The hum of the fluorescent lights above buzzed faintly in the otherwise quiet operations room. Rain tapped lightly against the windows, drawing a rhythmic beat that matched the tension in the air. The task force was gathered around the table, a fresh pot of coffee steaming in the corner.
Alina stood at the head, hands on her hips and eyes scanning the team. "Good work on the raid. Clean entry, zero civilian injuries. The intel we gathered confirms our suspicions."
Eldric Noor leaned forward, clasping a folder. "We have our man. At least, one of them. He was caught on camera dumping the body inside the abandoned house."
He flipped the folder open, revealing photos—grainy yet clear enough. The image of the stout man dragging a black bag into the property projected behind him on the screen. A silent grimace passed over the group.
"We confirmed his ID through a combination of physical markers—tattoo on the left wrist, gait, and body frame. Facial angle was unclear, but we matched it against past arrest footage. Name's Dario Velasquez."
"Criminal record a mile long," Leif added. "Assault, petty theft, and one count of drug trafficking. Slippery, but careless."
"Exactly," Eldric said. "That carelessness is what put him in our net."
Later that day, the interrogation room was dimly lit with just a desk between Noor and Dario. The suspect sat slouched, arms crossed and face defiant. Eldric slid the photos across.
"Recognize yourself?"
Dario's lips curled slightly but said nothing.
Eldric's voice hardened. "We know you were there. You're in the footage. You want a lighter sentence, you better start talking."
"I didn't kill anyone," Dario finally muttered. "I was paid to clean up."
"Who paid you?"
"I never met them. Instructions came by mail. Burned after reading. Always cash. No return address."
Noor narrowed his eyes. "You expect us to believe that?"
"It's the truth. Take it or leave it."
The tension in the room thickened. Eldric leaned closer, his tone low and threatening. "If you're lying, you're going down as an accessory to murder. Maybe worse. But help us, and we'll work something out."
Dario looked away. "I'm not saying more."
That evening, media outlets were abuzz with the raid footage. The people's faces were blurred, but the news spread fast. The following morning, a sharply dressed lawyer showed up at the precinct with perfect documents and a dismissive attitude.
"My client has the right to remain silent. This interrogation is over," he told them, his voice cool.
The team exchanged glances. Alina frowned. "Someone big's pulling the strings. We never expect a counsel."
Later, Dario requested food—specifically from a local eatery, Koong Food Chinese Takeaway.
"Let him have it," Alina approved. "Might loosen him up."
In the holding cell, Dario was in better spirits, eyeing the food container with a grin. Eldric and Leif watched through the one-way glass.
"You guys are finally feeding me right," Dario said between mouthfuls of grilled meat with garlic rice, egg, and fried lumpia. "This spring roll's crispy as hell. Damn. You cops ever try this place?"
Eldric remained silent, arms crossed.
"You think I'm scared? I've been through worse," Dario said with his mouth full. "I'll walk outta here just fine, you'll see."
"Pretty bold for a guy caught red-handed," Leif murmured beside Eldric.
Dario laughed and washed down his food with gulps from the provided bottle of water. "Good food, good lawyer. That's all I need."
The next day, Dario was noticeably pale and sweating, but still gave a smirk during questioning.
"You're wasting your time, just give me that damn water" he sneered.
Leif handed over the water bottle. Dario gulped it down to the last drop.
By evening, his condition had deteriorated—violent tremors, vomiting, his face contorting with pain.
Paramedics rushed him to the hospital. Alina, Eldric, and Leif watched from the hallway as the doctors fought to stabilize him. But by midnight, he was pronounced dead.
His body was brought to the city morgue and assigned to Dr. Paul Lim.
A tall man with slick hair and pale features, Dr. Lim reviewed the preliminary scans under cold lighting. "Nothing conclusive yet. No signs of trauma, but definitely something systemic. We'll need tox screens."
"You think it was poison?" Leif asked.
Dr. Lim gave a small smile. "If I had to bet… yes. But what kind? That's the mystery."
The tension in the room shifted. They were no longer just dealing with hired thugs. Someone meticulous, powerful, and cruel was pulling the strings.
And they had just scratched the surface.