The Criminal's Lover

EPISODE 1

001 CRIME

London, United Kingdom. December 03, 2018

Criminal Investigation Department, Hammersmith Police Station

It was yet another dull day inside the Criminal Investigation Department of Hammersmith Police Station. You can hear a little talk from my colleagues about the cases they have, and there are still some colleagues who can't sit at their table and keep going back and forth in our boss's office and back to their cubicle to check what they're reading or checking. There are also soft sounds coming from their radio to give them a signal of what's going on in the area. or if there is an important message for them.

I said dull day but it's clearly a busy day for them and not for me.

People around this department are tall guys or guys with an aura that you would automatically salute if you saw them. They are men who yell for superiority and authority, a group of clever people with great abilities. They're the best detectives in the United Kingdom. And I'm just a newbie with just five feet and five inches tall, who can't even scare a cat with my baby-face look. Being the only girl in this field where you normally see boys just wouldn't let you run away from the mischievous behavior.

Yes, they're not treating me as one of them, but only a kid who's not going to do anything but act pretty. That's how they see me; they're always forgetting that I graduated from the Police Academy as one of the best students with great skills. They just don't see the value of my existence here.

I let out a sigh and I just tried to concentrate on watching TV where the popular young reporter Pamahres is reporting another crime. The crime has taken place across this city and the criminal is still missing. They have a suspect, but their evidence is not that strong.

It's about an 18-year-old kid who unexpectedly vanished four days ago. One of the suspects is the neighbor of the guy, he's said to be the last person to be with the missing teenager, so he's instantly accused of being the one who's possibly hiding the teenager. They're also investigating the neighbor of the kid and searching around his house. That's what the detective in charge of the case which is also my colleague said on the television.

That's not strong evidence and they should know that.

I was focused on watching and trying to solve the case even with only small details when Van suddenly taps my shoulder. "Hey," he said in a small voice. I looked at him and then cock my head on the other side. He's is the nicest detective here and fortunately, he doesn't treat me like I am not worthy of my title and job.

When I got here, he was the first one to approach me and offer friendship to me. Whenever he felt like someone is trying to disregard my skills, he would always butt in and try to defend me even though they wouldn't really bother to listen to him and his opinion about me. But that's okay because I know that someone is still believing in me and my skills.

"What is it?" I asked

"I am going out for a lunch, do you want to come?" Don't get him wrong, he is not hitting on me or has a crush on me. He already has a girlfriend and I even know her personally. Being friends with her girlfriend is actually one of the reasons why he's nice to me.

"Sure," I said and smiled at him. He smiled back before saying "Let's go!"

I don't know if I should be thankful that I am just going to work to sit all day and probably just accept a few "favors" from my colleagues when they need some small help like identifying a suspect or buying coffee for them and I'm still earning money or get mad at it because it's freaking boring already!

I mean, isn't it funny that you get to have money by just sitting around? No! It's not funny at all. I came here to become a detective and not just sit around.

Ever since I was young, I already dream of becoming a detective. That is why I strive hard to become one even though the training is really hard for a girl like me. But because I am determined to become one, I did it and graduated with Latin honor.

"Stop being depressed about it, I know your time will come soon and they will start appreciating you." That's what Van said to me and I kept repeating that to myself as I walk my way back to my apartment. I live alone but my parents never forget to call just to ask about my whereabouts. They are very supportive of my profession, particularly the fact that my father used to be one of the greatest detectives of his day. He had to retire because of his disease.

While I'm on my way home, I happened to bump into Carl. He's my neighbor, a college student with a very good-looking face that always captures the heart of young girls even the old ones.

"Hey!" I called him when I noticed that he seems to be nervous as he kept on looking around. I saw that he got surprised when he saw me but then felt relieved when maybe realized that it's just me.

"Detective Mayari!" I don't know why he sounded so scared when he called my name.

"Are you okay?" I asked him and went close to him to check if he is sick or something. I am close to this guy because he also wants to become a detective like me someday.

"It's just that..." then he stopped and looked around again, "...can we just talk inside your apartment?" his face tells me there's something wrong, so I nodded quickly and squeezed his hand as we made our way to my apartment. He began to calm down when I let him inside.

