CHAPTER 59
New York City police station.
Nicholas took a deep breath and exhaled heavily. He did not get much information from his four witnesses. Now, there was only one witness left in front of him. Nicholas really expected a lot from that girl.
But this time, he would not be interrogating her alone. Alicia had arrived and was now sitting with him in the white dominated room.
"So, how do you know Natalie?" Nicholas began.
"I don't really know her," said Christina, the last witness Nicholas had. "I asked her out because I thought she was friendly enough with the other participants."
"Was there anything suspicious about her while you were talking?"
Then Christina shook her head. "But...," she frowned; appearing to be thinking. "Our conversation was interrupted when I told her that I had a serious illness and had been admitted to Golden Hospital for a long time." Christina looked at Nicholas and then Alicia in turn. "She suddenly raised her tone and left me. She really disliked that hospital, I guess."
Christina's words made Nicholas immediately chuckle. He turned to Alicia who still seemed to be calm as usual. "Alicia, is there anything you want to ask Miss Christina?" asked Nicholas.
Making Christina immediately turn to Alicia. And the cold gaze of those blue eyes greeted her. It gave Christina a nervous sensation that slowly spread throughout her body.
"What did you guys talk about that day that she got upset?" Alicia's voice was cold, adding to Christina's concern.
"Ti-nothing, I was just saying that I've had a heart defect since I was a child and he suddenly got angry," she said honestly. "Shouldn't I be the one angry that she's being rude to me?"
Seeing Alicia not stop staring at her coldly, Nicholas decided to end the interrogation session with Miss Christina. "All right, Miss Christina. I think you can leave now." Nicholas and the woman got up from their seats. "Thank you for taking part in the interrogation so cooperatively." The two shook hands before the woman walked out of the room.
Afterward, Nicholas sat back down and looked at Alicia. "You'd better be careful with that look, Alicia. That woman seems very frightened when she sees you," he said and chuckled. "By the way, what did you find out after reading today's investigation report and seeing the last witness?"
Alicia gave a quick shrug of her shoulders. "Most likely the victim was severely traumatized by something related to the hospital. Could she also be suffering from a heart defect like that woman?" Then she gave a short mutter. "My advice now is that you should double-check her work history as a nurse. I think everything comes from there."
"What about the rest of the theater members?"
Alicia shook her head. "You can check that later. Seeing the perpetrator kill the victim in her own clothes shows that there was no initial intent to kill," she said seriously. "I think the victim and the perpetrator had met and talked about something that provoked the murder itself."
Then Nicholas opened his notebook. "The victim had never worn stockings before. What do you think caused her to suddenly use them?"
"I think there are many factors. But usually, women will wear special and unusual clothes when going to a party or planning to go on a first date. Isn't that right?"
The twenty-five-year-old detective just nodded his head in agreement. Until suddenly the next case flashed through his mind. "Ah, Alicia, I asked you to help me investigate the massacre case that--"
"Oh, well. what about the victim?" Alicia cut in enthusiastically.
Nicholas scratched the nape of his neck awkwardly. "Do you really want to know. I mean... Aren't you worried that...,"
"I've decided to help you," Alicia said flatly. "After all, we made a deal, didn't we?"
Nicholas's bright brown irises widened instantly. About that deal... "Oh, sure. So, Noel has examined the autopsy results of the victims at the murder scene." Nicholas took a piece of paper from his desk and handed it to Alicia. "There were ten victims. Nine were only slightly injured and one was killed," he said.
"Did he die because he was shot?"
But Nicholas shook his head. "Unfortunately not. The autopsy revealed that the victim died from cyanide in his heart."
Alicia's eyes rounded in disbelief. "Cyanide? Potassium cyanide?"
"The corpse was red in color, the victim's lung edema was also found to be swollen. And to prove that the victim died from exposure to poison, the forensic doctor has tested the victim's blood and urine at the toxicology laboratory and the results came out positive for cyanide," Nicholas explained. Which made Alicia frown in disbelief. "There were no gunshot wounds or injuries from sharp objects on the victim's body."
"So, the victim was intentionally poisoned and left to die in the middle of the murder?" Alicia chuckled. "Manipulating him into a massacre victim for an act of terror and covering up the fact that he was a murder victim?"
Nicholas nodded quickly.
