Chapter Text
The Next Day — Coffee Shop Downstairs
Caitlyn stood near the front of the line.
She didn’t notice that further back, Vi was watching her.
Vi – 8:15
Large Americano, and a croissant. Thanks, boss.
Caitlyn instinctively turned around, her gaze scanning the crowd, and quickly met Vi’s face—wearing an exaggerated, deliberately pleading expression.
They found a table and sat down.
“How much? I’ll pay you.”
Vi reached for her wallet out of habit as soon as she sat.
“…Isn’t it WE?” Caitlyn said.
“Oh—right!” Vi laughed awkwardly.
“What’s on the agenda today?” Vi asked. “Judging by what you’re wearing, you don’t look like you’re planning to stay in the office.”
“I thought about it last night,” Caitlyn said.
“I’m planning to do a covert visit today.”
Vi’s eyes lit up. “Covert? That already sounds way better than staring at surveillance footage all day.”
“You’re under Group Lead Marvelle now,” Caitlyn reminded her calmly.
“You’ll need to clear it with your superior first.”
Vi frowned. Yesterday’s remarks from Marvelle at the scene immediately came back to her.
“I’m from the LAPD. This kind of thing is what I do every day,” Vi shot back.
“I can tell her I like it, I’m good at it, and formally request to assist you. That’s reasonable.”
“I’ll write her a sincere, professionally worded email—really highlight my dedication to teamwork and field expertise.”
Marvelle’s reply came faster than expected.
She approved it.
Caitlyn simply nodded, her eyes still on the developer’s information displayed on her tablet.
“The plan is this,” she said.
“We know the victim was involved in one of this developer’s projects. The land used to be a chemical plant. I suspect the victim discovered something wrong with the site.”
“We don’t want to alert them yet, in case they start covering their tracks.”
“I looked into the developer’s management and the sales director for this property.”
“We’ll go to the sales office together and find that sales director.”
“I’ll state my professional background and emphasize that I care a lot about community security. I’ll request a tour of the security control room.”
“I’ll pretend to take a phone call, then tell him a friend of mine is also interested and wants to take a look.”
“He’ll go entertain you. I’ll tamper with the control room door and check the surveillance footage.”
Sales Office
“Excuse me, Manager Jayce?”
“My name is Caitlyn. Your chairman, Verus, suggested I come take a look at the property.”
The sales director immediately handed over his business card.
“He may not have informed you in advance,” Caitlyn continued calmly.
“This was a spontaneous decision. Would you like to check with him?”
“Oh—wait, I know you,” the sales director said suddenly.
“Our chairman gives bonuses to top performers. He showed us a video—you won first prize. That’s how I got this position.”
“Oh! Then no need to check. Let me show you the model unit first.”
“A video of the model unit will be enough,” Caitlyn replied.
“I was injured recently. I’d rather not go up and down the stairs.”
“I work in a legal-related field, so security is very important to me. Could you introduce that aspect?”
“Of course, Ms. Caitlyn. Safety is one of our top selling points.”
On the way to the control room, Caitlyn discreetly sent Vi the sales director’s business card.
As the director explained the security layout, Caitlyn pretended to answer a call. Using the moment, she casually approached the control room door and stuffed a tissue into the lock—so even if the door closed, it could still be pushed open.
She hung up and said,
“I have a friend who also wants to take a look. She’s already at the entrance.”
“Welcome, welcome! I’ll go get your friend right away,” the director said eagerly.
“You take my friend around. You don’t need to worry about me.”
The director agreed and walked out with Caitlyn, closing the door behind them—without realizing it hadn’t fully latched.
The sales director enthusiastically showed Vi around the property.
Vi switched into full small-talk mode.
“The park nearby is pretty close—does that mean lots of mosquitoes?”
“No, our pest control measures are very strict.”
“Oh… is there a kindergarten nearby?”
“Yes, there’s one inside the community.”
“Nice.”
…
Meanwhile, Caitlyn rapidly scanned the surveillance feeds.
Near a partially unfinished landscaped area, the victim appeared on screen.
He was using professional soil-sampling equipment to collect soil samples.
Why would an architecture student secretly take samples here?
Caitlyn immediately messaged Vi:
Northwest landscaped area. Victim collected soil samples. Send someone to collect soil samples immediately for comparison and analysis.
The next day, lab results showed excessive levels of pollutants in the soil—completely inconsistent with the project’s public environmental reports.
