The interrogation

At the station, Harris and Jeff led Sean into the interrogation room. Captain Joe watched from the observation room, a grim expression on his face. The room was sterile, with a single table and two chairs. A camera recorded everything from the corner.

 Sean was seated, his hands cuffed to the table. He glared at Harris and Jeff as they entered. "I want to know why the hell I'm here," Sean demanded.

 Harris sat across from him, placing a folder on the table. "We found DNA evidence at a crime scene that partially matches yours."

 Sean's eyes widened. "DNA? That's impossible. I didn't do anything."

 Jeff leaned in. "We're investigating a series of murders. The latest victim had a hair under her nails that matches your DNA by 70%. Care to explain that?"

 Sean shook his head vehemently. "I don't know anything about any murders. I've been clean since I got out. Check my alibi. I was at my girlfriend's place all night."

 Harris and Jeff exchanged a glance. Harris turned to the camera in the corner of the room. "Let's verify his alibi."

 Hours passed as the detectives worked to corroborate Sean's story. Captain Joe and Jeff stood outside the interrogation room, watching the footage.

 "Do you believe him?" Jeff asked.

 Joe shrugged. "I don't know. He seems pretty adamant, but we can't ignore the DNA match."

 Inside the room, Harris continued to press Sean, but he stuck to his story, denying any involvement. After seven hours of relentless questioning and no solid leads, they had no choice but to release him.

 Sean left the station, still protesting his innocence. Harris watched him go, frustration etched on his face.

 Back in the squad room, Harris, Jeff, and Captain Joe gathered to discuss the interrogation.

 "I don't buy his story," Harris said, pacing back and forth. "But we don't have enough to hold him."

 Jeff nodded in agreement. "The DNA match is too close to ignore, but we need more evidence."

 Captain Joe sighed. "For now, let him go. But keep him on our radar. There's something not right here."

 Harris nodded, feeling the weight of the case pressing down on him. The killer was still out there, and they were no closer to finding him. He and Jeff left the station, each lost in their own thoughts.

 Detective Harris returned to his modest home in a quiet, unremarkable neighborhood. The house was small and unadorned, with beige walls and a sparse decor that reflected the emptiness he often felt. A single armchair faced a low coffee table with a stack of papers and a half-read book. The atmosphere was dim, illuminated only by the soft glow of a few lamps scattered around the room.

 Harris slipped off his shoes and trudged into the bathroom, the tiles cold against his feet. He turned on the shower, letting the hot water cascade over him, hoping to wash away the frustration and fatigue from the day. The steam filled the small space, momentarily blurring the harsh reality outside.

 After his shower, Harris made his way to the kitchen. It was functional but uninspiring—a small dining table, a cluttered countertop, and an old stove. He quickly prepared a simple meal: a sandwich and some microwaved soup. As he ate, he couldn't stop thinking about the case.

 Once he finished, he sat down at his small, cluttered desk in the corner of the living room. The desk was strewn with files, old case notes, and a laptop. He opened the laptop and began searching for more information on Sean Matthews.

 The search revealed Sean's background: a string of petty crimes and involvement in various shady deals. But one entry caught Harris's attention—a photo of Sean and Emily together at a restaurant. The image was from a few months prior, a seemingly ordinary outing. Harris's heart raced. Why were they together? Was there a connection between them that went beyond what he had learned so far?

 Harris stared at the screen, the photo of Emily and Sean haunting him. His mind raced through possible scenarios, trying to piece together how their paths might have crossed. Was Sean a red herring, or was there something more sinister at play?

 He made a note to dig deeper into Emily's relationship with Sean and to revisit any additional surveillance footage that might reveal more about their interactions. Exhausted but resolute, Harris finally closed his laptop and prepared for bed, his thoughts consumed by the mystery that continued to elude him.