LUCID LIE

NOTE:

This book is a Crime Detective Series, rated 18+. It contains sensitive and intriguing scenes~ not meant to promote violence or bad conduct but to educate and entertain the readers.

It is purely fictional, any resemblance to real-life events, places, or characters is purely coincidental with no intention to plagiarize or mock.

" The real evil is the power to kill people. Someone who finds himself with that power is cursed. No matter how you use it, anything obtained by killing

people can never bring true happiness."– Soichiro.

Nothing justifies a crime~

************

Pandy Scott and Lee Do-Hyun were the respective victims and witnesses of the 2005 deadly murder– " THE HOMICIDE". The murder rendered them orphans and the only survivors from their various homes where the murder took place.

Pandy lost her younger sister, along with her mother and best friend ~ they were found brutally murdered in cold blood.

Do-Hyun lost his younger brother and both parents in the same heartless way.

The aftermath of the murder soon died off with no clear evidence at hand except the trademark of the culprit, " AN EYE FOR AN EYE, A TOOTH FOR TOOTH " –the families were compensated into silence in an attempt not to stir public panic or instability.

September 18, 2023

" I thought I finally had a grip on this? " The Twenty-four-year-old detective groaned with displeasure~ she seemed lost on what next to do as she stick back a piece of evidence she had ripped off from the glass board in front of her. It was a photo of the victim in the recent murder case her team was investigating.

In her left hand were an old folder with a newspaper and a case record labeled, " THE HOMICIDE ", 2005. She was analyzing the crime scene and the method of the murder between the two for any similarities~ she had earlier pinned about two similarities which made her heart swell with hope but then, a cold needle poops her balloon of optimism and she fills back with apprehension.

" I guess this is just another copy-cut murder~" She sighed. " Do these people even have hearts?" she said, her eyes lined from one picture to another as she threaded her current hint with a red rope to the ones on the board.

She had secretly been working on this case for over two years now after joining the Norland Crime Investigation Department ~ it was as if her life depended on it.

" This wasn't at the scene earlier..." She mumbled as she glanced at the folder.

" Pandy~ " A feminine voice echoed from the entrance which made her flinch a bit, shooting the documents into her locker– seated by her desk. "Hey...are you okay?" the chestnut young lady queried as she chanced forward with her

companion.

" Yeah, Livvy, just going over these~" She fumbled, pointing to the board but Livvy caught on before she could further lie her way through.

" Don't tell me you're still on your family's case " She expressed.

Livvy Edwards and Pandy became close pals at Colledge because they got admitted the same day and shared a room after. From then, they felt destined and bonded with each other– rather than friends, they were more like blood sisters.

" Well... you can say that " Pandy answered, scamping over to her seat as she pulled her hair into a ponytail. " You know I'm not the type to give up anytime soon~"

Livvy sighed, " I thought we spoke about this already~ It's been already 15 years, for crying out loud. " She hinted and the short-cropped dark haired young man with her felt interested. He stared at the two with knee-tipped ears~the case felt similar.

" What if Chief finds out about it~ I bet you will be taken out before you know." She added and Pandy just bobbed her head.

" Yeah...yeah, I know~ I know. No need to keep repeating yourself." She said, not interested in her lecture– that's when she finally noticed him.

Slightly tilting her head with a signal towards the young man with her to which Livvy followed, Pandy questioned. " Umm, and who do we have here?"

" Oh, this is Lee Do-Hyun from the Local Police Department~ He's currently promoted to join our team today." She explained and the latter two greeted, sharing a few pleasantries.

" That's your desk, over there..." Pandy said, directing him to a seat two steps away from hers. Livvy gazed at the two and chuckled, " Getting along already...?" She said and they all shared a laugh.

Pandy was back into her folder with Do-Hyun secretly stealing a glance from his side when a call came in.

" Any further hint? " a male voice spoke just when she placed it on her ears.

" Yeah, Pennel, it appears we missed out on the sign of strangle~ it wasn't showing earlier when we first checked at the scene." She went on

as the trio rechecked the pieces of pictures on the board.

" Thanks, Pan~ I'll be there soon." He said and they nodded.

Soon after the call, the telephone rang. " I'll get it..." Livvy said. She answered but dropped within the next second.

" Another case... " She announced as she took the lead with Pandy and Do-Hyun tailing, all ears. " Florida Street, the forest reserved area~ a young man in his mid-thirties..." She updated as their backs faded out.

Livvy instinctively threw the car keys to Do-Hyun, just when they got to the black Jeep. In mid-air, he had a grip on it– Pandy took the back seat and

Livvy shared the front with Do-Hyun.

" We're on our way there~," Pandy said to someone over the phone. " We should be there in 30 minutes "

Livvy on the other hand was already gathering information on the situation and the scene. But then, the rain had already started as if the sky was morning the dead.

" Gosh~ this is not good~ " Pandy cried and Livvy moaned

" Not now..."