"This is crazy!" Alicia exclaimed.
"The victim's name is Rich Greek, age forty-five and he was found dead in the massacre," Nicholas informed her. "According to witnesses, the victim was having a meeting with some of his business colleagues at the Sunshine Cafe."
"I guess that place is quite crowded and luxurious," Alicia muttered. "There must be a lot of surveillance cameras around."
"Yes, that's what I thought," Nicholas replied. But then he shook his head in despair. "But the cameras were broken during the massacre. We couldn't even see the license plate of the perpetrator's car."
The dark-haired girl massaged her temples. "So the shooting was also planned," she said in an annoyed tone. "Why does that villain suddenly remind me of someone? It's starting to drive me crazy."
Alicia got up from the chair and grabbed her gray tote bag.
"Where are you going?" asked Nicholas quickly.
"I think I've helped you enough, Nic," Alicia replied coldly. "You just need to check the hospital where the first victim worked and find evidence there."
"But..." Nicholas got up and gave Alicia a worried look. "What about the second victim, Rich Greek?" He looked right and left, trying to reason with Alicia to stay. "Besides, it's already dark outside. I'll take you home."
But Alicia only gave a short snort. "About Rich, look for a connection between him and the first victim. I'm sure they weren't killed for no good reason," she ordered. "So now my job is done."
"I can take you," Nicholas held back again, this time he even grabbed Alicia's wrist which was wrapped in many suede bracelets and pulled her close. "The streets are not a safe place for a girl like you, Alicia."
"Ace would be angry with me if he knew I was with you."
But the young detective only tightened her hand and drew closer to Alicia. So that the vanilla scent that always clung to Alicia's body was inhaled quickly into Nicholas' nose. It brought back old memories between them at that narrow distance. Then Nicholas said,
"And Ace would lose control if he knew that you were in danger." []
CHAPTER 60For two days Alicia couldn't stop thinking about the cases Nicholas was handling. The way the perpetrators killed their victims reminded her of memories from her past. Couldn't what was happening now be related to those bad times?Alicia is currently sitting on a bench in the campus park alone, contemplating everything. The absence of the lecturer in her last class gives her more time to think about it all in peace.But the series of murders in the past, Alicia can no longer avoid.The first victim, Natalie Heele, manages to remind her of a male student named James Portman who was killed on the first day of her move. The second victim, Rich Greek, was treated the same way as Elena Sanders who died from cyanide poisoning. The names of the victims in her past and how they died before Alicia's eyes, made her almost lose her mind now.Was it Amanda again?"No way," she thought. The girl named Amanda who was determined to be the mastermind of all the murders in her past was now
CHAPTER 61New York City police station.Now Nicholas sat in his room with Noel. The two young detectives are like the envelope and the glue that cannot be separated these days. Plus, their age difference of only two years makes them quite balanced in communication. Nicholas is a leader who is able to help everyone, while Noel is an obedient and loyal partner. He is a loyal dog to a generous and warm-hearted owner. They were like a complete pair when it came to work.But the two of them in Nicholas's office that afternoon were not there to chat between men. Rather, it was to investigate the murders that had occurred over the past week."So what did you find out?" Nicholas leaned his back against the chair. While Noel began to take out his journal from his pants pocket. Noel was busy going through the personal notes he had written on the sheets of paper. "I heard you guys have already checked the theater."Noel nodded quickly. "But we didn't find anything suspicious there, Detective. W
CHAPTER 62Town Square Theater Center, New York."I gave him the surveillance data."After pushing Mike Mollison - aka Mike Houston - in the hallway of the theater, by exposing the funds embezzlement that Alicia didn't really know about, that big man finally confessed everything.Mike Mollison, who changed his name to Mike Houston after Natalie's murder a few days ago, finally told her that someone had met him to ask for all the surveillance camera data on the theater building before Alicia and Nicholas arrived."Can you describe his features?" asked Nicholas."I think he was about the same height and build as you, detective," Mike said. "But I couldn't see his face because he was wearing a mask." He then looked at Alicia and made an expectant face. "Don't tell anyone about the money embezzlement, miss. Please."Nicholas and Alicia exchanged glances before Alicia finally asked another question. "If you can't see his face, is there something so unique about him? Maybe he has a tattoo?