"What is wrong, Carl?" I asked him in a small voice.

"It's just weird because I think my Chemistry professor is following me," he said before heaving a sigh. "She kept on asking me in class about weird things." I can sense the disgust in his face as he said that, his teacher is kind of creepy.

"And why do you think she's following you?" I immediately asked him as I let him sit down on my couch. I remained standing as I listened carefully to him. Normally, girls are the ones who are going through this and I know boys are going through this kind of problem, too. He's probably stressed out because he doesn't have someone to talk about his creepy professor, as no one would ever care to believe him, and they'd just laugh at him if he informed them about it.

"I don't know..." he paused then purses his lips a bit "Maybe she has a crush on me?" he still tries to joke around even though I could see that he is really bothered by what his professor been doing to him.

What he said is not actually impossible, just like what I said, Carl is a good-looking student. His professor may have really developed a crush on him. She's an adult already and she should know that she's messing up with her student. That's illegal and Carl's parents can sue her if she's proven guilty with her actions.

"I can go and talk to your professor," I said to cheer him up.

I know that his parents are always busy and they probably won't even bother to come to Carl's university to help him out.

"Wouldn't that be funny? My friends would laugh at me and call me gay," he laughed at me, but I could feel the tension in his voice. And I knew it, he really doesn't have anyone he can talk about this except for me who he knew that wouldn't judge him.

"It's actually very alarming, Carl..." I said to him

"And she's forty," he continued which made me gasp.

Jesus Christ! I was actually thinking that maybe she's in her 20's or early 30's but she's already forty years old and still trying to hit on an eighteen-year-old guy. She's disgusting!

"I'll walk you home," I suggested before picking up my coat to wear it again. He looks at me with relief in his eyes before he slowly nodded. The corner of his lips lifted a bit for a smile as if he was happy to know that I am here for him. "I will visit your university tomorrow to talk to your professor. Your friends or classmates don't have to know about my visit." Then I pat his head lightly making him giggle.

"Thank you, Detective Mayari! You are the best,"

I accompanied Carl to go to their house that night. He also told me a lot of stories about that Professor and everything he said are enough for me to really suspect her actions.

It would be better if I could talk to her immediately before she does anything unpleasant to Carl. What if he'd sexually harass him? It can cause trauma to the kid and I won't let that happen.

"Are you sure you're going?" Van asked me while I'm fixing my things so I can go pay a visit to Carl's Chemistry Professor.

"Why not? She's making her student feel uncomfortable and Carl doesn't have the parents to talk to her." I said before putting my gun on my back.

"You're not his guardian," he looks at me worriedly making me frown at him a little.

"I don't have to be his guardian to be worried about him," I snickered.

He raised his hands as a sign of defeat "Fine, fine... if she refused to talk to you, don't get depressed about it." Then he chuckled at me making me shook my head at him. I showed him my badge and shrug my shoulders. "Oh no!" he looks stressed when he realized what I am trying to say which made me laugh.

"I guess I can finally use my job being a detective, huh?" then I giggled at him making him facepalm. It was fun having Van to guide me. But today is the only day that I can use my being the detective as an excuse to get my way to ask the professor.

"Take care, Mayari!" Van waved both hands to me as I leave our department and some of our colleagues laughed at his childishness.

"We searched inside the neighbor's house already, we even check all the places he went to and he's clean." I heard Michael say, the detective in charge of the missing teenager's case. He raised his hand to greet me when he saw me, and I just smiled at him.

I got to Carl's university easily because I have my car with me. The guard immediately asked me about my concerns and I told him that I just need to speak to Professor Victoria, Carl's Chemistry Professor, and he let me in.

I went straight to the Faculty Room to find a professor named Victoria Williams. It is not difficult to find the location of the Faculty Room because there's signage.

"Good morning, ma'am. How may I help you?" a small girl whom I think is also a professor here asked me when she saw me looking around.

I smiled at her "I'm Detective Mayari Taylor and I'm searching for Professor Victoria Williams, is she here?" she looks uneasy when she heard what I just said. She looks inside the faculty room before looking back at me.

