Hours passed, and tomorrow's morning finally came...
Aurelia, Evelyn, and Vincent left the workplace for the field trip. They decided to begin their investigation at the police station that had originally recorded the case as an accident.
The police station looked like an ancient witch's house, with crooked lights that flickered even in the morning. They made their way toward the department generally responsible for accidents, kidnappings, and several physical crime cases.
"Hello, sir," Vincent politely greeted the head police officer.
"Hello?" he replied.
"We are from The Montclair Law Firm. Here is my business card."
The officer took the card and smiled.
"Please have a seat. What can I do for you?"
"Recently, an employee from a company called LuminaVital Group was found dead in a car accident. Do you have any information regarding it?"
"LuminaVital Group? Yes, yes. The body was found near 3900 Main St, Riverside, CA 92501."
"Could you describe the case for us?" Evelyn requested.
"Yes, sure. I'd be happy to help. The body was sent for autopsy, where we discovered traces of food poisoning."
"What about the car's condition?" Aurelia asked in a tone that could make even a simple question sound serious. Fortunately, this case was sensitive enough to justify it.
"After inspection? Umm... wait a second. Let me call my partner. We solve many cases, so it's difficult to remember every detail."
The officer turned around.
"Jace! Jace!"
"Yes, sir?"
"Tell these people about the condition of the car involved in the accident near 3900 Main St."
"Sure, sir. The car's two left tires were found to have significantly lower air pressure than normal, and the braking system appeared faulty."
"Thank you," Vincent nodded before standing up and offering a handshake.
As they prepared to leave, Aurelia noticed a younger officer standing near a desk.
His eyes carried something unusual.
Fear.
Or guilt.
Maybe both.
Most people would have ignored it.
Aurelia wasn't most people.
Her mind never rested until it found the reason behind things.
Just as they were about to leave, she turned toward the head officer.
"Excuse me, where's the restroom?"
"Straight and then right, ma'am."
"Could someone guide me? I'm not familiar with this place."
"Sure."
Almost ironically, he assigned the task to the same nervous officer.
The young officer silently led her down the hallway. His steps were hesitant, almost as if he wanted to say something but couldn't gather the courage.
Aurelia broke the silence.
"You know something important, don't you?"
"N-No. Why would I know anything?"
His voice betrayed him instantly.
"Don't lie to me, buddy. I may be new to this country, but I'm not new to people. What do you want to say?"
The officer swallowed hard.
"Ma'am... this isn't a normal accident."
Aurelia's expression remained unchanged.
"It was planned."
The officer looked around before continuing.
"The officers there are lying. Everything they're saying sounds too smooth. Too rehearsed. They're deceiving people."
"And the victim's family?" Aurelia asked.
"The same. At least some of them."
"How can you be sure?"
"I don't have proof."
"Then why should I believe you?"
"Because I've seen this before."
His voice lowered.
"This isn't the first accident connected to powerful people. Similar cases have happened before. Every time, the investigation closes quickly."
"And the officers?"
"They're connected."
"Connected to who?"
The officer hesitated.
"A very powerful man."
"Do you know his name?"
"No. Nobody says it openly."
"If I need evidence later, will you help me?"
The officer looked at her for several seconds.
Then he nodded.
"I will. But promise me I won't be the one paying the price in the end."
"You won't."
For the first time, he seemed relieved.
Afterward, Aurelia returned to the lobby as if nothing had happened. She even thanked the officer for his help and politely complimented his professionalism before leaving.
Outside, Vincent and Evelyn were waiting.
"What took you so long?" Evelyn asked.
"I'll tell you in the car."
They got inside.
Vincent took the driver's seat.
Evelyn sat beside him.
Aurelia settled into the back seat.
After a minute of silence, Aurelia explained everything that had happened with the young officer.
Vincent listened carefully.
When she finished, he finally spoke.
"Do you think he's telling the truth?"
"I do."
"And why?"
"Because fear is difficult to fake. Especially that kind."
Vincent nodded.
"And after talking to him, I don't think this is the first suspicious accident connected to that company."
"If that's true," Vincent said, "then this case is much larger than we expected."
"Exactly."
"According to criminal psychology," Aurelia continued, "if this was intentional, it would qualify as what people call a perfect crime."
"A perfect murder."
Vincent finished her sentence.
Their eyes met briefly.
"Hmm," Aurelia nodded. "A murder disguised as an accident."
"But why would a company do something like this?" Evelyn asked.
"There has to be a motive."
"There always is," Aurelia replied.
"Money."
"Secrets."
"Power."
"People rarely kill without gaining something."
Vincent glanced at her through the rearview mirror.
"Things aren't always what they seem."
Aurelia smirked.
"Glad we agree."
"We'll find out eventually."
Evelyn quietly stared out the window.
Evelyn's POV:-
I officially feel invisible.
How do two people make discussing murder sound like they're having their own private language?
Seriously.
I understand every word they're saying.
Yet somehow I still feel left out.
It's honestly impressive.
What if they actually started dating?
Okay.
Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself.
But the chemistry is definitely there.
And if nobody else can see it, they're blind.
I am absolutely telling Austin.
CHAT: AUSTIN
'Guess what tea I have?'
Reply:- 'What?'
'You know I'm working with Vincent sir and Aurelia, right?'
'Yes?'
'So we got a clue from the police station and then they started discussing the case in the car.'
'Okay?'
