Two Separate Investigations

A Parting Suggestion

Brendon adjusted his coat, stepping out of the Lagooncrest Isle police station. The day was crisp, the salty breeze from the sea carrying the distant chatter of passersby. His mind was still processing everything he had learned—or rather, the lack of useful leads. He had spoken with a few officers, gone through reports, but nothing had given him a direct clue to move forward with his investigation.

As he took a step toward the street, ready to leave, a voice called out from behind him.

"Hey, Mr. Wolf. I have a suggestion for you."

Brendon stopped mid-stride, exhaling sharply before turning around. He didn't need to see the person to know who it was. Sure enough, standing there with his usual smug grin was Liam Mayers, the ever-talkative officer who had spent most of their earlier conversation jumping between useful information and pure nonsense.

Brendon tucked his hands into his coat pockets. "You know, you talk a lot," he said, raising a brow. "All your babbling shenanigans inside weren't enough, huh?"

Liam put a hand over his chest, feigning offense. "Ouch. Straight to the heart. And here I thought we were bonding."

Brendon let out a dry chuckle. "For your kind notice, I should say that amid all that babbling, you still managed to give me some important information. So, no offense."

Liam smirked. "Oh! Burn. You sure don't like a light mood, huh? That's alright. No offense taken."

Brendon sighed. "So, what do you want now?"

Liam clapped his hands together. "Alright, back to business. I was saying that you should visit a local bar called Paradise."

Brendon raised an eyebrow. "And why should I?"

Liam grinned, clearly enjoying himself. "It seems like you don't spend time watching TV serials."

Brendon frowned. "And?"

Liam leaned slightly closer. "Detectives always get their clues in bars like this when they hit a dead end in an investigation. It's practically a rule."

Brendon scoffed. "That's a trope, not reality."

Liam shrugged. "Maybe. But let's be real—right now, you have nothing to go on. You're hitting a wall, aren't you? No solid lead, no clear direction. When that happens, a bar is the perfect place to pick up whispers. You'd be surprised what kind of people spill secrets when they've had one too many drinks."

Brendon tilted his head slightly. The annoying part was—Liam wasn't entirely wrong. While it wasn't always the case, bars had proven useful in past investigations. If there were any shady individuals connected to his case, a place like Paradise might be where they let their guard down.

Still, he wasn't about to admit that to Liam.

Brendon let out a sigh. "Okay, okay, I get it." He turned to leave. "Thanks, I suppose."

Liam flashed a grin. "Mention not."

Brendon waved him off without looking back, blending into the city streets.

As he walked, he pulled out a cigarette, lighting it with a flick of his lighter.

"Paradise," huh? Guess we'll see if it lives up to its name.

---

Morning in Ridgecliff

The sunlight seeped through the curtains of Robert's apartment, casting a warm glow on his face. He groaned, shifting slightly before cracking his eyes open. His gaze fell on the clock mounted on the wall.

8:00 a.m.

"Man… seems like I overslept," he muttered, rubbing his face before pushing himself up from the bed.

As he swung his legs off the mattress, he suddenly remembered—Brendon had left for Lagooncrest Isle today.

He grabbed his phone from the nightstand and checked his messages. Sure enough, Brendon had sent one before boarding the ship.

Brendon:

"Don't forget to update me about Amelia's case. Plus, if you get the chance, please take a picture of Scott's face. I wanna see how his face looks after getting into a case like this just after his birthday. 😆😆😆"

Robert chuckled, shaking his head before typing out a quick response.

Robert:

"Obviously, bud."

Sliding the phone into his pocket, he stretched before heading to his mother's room.

She was sitting up in bed, looking much healthier than before. It had only been a few days since she was discharged from the hospital. Her soft brown eyes brightened as she saw him enter.

"Hey, sweetypie, good morning," she greeted with a gentle smile.

"Good morning, Mom. And thanks for the sweet greeting."

She chuckled. "Leaving already? Have some breakfast first."

Robert sighed, scratching the back of his head. "Sorry, Mom. But I have a tight schedule, you know. My job demands it. I'll eat something out." He gestured toward the door. "The maid will serve you your food, so don't worry."

His mother reached out and patted his hand. "As long as you're with me, I have nothing to fear."

A small, warm smile tugged at Robert's lips. "I'll be back soon."

With that, he grabbed his jacket and left the apartment.

---

Back to Work

Robert arrived at the Ridgecliff Law Enforcement Police Station and immediately went to Chief Tyson's office. The older bull sat behind his desk, flipping through reports while sipping his usual black coffee.

Without a word, Robert placed the case file on the desk—the missing person report for Amelia Hudson.

Chief Tyson glanced at it before letting out a sigh. "Right, let's get this started."

He pressed the intercom button. "Scott, Sofie, Judith—briefing room. Now."

A loud groan echoed from the hallway before Scott's voice followed.

"Ughhh… why, God? Why? Can't a man just have a day off after his birthday?"

Sofie snickered. "Sorry, old pal. I genuinely feel sorry for you."

Scott perked up slightly. "Thanks—wait a minute. Did you just call me old again?"

Sofie laughed, giving him a playful wink before walking into the briefing room.

Scott slumped into a chair, his expression miserable.

