Investigation Progress
The morning sun had barely risen over Ridgecliff when Robert entered the law enforcement station, rubbing his temple as he prepared for another long day. The case of Amelia's disappearance had taken not much progress, and with Brendon away, the weight of the investigation fell on his shoulders. He knew he had to make progress—fast.
His first stop was the forensic department. The moment he stepped inside, he heard Scott Wright complaining loudly as he shuffled through documents and test results.
"Kids these days," Scott grumbled, tossing a file onto the table. "They leave home without any trace for petty reasons, and then we have to waste time and resources chasing them down."
Robert let out a small sigh. "Wow! Calm down, Mr. Wright. I know this is frustrating, but it's our duty to serve people."
Scott snorted, crossing his arms. "Do you think I don't know that? But I'm sick of this generation's nonsense. Running away because of breakups, fights with parents, or just for 'adventure.' You'd think they'd have some respect for the people who have to track them down." He leaned back in his chair, shaking his head. "I'd bet good money Amelia just ran off with some boyfriend."
Robert understood Scott's frustration. Too often, law enforcement was caught up in trivial cases that wasted valuable resources—babysitting high-ranking officials, managing festival security, tracking rebellious teens who eventually showed up safe and sound. But Amelia's case felt different.
"Alright, so is there anything new in Amelia's belongings?" Robert asked, getting to the point.
Scott smirked. "Why do you think I'm accusing her of running off with a guy?"
Robert raised a brow. "So you found a DNA trace?"
"Bingo." Scott leaned forward. "Found some biological evidence on her belongings—clothing, to be exact. Not hers, obviously."
Robert frowned. "Did it match anyone in the database?"
Scott shook his head. "Not in criminal records. That's why I sent it to Sofie. She's better at this tech stuff than I am. You should check with her."
Robert nodded. "Got it." He turned to leave, but Scott called after him, "Hey, if you find out this girl just ran off with some guy, you owe me a beer."
Robert chuckled dryly. "If that's the case, I'll buy you two."
---
Next stop: the Tech Department.
The moment Robert walked in, he spotted Sofie at her workstation, her eyes glued to the screen, typing rapidly. A dozen monitors displayed complex data—IP addresses, search histories, social media accounts.
"You look busy," Robert commented, stepping closer.
Sofie barely glanced up. "Working hard so you don't have to."
Robert smirked. "That's what I like to hear."
She finally turned to him, pushing her glasses up. "Scott sent me a DNA sample. No matches in Ridgecliff's database, which means our mystery man isn't from around here."
Robert exhaled sharply. "So Amelia's so-called 'boyfriend'—if he even exists—could be from out of town."
"Exactly." Sofie clicked a few keys. "But there's something else. Take a look at this." She pulled up Amelia's Facebook account.
Robert leaned in as Sofie scrolled through Amelia's posts. Among them, a particular user stood out: Devil_Man_666.
Sofie tapped the screen. "Weird name, huh?"
Robert narrowed his eyes. "Wait… I think I've seen that name before."
He wracked his brain for a moment before snapping his fingers. "Yeah, got it. This user's definitely an anime fan. That's an anime title—Devilman Crybaby. It was recently released and got a lot of attention for its unique concept."
Sofie gave him a sideways glance. "I didn't know you were into anime."
Robert smirked. "There's a lot you don't know about me, Sof."
She rolled her eyes. "Oh, so you're calling me 'Sof' now? Just because I call you 'Rob' sometimes?"
"Definitely yes."
She snorted but continued scrolling through the comments from Devil_Man_666. Some were just cryptic religious riddles—passages twisted into ominous warnings. Others carried an unsettling tone, as if the user had been watching Amelia closely.
One comment, under a picture of Amelia at a beach bonfire with friends, read:
Devil_Man_666: "For the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey, but in the end, she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a double-edged sword."
Robert furrowed his brows. "That's from the Bible. Proverbs 5:3-4."
Sofie nodded. "Yup. And there's more."
She scrolled down to another post—Amelia standing in front of a modern art mural, smiling, wearing ripped jeans and a crop top. Underneath, Devil_Man_666 had written:
Devil_Man_666: "The woman dressed in scarlet walks the path of sin. She tempts, she corrupts, and she shall be cast into the lake of fire."
Robert's jaw clenched. "That sounds… personal."
Sofie hummed in agreement. "And then there's this one."
She clicked on a post where Amelia had uploaded a selfie, making a peace sign with the caption: 'New day, new adventures! #Blessed'
Beneath it, Devil_Man_666 had responded:
Devil_Man_666: "Even the blessed fall. Even the righteous burn. Judgment comes for all."
Robert exhaled sharply. "Okay, that's definitely threatening."
Sofie leaned back, rubbing her temples. "This guy isn't just some edgy troll. He's obsessed. And religious fanaticism mixed with obsession? That's a dangerous combination."
Robert nodded. "Yeah. We need to track this guy down—fast."
One, in particular, stood out. It was a response to a picture Amelia had posted with her friends, all dressed in modern outfits.
Devil_Man_666: You will burn in hell.
Robert's expression darkened. "That's… intense."
Sofie nodded. "Yeah. Some of these comments give off stalker vibes. I'm already working on tracking this user down."
"Good. Let me know as soon as you find something."
---
With that, Robert made his way to the Sheriff's Office.
He sat down at the large desk, staring at the whiteboard in front of him. Chief Tyson's words echoed in his mind: "Be the first line of help for the townspeople. Focus on the Sheriff's duties."
Robert sighed. If Brendon were here, he wouldn't just sit idly. He'd be brainstorming, trying to piece everything together.
Grabbing a marker, Robert began writing down all the clues they had so far about Amelia's disappearance:
Left home suddenly, no obvious reason.
DNA evidence suggests an unknown male was involved.
Suspicious online activity—possible stalker?
Something was missing. He could feel it.
Then, the phone rang.
"Sheriff's Office, Robert speaking."
A frantic voice answered. "Assistant Sheriff Mrs. Hudson here. I'm Amelia's mother."
Robert sat up straight. "Yes, ma'am. How can I help?"
"I just remembered something important," Linda Hudson said, her voice shaky. "Before Amelia disappeared, she went on a trip."
Robert grabbed his notepad. "A trip? Where?"
"I… I don't remember the name exactly," Linda stammered. "It was an island town… something with an 'L'… La… La… Lagooncrest Isle! Yes, that's it!"
Robert's grip on the pen tightened. "Lagooncrest Isle. Do you remember which hotel she stayed at?"
"I can't recall the name, but I know she was in Apartment 109."
Robert noted it down. "When she came back, did she act differently?"
"Yes!" Linda's voice rose with urgency. "She was acting so strangely. She'd talk in private on the phone a lot—something she never used to do. She seemed… nervous. Like she was hiding something."
Robert exhaled. "Alright, Mrs. Hudson. This is very helpful. I'll look into it."
"Please, Sheriff, find my daughter."
Robert nodded, even though she couldn't see him. "I will."
As he hung up, he glanced back at the whiteboard.
Lagooncrest Isle.
That was the missing link.
Something happened to Amelia there.