BURN THE TRUTH

Episode Twenty-nine

Bullet to the head, Louisa defined it. “Unfortunately, there are no CCTV cameras near the area" Louisa stated right on cue as Velda's eyes ran the place. "His assassin must have shot from that direction. Hiding in the shadow of the tunnel" She signalled at the passage in the distance.

"Well, then. We better get a move on" The captain urged stepping away from the scene. "The other side of the tunnel might lick us some information"

"Why will they want you dead in this case?" Louisa confusedly questioned as she followed Velda, steering to the tunnel.

"It's definitely not connected to the new case, that I'm positive of"

Louisa turned on her torchlight as they walked into the shadow of the tunnel, and gradually they set up, progressing their path to the other side of the tunnel which turned out to be much more lively. In the long run, they were able to check the CCTV camera of the tunnel area, however, came to a dead end as the unknown suspect never turned out from the tunnel.

They both returned to the tunnel, seeming to search for any possible exit that wasn't apparent. They were carefully scanning the area before a cracking sound was made beneath Louisa's shoe. She paused, retrieving her foot from the spot "Captain" She summoned. "I guess this is it"

Velda thrust to her, both flashing their lights on the metal cover before them. Velda passed her cell phone to Louisa and proceeded to pull out the metal lid, dragging it to the side and then took the flashlight from Louisa, orchestrating the light into the dark opening.

"Oh. s**t"

"s**t" Louisa repeated disgustingly. "What kind of human jumps into this?"

"The one that doesn't want to get caught up in some drama" Velda replied pulling the cover with one hand before Louisa tagged, finally closing the drainage.

Velda rose, wiping off the dirt on her hand. "So how do we find this suspect?" Louisa asked.

"Damned if I know. Just get back to the case we were working on. This seems to be something I get to handle alone" Louisa's eyes darted to her "And you needn't worry, it won't get rough" Velda assured her.

Velda nested her cell phone back into her pocket "Call me if anything rises" She told her and began making her way toward the entrance of the door.

She was walking to her car when her cell phone started to vibrate. Velda pulled it out and almost cursed herself when the caller's name appeared. "Mom" Came Asteria's voice.

"Baby I'm so sorry, I'll be on my way to pick you up now" Velda quickly soothed.

"It's okay mom. Casey is here to pick me up" She sounded excited.

"Casey?" Velda seemed confused about the name before another voice came through.

"Hello, detective. I'm Casey, a friend of Devyn. It seems the tiny cutie here called Devyn a couple of minutes ago asking to be picked up since you didn't show up, so I was sent" Casey clarified "You can come to pick her up at Devyn's place later"

Velda barely had time to respond before Asteria's voice came loud and quick. "bye, mom" and the call was disconnected on the other line. Jeez! Why didn't Asteria call her first? She swept the thought off, having to appreciate the support. She was on the verge of calling Devyn when his call came in at the beat like he had read her mind.

"Hello, detective" His distinct voice came forth.

"Devyn"

"I'm surprised to see you responded while on duty" His voice seemed to come off as dense yet humorous.

"Then you shouldn't have called"

"I might have thought so. Yet I wanted to let you know about the little change of event. You must have been intensely stressed that you forgot the pickup time, are you okay?"

Velda was about to make the situation known to him but decided against it, it was best that way, best he stayed out of it. Besides, although her intuitions kept honing in one direction, she was yet not certain of the chances. "Yeah. Yes, I am" Velda assured him. "Thank you, Devyn"

She started accelerating her walk after the call, taking a glance at her wristwatch to get the time. It was 3:48 pm. As she got to the car, she received another call from Clyde. After two to three minutes of searching through her cell phone, she tossed it onto the passenger's seat and glanced over at the rearview mirror before kicking back and then driving off the area.

The prison runs like a dictatorship. More like a country unto themselves. After being inspected by security, Velda walked into the visiting room to await Leek. She felt this guilt the moment she saw him walk in from the gate at the prison section. The guilt that she was yet to get him out of that horrible place, though happy that he finally agreed to see her after the countless times she had come but to no avail.

Leek settled opposite, both hands resting on the metal table "Detective" his voice was as heavy as the weight of the world like it was from the darkest and coldest corner of his heart.

"How are you doing captain?"

"I told you not to come to see me, detective. Why do you insist? why do you have to be this stubborn?"

"I won't come after this. Just tell me the necessary things I ought to know about these people. I was attacked by two men while investigating a different case, and I'm very positive that the men that attacked me were in no link to the case I was working on"

"I'm pretty sure I gave you a clear warning"

"It's no longer the time for warning. It's time you begin to talk to be, talk to be, captain. What happened that morning?"

"You need to stop," Leek said harshly in a whisper.

"It's too late" She whispered before her eyes trained on the cop at the cell entrance. "I retrieved a record from your apartment before the place was completely handed to your crew. I'm in touch with the guy"

"What guy?"

"Sai Dash. The guy who was subjected as a member of the mob's gunmen after his sister was taken"

In a blink, Leek's chest grew so tight it became hard to breathe. "What?" He asked as if he hadn't heard what she said. And then a sharp low swear busted from his lip "f**k" He let out and face palmed regretfully.

"What?"

"He is not a victim, Velda. He works for them. He finds out what you know and delivers it to the mobs. I only discovered it too late. That must be the reason you were attacked, they know you now. They already know your motive”

For a second, Velda reflected on the pool of blood she had witnessed in Leek's apartment. She collectively stared at Leek, her head slightly bent as she leaned in onto the table to gaze directly into his eyes "What do I need to know about these people, Captain? Tell me now"

Eventually, Velda pulled up in front of Devyn's contemporary-style house at about half past seven. She had only stepped out of her car when Devyn came forth from the front door. Silent came on as she raised her head to meet his form by the entrance. The sound of the car door being shut was the last sound that drifted off.

“You look undeniably forlorn and pissed, much grumpier than usual” Devyn noted from the entrance, breaking the silence, both hands shoved into his pants pockets.

“It's just a case that makes me feel powerless" Velda indicated once she was close enough.

“Enlightened me, detective"

“Just a difficult case, nothing to worry” She shoved off the topic. It probably couldn't have been more obvious that she wasn't going to tell him about the case. Devyn nodded and stepped closer to her, and slowly threaded his fingers with hers. Her rather small yet robust fingers enveloped a finger and suddenly she twisted it causing Devyn to slightly groan in pain.

Her face lited up as she chuckled in amusement. “I'm glad my pain amuses you” Devyn’s throaty voice came off.

“You have no idea, it's my therapy,” She told him. A smile crossed his face and he tightened his grip to show her he wasn't letting her go. Velda pulled her hand through his unwilling fingers and her smiling eyes looked back into his like she was enjoying the attention.

“I can't stop thinking of you when I'm alone"

“And why didn't you tell me?"

“I'm telling you"

Devyn pulled her impossibly closer, his lips pressed against her lightly and then he pulled back to survey her. He remained utterly silent and she became the central concentration. Despite her coat, she could feel the heat of him burning through his clothes and hers. Her lips slightly parted, eyes gazing longingly at him. Devyn’s eyes rested on her rose lips, they were always inviting, though, at the moment, he felt he would die if he doesn't get to taste them again.

“What do you think I will do to you if you keep looking at me in such a manner?”