The night was still young with the busy streets as usual. Do-Hyun took the less busy streets of the city rather than the express street which was quite dense with traffic.

Although the rain was not heavily pouring, they got to make it to the crime scene on time if they were to gather enough evidence for investigation. Soon, their car rolled into the scene.

The place was already covered by floods of people, the police forces, forensics, crime investigators, and the press– with the scene completely secured.

The news of the crime and the scene was already making weaves and headlines on the news. The press seems to be the fastest entity there is to be. Pandy thought as their jeep pulled to a halt.

A few officers were set at the borders of the secured crime area to prevent any of the people and the Press from getting anymore closer so as not to contaminate any evidence at the scene.

The trio immediately pulled on their gloves and flung off the car. In the distance, one of the young detectives waved them over to the secured area.

" Over here...hurry." He shouted. As they headed over, Pandy critically scanned around for any evidence or place which might have been in the blind when they were securing the scene– she seems to be the precise type, very particular and detailed, Do-Hyun noticed.

Pandy had always been the observing, rather than merely seeing type during crime scene investigations. Being present and focused allowed her to look for clues that would guide her to the real solution–This was kind of a habit now.

" Fredrick Hartson, an office worker at FDA banking." he updated them just when they closed up on him. " He was last seen three days ago at HAVEN VACATION HOME with his team."

" Noted~thanks a lot for the update, Randolph~," Livvy said as they neared the body. Randolph Edwards was a skilled SWAT member who was ushered to join their team last year. He's been so helpful with resolving the recent numerous murder crimes and kidnappings.

" Let's take a look..." Pandy said, scanning the completely defaced prey on the muddy ground. Do-Hyun momentarily took shots of every turn and clue she hints on. " ...gruesome~ " She cried, critically examining.

" Sign of braces located on vital points, smashed face, and a few broken bones," Livvy mentioned. " ~looks like a planned murder." She added.

" 200 kilometers from Haven Vacation Home " Do-Hyun hinted. " This looks more like a kidnap and murder case...," The three listened as he went on, making a hypothesis.

A hypothesis is an assumption that is made based on some evidence. This is the initial point of any investigation that translates the research questions into medication. This is usually set as a starting point for any investigation for further exploration.

" We can't just go and kidnap him~ that will be more dangerous and obvious so why not plan a vacation trip?... That wouldn't be suspicious. " Do-Hyun analyzed. " So they furthered their plans and after everything, they invited him to join which Frederick innocently did."

" Right...all stories are possible until they are proven that." Pandy acknowledged, noting down a few more to aid attain evidence to logically validate their glues.

" Let's go with this hypothesis ~" Randolph admitted as they headed back to their car. " We should first start with his team who were on the vacation with him."

" When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." Livvy quoted Sherlock Holmes. Just when they stepped out of the taped-off perimeter, they were drawn to a halt.

" Over here..." Pandy called a few meters away from them– about 5 meters away from the secured area. She'd found something which might be for the victim or the culprit.

" A limited edition LV wristwatch?" Do-Hyun said, clicking a few shots immediately. " We might be getting even closer than we thought..." He added.

"Do you think this must be it?" Livvy queried and Pandy answered.

" Not until we've examined, it can not be directly said. " As if in an impulse, she warned. " Assumptions are our enemies."

" I'll get it to the lab~" Both Livvy and Pandy chorus which made the two dudes share glances.

" Let's do this~" Randolph opted. " I'll go with Livvy to check this out in the lab while you go visit Mr. Fredrick's home~ see if we can get something over there," He said, turning to Pandy and Do-Hyun. " What do you say about that ?"

" Yeah...let's do that. " They both agreed. On the spot, Livvy and Randolph headed off to his car with the sealed watch and Pandy with Do-Hyun took the jeep they had earlier come in with.

" See you guys later," Livvy said as their car rolled past them into the main street and they nodded.

Just when she was about to hop into her seat, a flash like that of a camera instinctively caught her attention. Pandy had actually had the feeling ever since they got there but then, she thought it might be that of the Press– but now, from where their car was, there was no way it was from the media men.

It seems they were being watched all along–someone was keeping an eye on them. Is it the culprit? , her thoughts grew wild.

The flash suddenly came again– her gaze spontaneously swept to catch up on it but then, found no one. It seems to be coming from one of the trees in the distance, a few meters away from where the knot of people stood but it's vacant now.

" Who could it be?" She seemed strayed.

Do-Hyun was already in the driver's seat, waiting to set the car in motion after Pandy had hopped in but then, he noticed her attention hooked on something in the distance. His eyes carefully tailed after hers– waiting to catch on to it.

" Is something over there?~you seem lost?" Do-Hyun queried after a few seconds of observation. His voice instinctively jerked her to realization.

" Ah...nothing~," She said, hopping into the seat beside him." Let's get going". With a nod, the car was already speeding through the street but Pandy's thoughts remained occupied with the flash. What if someone was tailing them?–She hesitated.

