Chapter 33 Evidence

The following morning, Friday.

Robbery-Homicide Division, 1st Squadron.

Friday had returned, bringing with it a palpable tension in the office. With the troubling possibility that Alyssa might have been abducted, it was clear that the suspect behind the "Taser robbery" was far from finished.

The uncertainty of whether another crime might occur tonight added to the invisible pressure that weighed heavily on Susan's face.

"Everyone, let's head to the conference room for a meeting," Susan directed.

Luke and his colleagues filed into the meeting room one by one. Jenny, ever thoughtful, poured coffee for everyone, earning a grateful nod from Luke.

Susan took a sip of her coffee and set the cup aside. "Any updates on the case?"

Raymond spoke up, "I've been delving into cases from two decades ago. One involved a Taser robbery, but the suspect in that case has already been apprehended, which doesn't match Tony's profile. There were also some unresolved robberies and kidnappings from that period. I've cross-referenced these with the Taser robbery cases but haven't found any links yet."

The deputy captain added, "It seems that the Taser robbery case is distinct from typical robbery or kidnapping cases. The initial victims were robbed, but the suspect's motive remains unclear. As for Alyssa's disappearance, if it was a kidnapping, it diverges from the usual pattern. Typically, a ransom would be demanded, but Alyssa's family hasn't received any such call, and they aren't wealthy. It seems more likely to be a personal vendetta."

Luke agreed, "I'm on the same page as the deputy captain. We previously thought there was only one suspect, ruling out a gang involvement and suggesting that the cases were perpetrated by different individuals. This makes controlling alibis feasible. Harry, from the drag racing gang, had conflicts with Alyssa. We can't completely dismiss his involvement."

Susan nodded. "David, keep monitoring your informant."

Jenny voiced her concern, "If Alyssa was kidnapped and it's been a week without any ransom demands, could she have met with an accident?"

A brief silence followed, hinting at the grim possibility that Alyssa might be dead, necessitating a shift in their search strategy.

"Knock, knock…"

Matthew entered, sensing the somber atmosphere. "Am I interrupting?"

"Is there an issue?"

"I reexamined Alyssa's financial records and discovered a recent cash transaction of $15,000."

"That's a significant amount for Alyssa," Susan noted. "What was it for?"

"She used it to rent a shop at 103 Minn Avenue."

"When was it rented?"

"February 11th."

The deputy captain remarked, "The shop was leased on February 11, and the first Taser robbery occurred on February 18. There's a week gap that warrants checking this shop. Matthew, get me the landlord's contact details. Luke, David, you're with me."

Susan's expression remained stern but resolute.

...

Half an hour later, Luke and his team arrived at 103 Minn Avenue. The shop was securely locked, with blinds obscuring the interior.

The neighboring units included a café at No. 102 and another rental property at No. 104.

As they approached, Luke wondered why Alyssa had rented the shop. Was she considering quitting her job? If so, why hadn't she contacted her parents or provided an explanation?

David contacted the landlord, and soon a middle-aged man with a considerable belly arrived.

"Hi, did someone call about my property?"

David identified himself and his team, "I'm Detective David, and this is Deputy Vincent."

The landlord introduced himself as Kalman. "What's this about ? how is my shop related to a kidnapping?"

"The tenant of the shop has been kidnapped."

Kalman appeared taken aback. "When did this happen?"

"Last Friday," David said, showing a photo of Alyssa. "Is this the tenant?"

"Yes and no."

The deputy captain pressed, "What do you mean, yes and no?"

"Well, her husband handled the lease. He used her details to surprise her."

Luke showed a picture of Steven. "Is this him?"

"Yes, that's him."

The deputy captain asked, "Did Alyssa appear during the lease process?"

Kalman shrugged. "It was meant to be a surprise."

The deputy captain pointed at the shop. "We need to inspect the premises. Open the door."

Kalman hesitated, "The shop's rented out. Legally, I can't let you in without the tenant's consent."

The deputy captain replied, "Alyssa's been kidnapped. This is an active investigation, and we have the authority to search."

"Alright, you decide." Kalman unlocked the door and gestured for the team to enter.

Even though the door was locked, Luke and his team drew their weapons and stood on alert.

"Safety first," they assured each other.

Inside, the shop was modestly sized, divided into a larger front area and a smaller rear section.

Luke inquired, "What's the plan for this place?"

"A restaurant," Kalman said, following them inside. "It's well-located, with high foot traffic and many tourists. Perfect for dining."

The deputy captain donned gloves and inspected the blue-painted wall. "What was this wall's original color?"

"White," Kalman replied.

"The walls seem freshly painted," the deputy captain observed, noting the smell of disinfectant. "Do you detect anything unusual?"

Luke joined him in sniffing the air. "It does smell like disinfectant."

The deputy captain instructed, "Call the Technical Department. We need an on-site investigation team."

...

Thirty minutes later, the Technical Department's team arrived. Mary Sue, the lead investigator, conducted a thorough examination of the store.

After an hour, Mary Sue reported, "We found significant blood spatter on the walls and floor, though it had been cleaned with disinfectant. Using luminol, we revealed blue fluorescence indicating bloodstains that had been scrubbed."

"Is it confirmed to be human blood?" the deputy captain asked.

"Yes."

"This amount of blood is sufficient to be fatal!" The deputy captain sighed and instructed, "I'll call the captain to get an arrest warrant for Steven. Meanwhile, you three head to Steven's residence."