"Did she cause trouble?" she asked me in a small voice making my eyebrow rose a little.

"I just need to talk to her, ma'am. Why?"

"Oh," she paused then let out a small laugh before she shook her head. "It's just weird that a Detective wants to talk to her when she's actually a very nice person."

I nodded my head at her. "So... is she here?" I continued

"Ah, yeah! Let me just call her for a second," then she turns her back to go inside the faculty to call Professor Victoria Williams.

The hallway is quiet, and it's a lunch break, so perhaps most of them are in the cafeteria. I could see some of the students looking at me and probably wondering what I'm doing here. I looked down at my phone to see if Carl had been sending me a text today. He just said that his professor had kept touching him earlier that he felt uncomfortable.

I clicked my tongue and purses my lips a little.

"You're looking for me?" I got startled when a woman suddenly spoke beside me. When my eyes went to her, our eyes locked for a second but she immediately averted her eyes on me.

"Oh yeah..." I offered my hand to her for a handshake. "I'm Detective Mayari Taylor and I'm just here to talk about your student Carl Robinson." I tried to sound as intimidating as much as I could to show her superiority. She's older than me, and she might think I'm just going to be nice just because I'm younger.

She looks surprised at what I said that her upturned eyes grew big. She blinked at least ten times before looking away. "Are you his guardian?" she said in a calm voice before she began to look around. "Can we talk somewhere else because I think it's not nice for us to just stand here in the hallway?"

"I am not his guardian but the kid discussed to me the things you did that made him feel uncomfortable." I didn't even try to listen to her suggestion that we should talk somewhere else because I'm already too eager to talk to her.

"Detective, I prefer if we talk about it in private," she said. "She tried to smile at me, and I have no choice but to agree. We went to the Chemistry Lab together and she told me to sit in one of the chairs, and I did.

"I didn't know that my kindness made Carl uncomfortable," she let out a soft chuckle before tucking some strands of her on the back of her ears. She couldn't look straight into my eyes that she can't stop moving or playing with her fingers.

Kindness? I know Carl ever since he's in 3rd grade, he's a very sweet kid and I know that he doesn't get uncomfortable that easily. If this woman here made him feel that way then I don't think she's only showing him kindness.

"You cannot touch your student in a sensual manner and call that as kindness, ma'am," I said a little before my eyebrows rose. Based on how she's moving and acting right now I feel she's feeling guilty but still stubborn to admit it. In fact, she's sensible, as she's still able to form sentences to tell me in a very careful way.

The only problem is as a detective we need to keep our attention to every single detail. Just like how she plays with her fingers and couldn't stay still while I'm throwing her some questions. She's anxious about it.

"I didn't know you have such a dirty mind, Detective." She grinned at me. I blinked my eyes twice because of what she said to me.

"I'm sorry?" I said, raising my right brow.

"I feel offended by all your remarks to me, Detective Taylor. I guess I have to ask your chief regarding this."

And she surely had the audacity to report me to my superintendent that I am receiving scolding right now.

"You can't just go there and start asking her malicious questions!" he yelled at me, and I could see Van's concern in his eyes as he tried to cheer me up. I bit my lower lip, and I bowed my head. "This is the very reason why we don't really need you here!" I closed my eyes tightly and kept telling myself that he just said it out of anger, but I have to admit that it really hurts me.

"Go back to your cubicle and just sit the fuck up there, Detective Taylor. This is your first warning,"

"Yes, sir." I saluted at him and he just glared at me making me feel terrible to myself.

I went home that night still furious about the scolding that I received. I turned on the television and decided to just watch the news.

"The family of the missing teenager, Harold Sy, is willing to give rewards to the one who can find their son," Pamahres said on the TV as he stood there looking stunning while reporting.

So, they haven't found any trace of the kid yet? Hmm, I wonder what Michael's been doing about this case right now. Seems like Harold Sy is from a rich Chinese family around the city.

I should probably text Carl right now to apologize that I couldn't do anything about his professor.

Me:

Hey, Carl. I'm sorry for today, where are you? I'll treat you to some burgers.

