One

CHAPTER 1

New York, 2013.

A knock on the door made Cassandra turn around. Cassandra's blue eyes waited hopefully. A female figure appeared, she was wearing white overalls, and there was a brown stain on the bottom of her clothes, and it was even more obvious after her raincoat was removed.

"Aunt Claire?" Cassandra stood up from the sofa, she was very excited.

As for Aunt Claire, she had a tired expression. Her face was wet because it was raining heavily outside. The raincoat couldn't handle the water that continued to fall on the ground. Aunt Claire wiped her face, patted her dress, and walked over to Cassandra.

"I'm sorry, Cassey."

Cassandra's enthusiastic face changed quickly. There was still hope in her gaze. But Cassandra closed her mouth to hear more.

"The police will close your case."

"Noooo! They shouldn't do that!"

Cassandra pulled the TV remote from the table, she turned on the news channel. Breaking news on the television had just announced that the accident that caused the deaths of Marvin Kourtman and Annalise Cale was a natural accident, not a murder. That was not what Cassandra thought. Cassandra's eyes widened as she saw the female journalist start talking on the screen.

"The police say they're closing the case. That's all the news we can give you. Good night."

Click!

The television turned off and Aunt Claire hugged Cassandra who was standing next to her. Cassandra's tears broke out. She pulled her aunt's dress tighter and buried her face in Aunt Claire's arms.

"Mom, Dad," Cassandra whispered.

---

Ten years have passed, Cassandra Baker has grown up. She was no longer a fifteen-year-old girl, she was twenty-five years old now!

Cassandra's parents, Marvin Kourtman and Annalise Cale, passed away in an accident. The warning letter from the bank came after the family had arranged the funeral. They said that all the assets of Cassandra's parent's company had to be taken away. Everything belonged to a man named Antonio Franches, someone Cassandra thought was the killer of her parents.

Ten years of Cassandra searching for information about the accident, and ten years of Cassandra believing Antonio Franches was the killer of her parents. The police said they found no evidence or witnesses to the accident, but Cassandra knew... it had all been manipulated.

"Casey, are you leaving?" Aunt Claire put the pork chops on the dining table, then she took off her big gloves. "Dinner's ready. Are you going to miss this delicious roast pork?"

Cassandra pulled the backpack on the sofa, then smiled a little and walked over to Aunt Claire. "I have a case to check, Auntie. I'll be back for your cooking."

Aunt Claire rolled her eyes lazily. "Are you still investigating your parent's case?"

"Um, no."

"Are you serious?"

"Sure," Cassandra said, she shrugged and kissed Aunt Claire's cheek. "I'll see you around."

Cassandra threw the backpack on her shoulders into the car. She landed on her butt, then fastened the seatbelt carefully. Her blue eyes focused on the road, as she started the car's engine.

"Let's see... if this corruption case will lead me to you... Mr. Franches."

Cassandra's car accelerated to a speed of 100km/h, she stepped on the gas like a wild racer in the arena. Cassandra had been practicing her driving skills for the past few years. She was prepared in case she ran into Antonio and had to get into a street chase. But more than that, Cassandra already had bigger plans for Antonio Franches.

"Detective Baker!"

The voice came from Peter. He was Cassandra's junior on the force. "Peter?"

"They just arrested Cale Callaghan, Callaghan was convicted of bribing a judge in the Star Corporation corporate fund corruption case," Peter explained, he adjusted the position of his glasses, then continued his words. "As you might have guessed, Star Corporation was one of the companies that borrowed capital from Alpha Company to expand their export business."

Cassandra raised one eyebrow, and paused. "Alpha Company? You mean... Cale is related to Antonio Franches?"

"Yes, Detective."

Cassandra's face turned enthusiastic. "Have the field team search this house, and... get me a letter to meet with Antonio Franches, as soon as possible. OK?"

Peter nodded his head. "Yes, Detective."

But that hope disappeared when the next day, Cassandra received a statement and a file. It was from Antonio's legal team, proving that Antonio was not involved in Cale Callaghan's corruption case.

"What the hell?!"

Peter looked down regretfully. "Sorry, Detective. You can't involve Mr. Franches in Mr. Callaghan's case. He's already proven himself unconnected to this case. And... we can't ask him to come to the police station."

Cassandra threw the file in her hand to the floor. She was really angry. Ruffling her long, brown hair, Cassandra yelled. "Shit! Why is he so slippery!"

Peter ended the conversation. "I'm sorry, Detective. I have to go now."

As the door closed, Cassandra dropped her ass hard onto her chair. She bit her lip and clenched her fists tightly. "Looks like... Antonio Franches is a real mafia man. He has a lot of connections, can I get close to him?"

In despair, Cassandra received a call. She reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out her cell phone, which kept beeping. Cassandra's eyebrows furrowed when she saw the name on the screen, before in the next second, she received the call.

"Hello, Jessica?"

[I found the man you're looking for, Cassey!]

Cassandra furrowed her brows, then mumbled a little longer. "What do you mean?"

[He's at my club!]

"Who is this guy you're talking about, Jessica? I look for a lot of bad guys in this world and-"

[No, no, no! This is not one of your cases! This man... is Antonio Franches. He was here! He's at my club with his business colleagues! They booked a VVIP table and they requested entertainment. Aren't you looking for him, Casey?"]

Without thinking, Cassandra immediately stood up from the chair. She looked at the door in front of her and said, "I'll be right there!"