

“Well, looks like someone beat me to the execution part" Velda muttered gazing at the lifeless body of the suspect.

“It's possible that an accomplice silenced him" Louisa hinted.

“Why does he need to be silenced?"

“Something's not right here"

“Yes, I'm inclined to agree"