It took him ten minutes before he replied to me.

Carl:

Sorry... I'm busy--- Detective Mayari...

I looked at the clock and realized that it's already eight in the evening. I picked up my coat and phone and immediately contacted Van for some information.

"Hello, Mayari!" He said softly on the other side, I could hear Zab, his girlfriend, calling him in the background.

"Can you find me the address of Victoria Williams?" I said as I walk my way towards my car, I feel very nervous right now that I couldn't think straight anymore.

"What? Isn't that the professor of your friend? Do you want to get scolding again from Chief?" I could feel the frustration in Van's voice but I am just too eager to find Carl right now.

Three dots, three dashes, and three dots. The morse code for SOS.

Carl is in danger.

EPISODE 2

002 CRIME

Carl almost grew up with me, and I've always spent my free time teaching him a few morse codes he could use if he'd come across such a danger. He's really listening to me, I'm just very grateful.

"Are you beings serious right now, Mayari? What if he is just really busy?" Van continued to blabber as I started my car's engine. I informed him about Carl's text message, and he's just worried that I might get scolded.

Instead of hearing everything he says, I decided to just keep asking him for Carl's professor, "Can you search more about Professor Williams?" Once our leader finds out that I went here alone, he'd kill me, I don't have time to weigh the consequences. I just want to make sure that Carl is safe and put him away from danger.

He is like a brother to me, and even if he is not, I can never imagine not giving a damn if I know that someone is in danger.

"I'll give you some spanking tomorrow morning," I can imagine Van gritting his teeth.

I could hear Zab's voice in the background telling him what he needs. I couldn't help but smile knowing that even though he's mad at me right now he really wants to help me. I know he couldn't bear the fact, either, that someone could be in danger.

"Victoria Williams," Van said to his girlfriend.

"Copy," Zab responded.

"I'm going to help you, Mayari, but make sure to give me a signal or whatever if something bad happens. I'll back you up immediately," he stopped for a few seconds before he sighed. "No never mind. I'll go with you, Mayari." I heard his girlfriend tell him she's going to get his coat ready.

"Van, you don't have to," I looked around the street, "Just give me the exact address of her house and some of her background."

"I already sent you the address, Mayari!" said Zab in the background.

I cut him off instantly before Van could even speak, "I'll call you if I need some backup, alright? Thank you, Van and Zab..." I'm really thankful that they are very much willing to help me even if Van kept telling me it's dangerous and I might get some scolding again tomorrow.

It doesn't matter, though as long as Carl is safe.

"Just make sure you're going to be safe," Van said on the other line. He's way older than me, and he's always treating me like a little sister.

"I promise," I ended the call. I've been working on searching Professor William's house. I instructed Zab to find more information about her and give it to me. She said copy so I know she's going to do that.

I can't help wondering about what could be the reason for Professor William's fascination with Carl while I was driving. The way she looks when I saw her earlier, she's stunning, and she can always get any men she likes, except the young ones, because that would be very weird.

Me:

Okay, I'm going to see you tomorrow. Take care, Carl.

I still sent that to Carl, I know that she probably just force him to text me that he is fine so I won't have to worry. Stupid her for believing she's not going to get caught by her own fault.

I started sighing.

I hope she's not going to do anything to Carl.

Once something terrible happened to him, I'm not going to forgive myself, knowing that I should have done something but then let it happen. It took me at least twenty minutes before I found her place, she didn't have that much of a neighbor, but I knew that the location of her house was the same village where the missing Chinese teenager was living.

I blinked my eyes and couldn't process what had just come to my mind. I parked my car two blocks away from her building, so she wouldn't know that I was here. I want to ask her questions directly, but knowing how she acts earlier when I did that, it wouldn't help. She's probably acting naive and oblivious to what's going on.

Her house looks eerie when I continue to walk slowly, the entire room is dark, and you couldn't hear anything. The lights in her house are switched off and she has no neighbors, the only light in this spot is the full moon and the faint lights coming from the street lamps. I got a text message from Zab so I glanced at my phone right away.

Zab:

She's divorced, so she's living alone.

