The Contradiction That Changes the Story (Day 2)
You took a random guess. "Boss, Blake lied, right? He knows Samantha and he had a new phone..." You faltered and shook your head, having no clue about the contradiction in the interview.
Detective W shook his head. "From what we can see from the interviews, Blake seemed pretty open with his whereabouts and actions. Liars tend to not be so open with their actions, especially when facing detectives."
"So, it's Budo, right? He seemed like he didn't want to talk to us at first." Ha-Eun said. "Plus, his face was pale in the beginning. That could mean something."
"That could mean something else, Ha-Eun," Detective W explained. "A pale face is indeed a clue, but it isn't one to go on. Plus, his face returned to its original color once we told him he will not be arrested."
"So, that only leaves... Milad? But, what did Milad do?" Ha-joon logically concluded.
"It's not about what he did. It's what he had," Detective W elucidated while holding up his phone. "This device is the key."
"Phone?" Ha-Eun blinked twice and also touched her phone. "But a phone is an everyday device. How could it—"
"—But, even that, Milad didn't change his phone at all, unlike the other two! They clearly said they changed their phone!" Ha-joon protested. "Milad shouldn't be lying at all!"
Detective W took a deep breath, and explained. "No, no, no, you don't get it. Bear with me for a minute or two. Remember, one of the evidence found was a broken phone with a home button. That means whoever dropped it had to replace their phone. You were right that Budo and Blake told us that they had a new phone. What Milad tried to hide from us is that he also had a new phone."
"Impossible! He told us that he had it for at least five years!" Ha-Eun asserted, arms crossed.
"Ha-Eun, it's an Apple phone. And it has no home button, which means the only way to unlock it is by Face ID. When did Apple develop Face ID again?"
Ha-joon quickly checked his phone. "A-around 2017, W. 2017."
"That means that it would be impossible for Milad to have this type of phone for five years! In 2013, Face ID wasn't even developed! To lie to us and to gloss over this lie could only mean one thing—he had something to hide about his missing phone!" Detective W let out a sharp exhale, and drank his tea from his black thermos.
You nodded as it all clicked in your head. "Wait... so since Samantha was his ex-wife... that would explain the picture. Even though Blake also knew Samantha... wow... just this one lie made all the difference... "
"Probably so. Victoria just texted me again. An emergency meeting is being held right in 15 minutes. She probably figured out something that we haven't."
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Police Meeting Room, 3:10 PM
Victoria let out a confident breath and slammed her hands on the plastic desk. "My fellow officers! I've recovered the phone data!"
The room was uncomfortably silent for a second. Then it erupted into a deafening ovation. Chief Thomas, who was chuckling, told them to calm down. You were rubbing your hands in anticipation.
"We were insanely lucky that this phone is an Android. Otherwise, we would have a whole lot of pain," Victoria clarified. She quickly showed the phone data on the large screen.
The only things that were important were the messages and the photos. All the photos showed Milad with a bright, happy face with his former wife and children. The recent messages revealed a conversation between Milad and a mysterious figure named O.N.
The most recent ones wrote:
"Milad, if you want to save your family, do what I say. The city hadn't been helping you at all, right?"
"Yes, O.N. You're right. The city hasn't been helping me at all. My daughter needs about $2,000,000 for the surgery bill, and I don't have the healthcare insurance for it. Please, just anything..."
"Fine, Milad. Here... if you are willing to bomb the city for me, I will give you two million dollars exact."
"Bombing the city...? *worry face emoji*"
"Oh? You're not going to do it? Don't worry, I won't tell you to suicide bomb. I will have my assistants to help you with it. Each bombing will go without a hitch."
"... Fine. I will do it. Anything for my daughter. But, you do have to promise to help my daughter!"
"Very well. This deal is sealed. Attached is a picture of the bombing route."
A picture of a red hexagram, with a distance marker of 1 mile from top to bottom, appeared. The captions wrote: "This is the other condition. Your bombing route have to follow this route, your place of starting point. And you have to complete the bombing route in one stroke. Did you think I will let you off easy by bombing random buildings? Hell no! If you want the money, work hard for it!"
"Yes, O.N. I will successfully complete this mission."
"Glad to hear that, Milad. Godspeed to you."
The conversation ended there.
"We will do some basic math and geography, and will inform you guys of the next bombing spot! Any questions before I dismiss you?" Victoria declared. Seeing no hands raised up, she announced, "Dismissed!"
When they walked out of the room, Belladonna slapped Detective W's back. "W! Wanna go grab some lunch with me?! I will pay for it! Yeah, your cute, lovely assistants can come too!"
Ha-Eun crossed her arms and pouted, but she went just the same. You guys went to a nearby restaurant that served Jamaican food.
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The Top Floor of An Used Building, 8:00 PM...
Milad, who was kneeling on the cold concrete floor, winced as the sharp heel grinded deeper into his scalp. A distorted voice permeate the dark, musty room. "Milad... you have slipped. Not one, but two handy clues fell in the police's hands. And that the police had caught on to you. What am I going to do with you...?"
Only the moonlight lit the room. When Milad tilted his head up, all he could see was white pants and suit. The face was completely masked by the darkness. "O... O.N, I've messed up. Give me a redeeming chance, please... my daughter..." he choked, and tears came gushing like a waterfall.
"Oh... Milad. I'm not saying that you're not forgiven. I won't forgive you, however, if you abandoned the challenge. After all, a goal is only worthwhile when you have challenges."
A notable pause hung in the air. "Seeing you with passion... I admire men like that. This time, however, the route will be different. Instead of a six-pointed shape, a five-pointed shape will be given this time. You will leave them off track with this. Capisce?"
The mysterious figure tossed a piece of paper with a drawing on it. The figure then tossed an emerald ring with silver adornments.
"Use this ring to contact us whenever you have trouble. We will do the best we can."
Milad gave the cold concrete floor a gentle tap with his head. "Yes, O.N. Thank you very much for the second chance..."
The heel lifted from his head. "Now that's better. I expect good results, Milad." the distorted voice bid him farewell as Milad walked away. As Milad looked back, the clouds covered the moon, obscuring the mysterious figure's body in the murky darkness.
----------------Day 2, Now onto Day 3!----------------