The unexpected turn

The team launched an all-out manhunt for Tanis, blanketing towns and cities with his photo and alerting every police station to report any sightings. The days dragged on without progress, frustration mounting with each passing hour. Then, out of nowhere, a tip came through—a chillingly calm voice on the phone claiming Tanis had been seen in a remote, desolate area.

"It's not from the police," one of the team members muttered, frowning as they put down the phone.

Riri leaned against the table, her eyes blazing with determination. "Does it matter? We've got nothing else. If there's even a sliver of a chance, we have to act."

With no other lead, the team set off, their vehicle tearing through the empty countryside under a slate-gray sky. The road stretched endlessly, flanked by jagged rocks and sparse trees, the oppressive silence amplifying their tension. Every second seemed to drag as they scanned the horizon.

Suddenly, the distant rumble of an engine shattered the stillness.

"There!" Calen yelled, pointing ahead to a dust cloud kicked up by a car speeding down the winding road.

"Tanis," Xian hissed. "Let's move!"

The chase ignited in an instant. Tanis, notorious for his wild driving, put his skills on full display. His car swerved recklessly through tight bends, the wheels barely clinging to the crumbling road's edge. The team's car roared behind him, tires screeching as they closed the gap.

Bullets cracked through the air as one of the team fired, narrowly missing Tanis's car. The fugitive veered dangerously, weaving through narrow passes and nearly clipping jagged rock outcrops. But the team was relentless.

Han steadied his hand, squinting through the scope. With a sharp exhale, he fired, the bullet finding its mark. Tanis's rear tire exploded, sending his car spiraling out of control. It skidded off the road, crashing into a thicket with a deafening crunch.

The team leaped from their car, weapons drawn, and surrounded the wreck. Tanis stumbled out, blood trickling down his forehead, his hands trembling as he raised them in surrender.

"Don't shoot!" he cried, his voice cracking with desperation. "I'll cooperate! I swear!"

They pinned him against the car, Riri gripping his collar tightly.

"Why did you run?" she demanded, her voice cold and cutting.

Tanis stammered, his eyes darting wildly. "I-I was scared! Yes, I made the chemical, but someone stole it from me! I thought if you caught me, you'd blame me for everything!"

"Who stole it?" Xian barked, stepping closer, his sharp gaze drilling into Tanis.

"I don't know!" Tanis insisted, his voice rising in panic. "I swear, I don't know! Someone took it, and now it's out of my control!"

One of the team members narrowed their eyes, their tone low and threatening. "What about the flasks buried in your backyard? Are you denying those, too?"

Tanis's face contorted with genuine confusion. "What flasks? I didn't bury anything! I don't know what you're talking about!"

The team exchanged wary glances. Something wasn't adding up.

And then, Xian laughed.

It was an unsettling sound, slicing through the heavy tension.

What's so funny?" Riri snapped, irritated.

Xian smirked, his eyes glinting with realization. "You're all so focused on the details that you missed the bigger picture. The criminal isn't some hidden figure pulling the strings. The criminal is right in front of us."

The rest of the team froze, confusion etched on their faces. "What do you mean?" Zib asked.

Xian didn't answer directly. Instead, he began walking toward the car. "Follow me. I'll show you."

The team exchanged uncertain glances but followed Xian's lead. He drove them straight to the hospital where Tanis had been brought earlier for questioning. Without hesitation, Xian stormed into the building, heading for a small office.

Inside sat Tanis's assistant, calmly going through some papers.

Xian didn't hesitate. He pulled out his gun and aimed it directly at the assistant's head.

The man froze, his face draining of color. "W-What's going on?" he stammered, raising his hands.

"The game's over," Xian said coldly. "You've been playing innocent this whole time, but I've got you figured out."

The assistant's voice trembled. "W-What? Me? I don't understand!"

Xian's smirk deepened. "Oh, you understand perfectly. You stole the chemical from Tanis, didn't you? You buried the flasks in his backyard to frame him. And when we got close to uncovering the truth, you staged your own 'capture.' You even had one of Tanis's helpers tie you up in the underground lab, just to make it look like you were a victim."

The assistant's eyes darted around in panic. "You have no proof!" he protested.

Xian chuckled. "No proof? You left plenty of it behind. We found traces of the chemical on your belongings. Surveillance footage showed you sneaking into Tanis's lab at night. And then there's the timing—how convenient that you just happened to be tied up in the lab when we arrived, knowing Zib had a detective monitoring our every move. You knew we'd find you there, and you played the part of an innocent pawn."

The assistant's facade crumbled. He dropped to his knees, shaking. "Fine! I did it! I stole the chemical! I buried the flasks! But I only did it for the money. I swear I didn't mean for anyone to get hurt!"

The team stared in stunned silence as the truth unraveled. Calen stepped forward, snapping handcuffs onto the assistant's wrists.

"You're under arrest," Calen said firmly. "For theft, tampering with evidence, and any other crimes we uncover."

As the assistant was led away, Xian turned to the team. "Sometimes, the answer isn't hidden. It's right in front of you, pretending to be something it's not."

The team exchanged looks, a mix of admiration and relief. While the case wasn't entirely solved—they still needed to find out who the assistant sold the chemical to—their most pressing mystery had been unraveled. The mastermind was caught, and the team could finally breathe, at least for a moment.