She sent more texts, but I was interrupted when I heard a distant yell coming from the back of her home. I don't want to trespass on her home, so maybe I don't have a choice but to knock on her door. If this doesn't work, then I don't even have a choice, I'm going to trespass even if it's against the law.

I made sure my gun and my radio were with me, and I could still defend myself if she were to go berserk and get violent. Van said he'll come and save me quickly if anything bad happens, but I'm sure I can handle it on my own. But just in case, I'm still going to bring my radio with me to contact him.

I marched as quickly as I could to the door of Professor William's house. I'm not sure if Carl is actually here but I'm still risking everything, I couldn't care a lot about it, I just want to save Carl or make sure he's safe.

I knocked three times, and now I can distinctly hear the scream that I'm next to her door. I'm more certain now that Carl is really here.

"Excuse me," I knocked at the door, and the scream ceased for a moment. She may have heard the knock, and now she's making sure I won't hear it. I bit my lower lip and let go of another sigh.

What the heck is she doing to Carl? I'm scared for him; I don't really care if what I'm doing right now is going to fire me from my job.

"Professor Williams," I knocked again just to be sure she actually heard me. "I know you're inside," I said to make her aware that she couldn't pretend she wasn't home.

A few seconds later, and the door opened, Professor Williams showed up at me and she was wearing ordinary clothing. She looks so sophisticated and innocent when she looks at me with her pupils. "Detective Taylor," her mouth went into a grim line, blinking her eyes twice. "What are you doing here late in the night? "

"Where's Carl?" I don't want to blabber more details, I want to stick to my point. Who knows if she's still torturing Carl with a machine or something inside, and maybe he's in danger if I'm going to stall more time.

"What do you mean by that, Detective Taylor? I don't understand what you're saying." She chuckled, but I could sense the nervousness in her expression. One thing about Professor Williams is that she can make the safest words she might mutter, but she can't conceal the fact that she's guilty or that she's nervous about the situation.

"Let's stop feigning and just tell me where Carl is. I will pretend that you didn't do it if you just brought him out now." I gritted my teeth, not patient enough.

"Why do you suspect me of something I haven't done, Detective Taylor? I'm afraid I'm going to report back to your boss again." Panic in her voice is very clear as she attempted to stop me from coming to her place.

Since I'm taller and much tougher than her, it's easy for me to dodge her touch and violently open the door of her home. This is a crime I know, but who cares about the rules if someone's about to die?

I might be exaggerating right now but if she's not trying to sexually harass Carl then maybe she's some kind of psycho who actually just wants to kill a teenager like Carl!

"You don't have a search warrant or anything, Detective Taylor! How dare you just get into my house without my permission," she attempted to take my hand, but I pulled it back with full force, letting her slip from where she was standing. Her face nearly hit the ground because of how strong my leverage was as I took my hand back.

"I will call the police! "She screamed at me, but I was shocked when I saw the picture frames inside her home. There are photographs of her with two young people, they're hugging her, and they look really happy when they take pictures with her.

They're looking the same age as Carl and the missing Chinese teenager.

"Hello, ah yes? I just want to report Detective Mayari Taylor for trespassing," I didn't mind Professor Williams reporting to my subordinates. I'm just busy staring at the photographs of her sons on the wall.

I remember that Zab mentioned she was divorced, perhaps why she didn't have photos of her ex-husband.

I felt my phone vibrate with another text message; I quickly pulled it out of my bag, not to mention Professor Williams, who kept talking to call for some help.

Zab:

Her son died last month, which is why she and her husband decided to file a divorce on the grounds that she blamed her husband for the loss of their children.

Finally, I get her obsession with Carl right now.

It's not a case of being a pedophile or sexually harassing him.

I was distracted when I heard a noise coming from her house's kitchen. "Where are you going now? "Professor Williams asked me, she tried to stop me again, but I was tougher, and she couldn't stop me from going to her kitchen.

And I saw some of Carl's belongings in there.

She might not be reporting me to the police department, but she certainly just pretends that she does. She's just trying to intimidate me, so I'm going to leave.