'And somehow my extroverted personality became introverted.'
'Why? Couldn't understand what they were saying?'
'No, idiot. I felt like I was third-wheeling.'
'You're insane.'
'No, seriously. The chemistry is insane.'
'You got all that from one conversation?'
'YES.'
'Delulu.'
'Fine. Don't believe me. But when they're dating in the future, don't come to me acting surprised.'
'I won't because it's impossible.'
'We'll see.'
They reached the office a few minutes later.
By then, Vincent had already assigned them a task.
Prepare a report.
List every observation.
Every theory.
Every inconsistency.
After about an hour and a half, Aurelia completed the assignment and headed toward Vincent's cabin for discussion.
Knock. Knock.
"Come in."
Aurelia stepped inside with a file in her hand.
"Sir, I have a few key details that could help us determine whether Matthew Reynolds's death was truly an accident or something planned."
"Go ahead."
Aurelia opened her report.
"First, the autopsy revealed traces of food poisoning before the crash."
Vincent folded his arms.
"That alone doesn't prove anything."
"I know," Aurelia replied. "But I don't think it's something we should ignore either."
She flipped a page.
"If Matthew had consumed something contaminated shortly before driving, it could have caused symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, blurred vision, weakness, confusion, or delayed reaction time."
Vincent listened carefully.
"Go on."
"Now imagine someone already experiencing those symptoms behind the wheel. Even a small lapse in judgment could increase the likelihood of an accident."
"You think the food poisoning was intentional?"
"I think it's a possibility worth investigating."
Aurelia leaned forward slightly.
"If someone wanted to make a murder look like an accident, using a slow-acting poison would be much safer than direct violence. The victim becomes physically impaired, and when an accident occurs, everyone assumes it happened naturally."
A thoughtful silence settled between them.
"Interesting," Vincent said.
"Now add the condition of the vehicle."
Aurelia pointed toward another section.
"The car's two left tires were found with unusually low pressure, and the braking system was faulty."
Vincent's expression hardened.
"Coincidences do happen."
"They do," Aurelia agreed. "But food poisoning, faulty brakes, and low tire pressure occurring simultaneously in the same case is difficult to dismiss."
She continued.
"Individually, each factor could be explained away. Together, they create the perfect conditions for a fatal crash."
"A perfect crime," Vincent murmured.
"Exactly."
She turned another page.
"Third, the young officer we spoke to suggested that similar accidents may have happened before and that influential people could be involved."
"Although unofficial information."
"Yes. Which means we shouldn't rely on it as evidence."
"But it gives us a direction."
Aurelia nodded.
"Fourth, the investigation appears to have closed unusually quickly. The officers seemed more interested in confirming an accident than questioning inconsistencies."
Vincent slowly leaned back in his chair.
"And your overall conclusion?"
Aurelia closed the file.
"My conclusion is that Matthew Reynolds may have been placed in a situation where survival became nearly impossible."
The room fell silent.
"The food poisoning may have weakened him."
"The faulty brakes reduced his ability to respond."
"The tire pressure made the vehicle unstable."
"If all three were deliberate..."
She paused.
"Then this wasn't an accident."
"It was engineered."
Vincent stared at her for several seconds before speaking.
"Very well."
His voice carried genuine approval.
"It appears that if we investigate deeply enough, we may uncover the real cause and finally give justice to Emily Reynolds."
"And to Matthew Reynolds," Aurelia added.
"She's the one who came to us seeking answers."
Vincent nodded.
"Yes. Her too."
"By the way, sir."
"Hm?"
"You forgot Matthew's name and almost credited Emily as the victim."
Vincent looked up.
"No, I didn't."
"You absolutely did."
"I knew exactly who I was talking about."
Aurelia gave him a side-eye.
The kind that silently screamed narcissist.
She immediately looked away before laughing.
Unfortunately, Vincent noticed.
"Did you just roll your eyes at me?"
"No."
"You did."
"I didn't."
"You definitely did."
Aurelia pressed her lips together to stop herself from smiling.
"Anything else, sir?"
"Actually, yes."
His expression became serious.
"Are you free this evening?"
"Yes, but why?"
"I want to discuss the case further and visit a few locations connected to Matthew's final days."
"Okay. Where should I be, and at what time?"
"My home."
Aurelia blinked.
"Home?"
"Yes."
"For field investigation?"
Vincent sighed.
"No. We'll collect some old files from my study first."
"I mean... wouldn't it be slightly inappropriate? Couldn't you bring them directly?"
"Aurelia."
His voice carried a warning.
"We are going for work directly from here."
"Understood."
"I need the files."
"Understood."
"We leave together."
"Understood."
"So stop overthinking."
"Yes, sir."
Vincent returned to the documents on his desk.
Aurelia quietly turned toward the door.
Why only me?
He could literally ask anyone else.
And that whole 'Are you free this evening?' thing...
Why did he ask it like that?
No.
Nope.
Absolutely not.
I am not thinking about this.
Not even a little.
"Aurelia."
She stopped and turned around.
"Yes?"
Vincent held up a photograph that had been tucked inside one of the old files.
His expression had changed completely.
Serious.
Focused.
Sharp.
"Before you leave..."
He slid the photograph across the desk.
"You should probably see this."
Aurelia picked it up.
The moment her eyes landed on the picture, the color drained from her face.
Because standing beside Matthew Reynolds...
Was someone she knew.