Chief Tyson clapped his hands. "Silence, everyone."

The room fell quiet as he opened the case file and began the briefing.

"Alright, Amelia Hudson. Missing since yesterday. Her uncle, Mr. Hudson, lodged the report. No known enemies, no suspicious behavior beforehand." He handed out assignments. "Scott, go through Amelia's belongings. See if you can find anything out of place. Sofie, handle the tech work. Check her digital footprint, contacts, and recent calls."

Sofie gave a thumbs-up. "On it, Chief."

"Judith, Robert—you're with me. We're going to question Amelia's parents."

Scott groaned again as he took the case file. "Happy birthday to me…"

---

Investigating Amelia's Home

The drive to the Hudson residence was quiet. Upon arriving, Chief Tyson wasted no time questioning Amelia's parents. He, Judith and Robert searched her room.

Amelia's room was neat—too neat, as if it had been cleaned up deliberately.

Judith checked the drawers while Robert rummaged through the bedside table. Chief overseeing them. Then, he noticed something odd.

"Judith, look at this."

She turned around just as Robert pulled out Amelia's phone from beneath a pile of books.

"Sofie is currently going though Amelia's call history, right?" Judith asked.

Robert nodded. "Yeah, but if her phone is hidden, it means someone didn't want us to see something."

They exchanged glances before Robert powered on the phone.

It required a passcode.

Sofie would have to crack it.

---

Chief Tyson's Interrogation

Inside the modest living room of Amelia's house, Chief Victor Tyson, Robert, and Judith sat across from Amelia's parents. The room was neat but carried an air of unease, as if the furniture itself was tense under the weight of the missing girl's absence.

Amelia's mother, Linda Hudson, was a frail woman in her late forties. Her eyes were puffy, likely from crying, and she clutched a tissue tightly in her trembling hands. Her father, Gregory Hudson, on the other hand, was a stark contrast—rigid posture, arms crossed, his jaw clenched with an expression that could have been mistaken for anger rather than concern.

Chief Tyson cleared his throat. "Mr. and Mrs. Hudson, I appreciate your cooperation. I know this is difficult, but we need to go over some details about Amelia."

Linda nodded weakly, her fingers twisting the tissue. "O-Of course, Officer. Anything to find my baby."

Gregory grunted. "Just get to the point. What do you need to know?"

Tyson narrowed his eyes at Gregory's impatient tone but kept his voice even. "Let's start with Amelia's recent behavior. Anything unusual before she went missing? Did she seem worried, anxious, or did she mention anything odd?"

Linda opened her mouth, then hesitated. She glanced at Gregory as if seeking approval to speak. He exhaled sharply and gestured for her to continue.

"N-No, nothing unusual," Linda said, her voice barely above a whisper. "She's always been such a sweet girl… always responsible."

Gregory huffed. "She was reckless. Always running off, thinking she could do whatever she pleased."

Linda flinched slightly at his words but didn't correct him.

Judith frowned. "So, you think she would have left on her own?"

Gregory scoffed. "Wouldn't surprise me. But if something did happen to her, I expect you people to do your jobs and bring her back."

Tyson gave a slow nod. "And her social life? Did she have close friends? A boyfriend?"

Linda finally showed some life at that question, shaking her head quickly. "Oh no, Amelia is a good girl. She's always been careful about those things. She never mentioned a boyfriend."

Robert exchanged a glance with Tyson. Never mentioned one didn't mean she didn't have one.

"And her friends?" Tyson pressed.

"She was close to a few girls from school, but they haven't been in touch much since she started university," Linda replied.

Gregory sighed. "Look, Officer, you're wasting time. If she called that detective saying she was kidnapped, then do your job and find out who took her. Amelia isn't some helpless child."

Tyson leaned back in his chair, studying the man. Gregory spoke about his daughter with frustration rather than worry, and Linda… she seemed almost afraid to voice her thoughts. A controlling father, a timid mother. Not the healthiest family dynamic.

Judith gently asked, "Did Amelia ever mention wanting to leave home? Go somewhere far away?"

Linda hesitated again, but Gregory cut in. "She knew her place. She wasn't going anywhere without our say-so."

Robert scribbled a quick note. Knew her place? That didn't sit right.

Tyson exhaled, standing up. "Alright, we won't take more of your time. If you remember anything important, contact us immediately."

Linda nodded quickly. Gregory, however, crossed his arms again, muttering, "Just find her."

As the team left the house, Tyson muttered under his breath, "Something's off about that family."

Robert hummed in agreement. "Yeah. But we'll focus on finding Amelia first. Whatever secrets they have? We'll deal with that later."

---

Sunset at Paradise

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting an amber glow over Lagooncrest Isle. The streetlights flickered on one by one, illuminating the cobbled roads as people prepared for the evening.

Brendon stood in front of a small yet lively-looking bar. The neon sign above the entrance glowed a vibrant "Paradise", casting a soft red hue onto the pavement below.

Liam's words echoed in his mind.

"Detectives always get their clues in bars like this when they hit a dead end."

Brendon sighed, flicking his lighter open and lighting a cigarette.

"Guess I'll find out if he's right."

He exhaled a puff of smoke before pushing open the door and stepping inside.

The night was just beginning.