I almost vomit as I saw two dead bodies lying on the kitchen table. The scent that comes from it so intense that it's hard to get close to where they are.

She wants to replace her son with Carl and the Chinese teenager... she's just a broken woman who lost her sons in a terrible accident.

I heard another noise coming from my back, and I saw Carl and the Chinese teenager who was missing there.

I was about to touch Carl when I suddenly felt someone strike me with a vase on my back. "Don't touch my son, please! "She shouts at me, I fell down on the floor.

Now she's revealing her true color, she's blinded by the truth that her sons are already dead, that she's obsessed with replacing them with Carl and the other kid.

"Don't take my kids away from me, Detective! "For the second time, she screamed at me before she rushed to Carl and the other kid to embrace them. I could tell that Carl was trying to push her away, but because they're both tied together, they couldn't move.

My eyes went back to the dead bodies that were lying on the table before my hands went to my back to press my radio so the Van would quickly pick me back up.

"P-please... don't take my kids away from me, Detective Taylor. I won't hurt them, I just need my babies with me." Professor Williams began weeping as she kept hugging Carl and the other boy.

I'm sure to say now that she's really just a shattered mother who can't deal with the fact that her children have died.

"Professor Williams..." I said, trying to reach for her hand, but she was only trying to stop my grasp.

The scent that comes from the dead bodies that I think belongs to her dead children is becoming heavier that I have to close my eyes tightly.

Zab:

Her husband says that they didn't have a funeral for their children because Professor Williams refused to have one.

I recalled the text message of Zab to me. If I'm not mistaken, the dead bodies here are probably her children.

"Please... just let me be happy with my kids!" she sounded helpless as she tried to get me out of her home.

I saw the fear in Carl's eyes as he stared at me.

Before I could even mutter a word, I heard a siren coming from a police car.

EPISODE 3

003 CRIME

When she saw the siren, I saw the fear in Professor William's face.

"H-have you called the police?" She asked me, looking frightened until she stood up, attempting to drag Carl and the other kid away as if she was trying to run with them. "Come over here, my boys. I promise I'm going to keep you safe."

I blinked my eyes, feeling bad that she's getting to this stage where she's no longer in her sanity. Now, because of her loss, she's lost her mind.

"Professor Williams," I tried to call her, but she was already panicking, and she was only trying her best to escape with them from this place. I heave a sigh, I don't know what to do right now. Apparently, she can't run any longer, I just feel bad seeing her like this.

I went to her and pulled her away from Carl and the other boy. She was shaking so hard that she was trying to push me and out of my grip. I pulled her to me for an embrace as I was trying to hush her up. "Professor," I whispered to her ears as I tried to ease her down with my touch. "They're in a safe place now; nobody's going to hurt them anymore," I whispered as I rubbed her shoulder.

She stiffened for a few seconds before she broke down and cried out some more.

"I can't live without them," she cried hard to remain the pain in her voice. "Why didn't they take me with them, huh? Why didn't I just die in place of them? "

Mother only wants the best for her kids, and she never risks anything for her child. Parents protect their children from any uncomfortable circumstance and provide all the comfort they can afford.

She loves her children more than anything else in this world and the day she lost them, she also lost her ability to live.

"If they are here right they will call me Mommy. They would scream out my name if they were about to get mad, and you know what? I wouldn't mind for a second. I would do anything to hear "mom" from that sweet voice again" She was sobbing heavily as she was struggling to get hold of me.

A tear is coming out of my eyes as I listen to her.

"I just want to be with them," because one thing I've learned a lot more from the mothers is that grief doesn't end. Out of a fractured, crushing heart comes eternal love as it moves through the countless stages of sorrow. It's often gentle, it's often rough. There are still reminders here. There's always love in there. After all, the mother never stops enjoying the child she had.

The backup I asked went inside Professor Williams' house, and they found us lying on the floor while I was trying to console her. The remains were discovered and marked as the bodies of her dead children.

Carl and the abducted teenager have been saved. Professor William was also arrested.

"I was so scared," Carl said to me as he let out another sigh. He kept telling me how grateful he was that I had the sense of his text for me. I just looked at him and felt grateful that I was able to get him out of danger.