CHAPTER 63Alicia's flat, New York."I've been waiting for you here for over an hour, Alicia."The blue-eyed girl immediately lowered her head. Feeling guilty for making her boyfriend wait longer than usual in front of the flat.But quickly, Ace, Alicia's boyfriend, lifted her chin and smiled warmly at her. "I was so worried, you know?" He then gently rubbed the top of Alicia's head. "But now that you're here. I feel better when I see you.""Really?" The blue irises looked remorsefully into Ace's eyes. "I'm sorry for not telling you, Ace." And the tall man immediately nodded in understanding. "I had to do some work and didn't realize that my phone was off," she continued to explain.Actually, Alicia wasn't entirely lying. The blue-eyed girl had done her college work before meeting Nicholas at the theater center.But still, Alicia couldn't avoid the guilt."It's not your fault. So, stop feeling guilty like that," Ace comforted her. "Ah, by the way, I brought you your favorite food."Ac
CHAPTER 64New York City police station."Check all guest lists that may be related to the victims in this book," Nicholas ordered.As soon as Nicholas returned from the murder scene of the first victim (the Town Square theater), the serious expression of the young detective did not fade from his face. He didn't even give himself a break to rest or have a snack.Nicholas immediately called Noel and handed him a black book that listed the VIP guests on the night Natalie performed-and was murdered. And based on the time of Natalie's death, which was suspected to have taken place during recess, Nicholas' suspicions about the stalking action carried out by the perpetrator before killing were even clearer.The perpetrator must have stalked his victim since he was inside the theater.In addition, the testimony of the building manager who doubles as a special guest receptionist and financial manager of the theater center said that the victim might have been approached by the perpetrator who
CHAPTER 65Golden University, New York."You're okay, right, Alicia?"Alicia sat pensively in a corner of the campus cafeteria with Brittany after their classes ended for the day. Alicia had texted Brittany several times to see if they could meet up and it had worried Brittany.Both of them had ordered their food fifteen minutes ago. Alicia asked for pasta with cheese sauce, while Brittany ordered honey waffles. But it seems, Alicia is reluctant to touch her food at all.The Brooklyn girl continued to stare at her pasta without interest. Even the caramel ice, which had always been her favorite, meant nothing to her."You've been sitting here staring at your food like you're dying, Alicia," Brittany protested.She had just finished her waffles and seemed a little perturbed that her best friend's meal was still completely intact."Speak up, Alicia." Brittany stirred her ice lonade and sipped slowly, instead of waiting for her best friend to react. "Did something happen to you?"And afte
Chapter 66New York City police station."So, can we start the interview now Mrs. Veronica?"Nicholas' room, which had been quiet, was now transformed by the arrival of a woman named Veronica Smith. The legal wife of the second victim, Mr. Rich Greek.The woman, who was wearing a black blouse and a long skirt of the same color, was only able to attend the police invitation given by Noel, as she was still in a state of grief and busy clarifying all the news about her husband in the media over the past few days.Indeed, as a successful medical device entrepreneur, Rich Greek's unnatural death has caused quite a stir in New York City. And as the heiress to a fortune, it was Veronica's responsibility to answer all the public's assumptions about her husband's horrific tragedy."Of course, the detective," she said quietly.Veronica Smith was a councilwoman in the city. She was thirty-four and was now the sole caregiver of her two sons, Jason and Anthony."Did you know that that day your hus
CHAPTER 67Alicia's flat, New York."I told you yesterday, you don't have to pick me up here!"But Ace laughed amusedly at his girlfriend's response. She then did her usual thing to Alicia, rubbing the top of the dark-haired girl's head and stroking it gently. Next, Ace looked deeply into his girlfriend's eyes. "You're so adorable when you're angry like that, you know," he said trying to tease Alicia.But Alicia only replied to Ace's words with a short snort.Ace had just arrived in front of Alicia's flat to pick the girl up a while ago. Because tonight, Ace was going to Italy and all he wanted before leaving New York was to see Alicia's face."We still have time here. How about a quick stop at Uncle Chuck's for some ice cream now?" Ace asked enthusiastically.But Alicia, who had not been able to shake off the annoyance caused by Ace's attitude earlier, just scowled and huffed without interest. "You'll get a stomachache if you eat ice cream now," she snapped sternly. "And a stomachach