13. I-might have use for Mr. Langley's party

Manchester gazes at the wall, the building itself was a single-story structure, with a faded sign that read 'Research facility' in peeling letters. Maybe it was due to Sophia Patel's disappearance, but the environment gave off an eerie feeling as they walked further into it.

When they entered her laboratory, Manchester was greeted by a middle-aged woman who was taking pictures of the area before their arrival. Her name is Kim and she is the lab director whom the security officer had talked about.

"Thank you for coming, detective," she said, shaking hands with the Manchester, she could tell by the ID hanging from his neck and the box in his hand. Plus, she had also requested one a few hours ago.

"We are worried sick about Sophia," she began, her voice dripped with sadness,

"It has been three days and we have no idea what happened to her."

Manchester nodded sympathetically, dropped his box on the floor and opened it up to take out his notepad.

"Can you tell me more about Dr. Patel's research? And what you suggest might have led to her disappearance."

Kim nodded, but she gestured for them to leave the laboratory first, and Manchester complied.

"Sophia was working on a project, Eclipse. It's a highly classified research initiative that involves the development of new energy sources."

"Sophia was the lead researcher on the project and she had been working tirelessly to meet the project's deadlines. She leaves this place not later than 10 pm every day until three nights ago when she left earlier."

Manchester took a mental note, nodding his head at intervals to show that he was listening.

"I need more Intel on this research, is it life-threatening in any way?"

"Not at all," Kim replied,

"Well not the project itself, but I can not say the same for the kind of people that fund the project, and all the overseers. I am just a laboratory director and I know very little about the project since they are very secretive about it."

"I see," Manchester noted, and walked back into the laboratory, took out the little camera in his box and took a few pictures of the place, he walked from one spot to the other hoping to find something that might give him a clue.

"Can I see the footage?" Manchester requested after coming out of the lab, he knew that Dr. Patel did not leave the lab because she was headed home, otherwise, she would have taken her phone and purse with her, but she left for something else, but what?

As they got to the security room, Kim logged into the system to show the footage to him, and Manchester watched with keen interest. Sophia Patel had only gone out of the lab after looking at a message on her phone, she rushed to the nearby drawer and took a few documents before leaving in a hurry.

Other footage revealed that she had left the gate without her car, and she stood there for a while like she was waiting for someone. And then the most surprising thing happened, Sophia picked up a stone and threw it at security cameras present there.

And because she worked alone most of the time, or maybe with two assistants, no one was in the security room when the deed was done, so that was the last place she was seen. This is because the surveillance cameras were damaged by the stones that she threw at them.

"This one can not even be retrieved," he muttered under his breath,

"Is there any footage that shows her returning to the lab?"

"None," Kim replied briskly.

"And this place is far from the city, there are no neighbouring surveillance cameras to check."

Manchester sighed, this wasn't as simple as he thought it was going to be. Without a single piece of evidence, no suspects and no tangible information, this case is bound to be a hassle.

"Thank you very much, Dr. Kim, I have one more request from you...

"Sure go ahead."

"Do you know who the main sponsors of this project are? Like what organisation she was working for before the disappearance?"

Kim nodded,

"Everglow." She said,

"She works for Everglow, this is the first time she is working for them, at least from what she had told me. But then they have denied us every request to see their CEO concerning her disappearance, but the detectives released a report yesterday evening that Everglow had nothing to do with it."

"Their reports will not affect my investigation," said Manchester.

"I am a detective and I know these games, no one will play that with me."

Kim just stood there, she didn't know what Manchester meant by that statement, or what he was doing to do, but she chose to trust his judgement.

"Her family will be greatly indebted to you if you can get them an answer. Her mother has called me over ten times today and it's beginning to make me feel bad. I don't want them thinking that I have something to do with it or blame me...

"I understand," Manchester uttered before she could finish speaking,

"And I will do whatever I can, to get some answers. I just don't know how long it will take me to do that."

Kim nodded in understanding and extended her hand for a handshake with the detective.

"Thank you very much Mr. Detective, I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible, I will keep my eyes out and my ears open for any other information. I will let you know if I find anything."

"No worries." Manchester simply replied with a soft smile and left the laboratory. As soon as he stepped out of the gates, Manchester was relieved of the uneasy feeling that overwhelmed them while he was in there, there was something about that laboratory that just didn't sit right with him.

"System, how do I get to meet the CEO of Everglow?"

//A formal invitation or an appointment with the CEO would grant you access to one-on-one time with him//

"The appointment would have to be issued by him or his team I suppose?"

//Affirmative. However, due to the bias system in most organisations, you can enlist a prominent member of the society to assist you with meeting the CEO. A fine might be paid but it's most often not outrageous //

"Well, that doesn't help, because I do not know anyone influential enough to... wait," Manchester paused as he had just remembered something.

"I think I might have use for Mr. Langley's party after all."

//+300 exp //