"I'm glad you're safe now," I patted his cheek, and he grinned at me.

"Thank you very much, Detective Mayari. I owe my life to you," he smiled at what he said. Before embracing him close, I laughed back at him. "Next time make sure nothing bad happens to you again. I really should start teaching you self-defense right now."

"Yeah, you really ought to start training me," he giggled, making me shook my head at him.

His parents and the Chinese teenager came, and they quickly made their way to their sons. They were really thankful that I had to save their sons, and they kept thanking me.

"You've done a great job," Van pats my back and grinned at me but next time you include me in your plans because you're making me worried," he shook his head at me before he rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, whatever, I chuckled at him. I was far so eager to rescue Carl, however, I'm going to take note of that. Thank you for your help, too." If it weren't for his connection or access, it would have been hard for me to find Professor William's house and find out about her true reason for kidnapping Carl and the other kid.

"You got me worried about you, but I must say that I admired your dedication to saving your friend." He gave me a friendly smile, making me feel at ease. Now that I've been awakened to reality, I've felt the pressure on my back now.

Ha! Ah! Ohhh! I remember Professor Williams struck me earlier with a vase. I twisted my lips, I was just trying to save her, and that's what I got in return? I smiled at my mind, yeah, no matter what, this would eventually recover.

"You should tell the boss that Professor Williams needs a psychological test, I think she's depressed or something." I bite my lower lip; I'm not sure about psychological terminology. Still, I'm confident she's not emotionally stable.

"Okay, now you need to get some rest. You're sure to get some scolding tomorrow for doing this alone." He scrunched his nose, giving me an expression that I'm going to be very dead meat tomorrow. I groan in frustration, feeling devastated now that my superior is going to mock my detective skills again.

I pouted my lips.

But whatever, at least Carl is safe and I get to save the missing teenager, too. That what matters, I guess?

Some reporters came to get a statement from us; I tried not to get caught by all of the reporters, because I'm just not comfortable talking in front of the camera. Glad, I've got Van with me, and he's the one who explained it all. Some reporters want to speak to me directly, but they quickly turned their attention to him.

"So you're the young detective who manages two cases at a time," I almost jumped to where I was when I heard a raspy voice beside me. When I turn my head to see where the voice came from, I couldn't believe whom I just saw.

When I turn my head to see where the voice came from, I couldn't believe whom I just saw.

I realize it's not unlikely for him to come here knowing that he's one of the reporters who's covering up the story of a missing teenager, but I'm still shocked to see him close up.

It's not shocking for me to see him as gorgeous even at a time like this but God, someone sure did make this guy have a beautiful face like this. He's a tall guy, just looking at how long and firm his legs are and I think he's 6'2" or taller. Looks older than me from what I know, only in his 20's, or something?

He's wearing glasses, and his chocolate brown hair is a tad messy.

His protruding eyes were fixed on me even though he was wearing eyeglasses. I could still see his stunning grey eyes. They suit his dark and long eyelashes well. His not so dense eyebrows are fine, too. His aquiline shaped nose supports his eyeglasses. God, someone made this man amazing with his red and wet bow-shaped lips.

It seems like an angel.

Perhaps he's a fallen angel?

I've just realized that I've been staring at him for so long when he faked a cough. Suddenly I felt shy, and now I feel like my cheeks are flushed.

He's smiling at me now, making his gray eyes more clearly to my eyes.

His lips parted to say, "I'm sorry to disrupt your moment. I hope you don't mind if I asked you a few questions about what happened tonight," he said in a deep, raspy voice.

I know I said I didn't want to talk to some reporter right now but the way he's talking and staring at me seems like he's enchanting me with some dark sorcery that I'm bewitched by him.

"H-huh, huh?" I cursed myself because I could not even utter a word. What the heck was that Mayari? Of all the words you know you've decided to use, huh, like a dumb person you are?

His eyes rose a bit, but you can see the humor on the way his lips rose a little for a slight grin.

"I-I mean yeah, no problem. I can spare a little time to talk to you,"

And honestly, huh? This night is definitely satisfying but at the same time humiliating.