Chapter 276
Chapter 276
Chapter 276
Snowflakes
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The time seemed to fly rather than crawl. One moment I was hunched over faded witness statements, the next I was trying to stretch the crick out of my neck, only to glance up at the wall clock and realize it was already evening.
The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead like they’d been on forever; my eyes burned, my stomach growled, and still nothing jumped out as obviously wrong in the transcripts.
No glaring inconsistencies. No smoking–gun slip. Just the same careful, rehearsed words from four years ago.
I sighed, pushing back from the desk. My legs felt stiff as I stood and started toward the break room for coffee then froze mid–step.
Lunch.
Cupid’s lunch was still sitting in my car downstairs. I’d completely forgotten in the frenzy of files and timelines.
My cheeks heated at the thought of him carefully packing it this morning, only for me to leave it to go cold in the parking garage.
I glanced around. Quince as buried in digital logs, fingers flying across his keyboard. Mr. Gerald hadn’t moved from his chair either, eyes glued to the same page he’d been staring at for hours.
“Snow?” Mr. Gerald’s voice cut through the quiet without him looking up. He beckoned with two fingers, still focused on the file in front of him.
“Yes p>
“Ares Bani said something during his statement four years ago. It feels… off. Come look p>
He slid the folder across the table. I leaned over his shoulder and flipped to the highlighted line.
‘I was returning from the pack when I heard the scream p>
Mr. Gerald tapped the adjacent page, GPS ping data from Ares’s phone, timestamped to the exact window of the attack.
“His location that night,” he said quietly.
I stared at the coordinates, the street name glaring back at me.
“Love Avenue,” I murmured.
Mr. Gerald nodded once.
“Exactly. He claims he was coming from Mooncrest territory. But he was already in the city, deep in the city when the scream supposedly happened p>
“He’ll argue he was disoriented,” Quince said from across the room, not looking up from his screen. “That the woman he loved was in pain, his judgment clouded, memory fuzzy. Classic defense p>
I shook my head slowly. “It’s still a lie. A deliberate one. You don’t mistake Love Avenue for pack lands. Not even when you’re a human p>
1/3
Chapitel 270
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When the doors finally opened on the defertis for, we filed to the comm
Wrinks was already at the central dats deck, multiple screens glowing with partial matches, chemical bal
PROCESSING har that moved like melasers
Eshan strade in right behind us, face grim.
“We can’t risk calls or unsecured lines anymore,” he said without preamble They might already he fapped at de g
“Not much yet,” I answered “But Ares’s statement doesn’t hold up. He said he was returning from Wooncret gak ad heard the scream. His phone pinged him on Love Avenue at the time of the incident p>
Mr. Gerald added, “Love Avenue. Not even close to pack territory”
Eshan’s jaw tightened. He shifted his gaze to Wrinks’s main screen, where a DNA profile spun slowly, partial alleles lighting by one
* knew that bastard was slippery from the start,” Eshan muttered. “Sera pulled viable DNA from the stored fluid. We’ve gui semes markers, but the system’s dragging its feet on a match. Too many partial. Too old”
Sera walked in then, looking as exhausted as the rest of us, hair pulled back messity, dark circles under her eyes, but shit sharp
“So what now?” she asked.
Eshan exhaled through his nose. “We invite Ares Bani in for format re–interview” He glanced at Mr. Gerald “Togg
Gerald’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully “The first witness on scene is always the prime suspect until proven otherwise, Hove and ve play a little mind game?
leaned forward, interested. “How p>
“If he’s hiding anything and i think he is, you don’t come at hem straight you let him as victory first. Act. ‘ grasping at straws, losing momentum Let him relax, get cocky. Then hit him with the contradiction. We
verig frem
Mooncrest. We know he was on Love Avenue He’ll snap. Men like him crack when they think they’ve already won p>
It was a solid plan, classic psychological pressure but I shook my heard.
“Ares won’t come alone. He’ll bring his lawyer Rus from White & Co. That man’s a brick wall if we chats Ares completary, mury the we break tam. But with Rusi in the room, he won’t say a word beyond no comment.TM*
Silence settled, heavy. Eshan nodded slowly, conceding the point. Rusl was notuncus, pompous, crazy, never let a clont sim
Quince spoke up quietly.
“How about this, we send the formal invitation but schedule it for an hour carer than we tell the leape
11:32 pm
Chapter 276
2
Σ
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Everyone froze.
“That’s… borderline illegal,” Vast murmured, eyebrows raised.
Eshan’s mouth curved, just a fraction.
“Borderline is still on our side of the line if we word the summons carefully. No coercion. Just… timing p>
He looked around the room, meeting each pair of eyes.
“Let’s do it. Thanks, Quince p>
The plan was set. Risky. Edgy. But necessary.
I felt the familiar churn in my stomach, equal parts dread and determination. Ares had lied once. He’d lie again. But this time we’d be ready.
Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.