" No, it might all just be in my head." She mumbled, almost in a whisper which caught his attention.

" Huh?~what did you say?" Do-Hyun, who was all along, scanning at her through the front rearview asked.

"oh...?" She vaulted. " Umm, nothing~," She said to which he just nodded. Although he knew something was going on with her, yet he didn't know how to get her talking.

" Alright~if you say so..." He sighed and on an impulse, required. " Street Address?"

" Hs 147, Crystal Street " Pandy answered. As they drove on, she finally decided to ask about the mysterious flash she had spotted earlier since her brains had refused to sink it.

" Did you notice it?" Her question instinctively brought his divided gaze on her as he balanced his site between the road and her.

" What are you referring to?"

" The flash~," She said and his brows instinctively furrowed with a questioning look. " Yeah...the one coming from the trees at the scene~ " She added and this drew him into deep thoughts.

" That must be the reason she was locked in the distance back then~" He highlighted. He had also noticed something of the sort when they first arrived at the scene and again when they picked up the wristwatch.

"...If my thoughts are right, I think we're being traced by the culprit~" She drew a conclusion that actually synced with his thoughts but then, he couldn't completely agree with her since they couldn't make out anyone.

" Well...we can't conclude with that without any evidence~ it might just be your thoughts." He expelled to get her focused on their mission.

Pandy actually agreed since she couldn't see anyone in the act–She got no evidence to make her claims yet. "I think we'll find out more when we get to the house." She said and he acquiesced with a nod.

*************

It was after dinner and Lousia was clearing the dishes with the help of her 12-year-old daughter, Phinel. They both spontaneously glanced back at Berta and Daniel who were dancing out with the animation they were watching– and laughed.

" They seem to be having lots of fun~," Phinel said amidst laughter, and Louisa bobbed her head in approval.

" You were just like this when you were also 4 years."She teased and they chuckled, still focused on what they were doing.

" I bet I was much better than this~," She said and Lousia couldn't deny either. She just nodded with a smile which soon faded with her next question.

" Have you heard from Dad yet?" Her eyes remained fixed on her mother who in turn, glanced at her phone and back at the door.

" He should be in by now " She stated, spontaneously drying off the water on her hand as she reached for the phone. "The trip was to last for three days~ is he alright?" She mumbled, her forehead furrowed in confusion.

Just when she was about to dial his line, a knock echoed in. " That must be him~" She announced and Phinel sped off.

" I'll get it..."

Phinel instinctively remained frozen at the doorpost the moment she pulled it open– her eyes spontaneously scanned the figures in front of her; who in turn, flung a card at her.

" We're from the Crime Investigation Department..." the lady announced." I'm Detective Pandy and this is Detective Do-Hyun~Is your mum in?" She introduced of which Phinel just nodded, her face drawn into confusion. " Can we talk to her ?" Do-Hyun requested.

Louisa who noticed her daughter still rooted at the door wondered what was keeping her. " Hey, honey~ are you okay?" She asked the moment she neared her – but then, on seeing the two, her question was automatically answered.

" Mrs. Lousia Hartson?" Pandy asked on noticing her over Phinel's shoulders and she nodded with a confused look. " We're from the Crime Investigation department ~ can we have a word with you?"

Pandy went on, her hand still hanging in mid-air as she displayed her ID card. Lousia's gaze flashed in panic~ she knew without a doubt that whatever it is, wouldn't be so good. Nothing much to say, she urged them in, instructing Phinel to take her siblings upstairs to their room.

" Over here, Dan~ you too Berta." They heard her call to them. Soon, they were already out of the hall, their steps traced to the stairs.

" So cute~" Do-Hyun complimented and they all smiled as they watched their backs disappear in the distance. Sure they were out of earshot, Lousia inquired of the reason for their visit.

Pandy and Do-Hyun both shared glances and sighed. " When was the last time you heard from your husband?" Do-Hyun was the first to speak, breaking the moment of silence.

The question spontaneously sent several others racing through her thoughts~her mind practically in a fog. " Two days ago...in the afternoon, around 4 pm." She spoke up, panic starts to creep through her bloodstream.

" Why? Did something happen?– Is he in trouble?"

Without a word, Pandy slipped a few pictures from the scene on the table before them. " What's that~" Louisa leaned closer as she examined them. Instinctively, she gasped– her breath choked with tears on spotting her husband's watch and ring.

" Sorry...we lost him" Do-Hyun consoled. For a moment, Louisa's brain went dead, and tears spring to her eyes. Pandy instinctively wrapped her in her embrace. She could understand how she feels~the pain, sorrow, struggle, and all. This is something she would never wish for anyone– not even her greatest enemy.

" I'm so sorry~," She said, her voice cracked with tears. " ~but you need to help us get to the culprit..." She redrew. " Do your husband in any way have an issue with anyone?"

Louisa shakes her head– she wants to ask more but then, she seems paralyzed on the couch.