This meant that after discovering the truth, the victim had clearly threatened someone’s interests.
Case Analysis Meeting
The atmosphere was heavy.
“Our investigation seems to be stuck,” Marvelle said.
“We keep circling the periphery. I think we may have overlooked a key point.”
“This student—was he simply a whistleblower? Or was it possible that he intended to use the samples for blackmail?”
“If we insist on portraying the victim as a flawless symbol of justice, we may misdirect the investigation and miss the real key clues.”
Her gaze swept the room, finally settling coldly on Caitlyn.
Caitlyn listened without expression. She didn’t argue, didn’t respond.
Marvelle’s logic had merit—but it felt more like negation for the sake of negation. Caitlyn still believed the victim had touched a vast network of interest.
After the meeting, Caitlyn said to Vi,
“We move at our own pace. Start with Chairman Verus. Keep a close watch on him.”
Over the next few days, Caitlyn and Vi alternated discreetly tailing Verus.
His life was orderly. His behavior polished.
Most of his time was split between the company, an exclusive club, and his home.
Until one evening—his car headed toward the outskirts of the city.
It finally stopped at a secluded private estate.
“This address looks familiar…” Vi said, staring at the navigation.
“I remember the victim’s ride-hailing records. He took a cab from campus—this was the final destination.”
They didn’t alert him. They chose surveillance from a distance.
The next day, they approached directly and rang the doorbell.
Verus was briefly surprised by the FBI visit, but quickly regained a businessman’s composure and invited them into his lavishly decorated study.
“Regarding the unfortunate student,” Caitlyn said directly,
“we’d like to know the purpose of his visit.”
Verus sighed. “He was a very talented young man. He came to discuss collaboration.”
“He was researching a new type of eco-friendly building material and wanted investment. I admired his enthusiasm, so…”
“I offered him a contract. A long-term project.”
“But he declined,” Verus shrugged.
“I regret that. I never imagined what would happen afterward.”
“What time did he leave?” Vi asked.
Verus gave a time that left a gap before the estimated time of death.
He also provided an alibi—he had attended a charity gala that night, backed by photos and numerous witnesses. It seemed airtight.
The questioning hit a dead end.
As they were leaving the estate, Caitlyn’s eyes caught a subtle detail above the gate—
a patch of wall paint slightly different. Signs of removed screws.
A surveillance camera had once been installed there.
She said nothing until they were back in the car.
“Did you see the marks above the gate?”
“The camera was removed.”
“He may be hiding something.”
The next day, Caitlyn revisited the victim’s residence, hoping to find the contract—or notes, or computer files.
Nothing.
Back at the Hoover Building, Caitlyn sensed something off as soon as she entered the bullpen.
Several agents were gathered around Group Three. Marvelle stood in the center, speaking.
When she noticed Caitlyn, her gaze flicked over, a faint, unreadable smile on her lips.
At the meeting, Marvelle stood at the whiteboard.
“We’ve focused on the developer and soil contamination—and that wasn’t wrong. But we missed a crucial link.”
She paused, clearly savoring the moment.
“The environmental assessment firm that issued the ‘qualified’ report.”
“I checked their background. Their CEO happens to be an alumnus of the victim’s university—two years senior. They were even in the same research group.”
A low murmur spread across the room.
“He likely suspected—or knew—the report was falsified, and conducted his own investigation. His actions directly threatened his senior’s career, even his freedom.”
Caitlyn felt her blood go cold.
She remembered it now. That research group had appeared in the victim’s records early on.
She had seen it—but her focus had shifted to Verus.
She had missed it.
Or rather, pressure from Marvelle had disrupted her usual precision.
Marvelle looked at Caitlyn, pleased, openly superior.
“Sometimes what’s needed is professional rigor—never overlooking even the smallest connection,” she said coolly.
“We’re not writing novels. Emotional intuition isn’t enough.”
The implication was unmistakable.
Marvelle wore the expression of someone reveling in victory—especially over Caitlyn Kiramman, the “old classmate” she had always wanted to surpass.
Caitlyn didn’t respond. She stared at the whiteboard, bitterness and self-doubt churning beneath her calm exterior.
“Any investigation is a process of elimination and focus,” Vi said evenly.
“Agent Caitlyn’s in-depth work on Verus ruled out a carefully disguised red herring and uncovered the soil contamination—that was critical progress.”
“Group Lead Marvelle’s new lead builds on that foundation. This is a team effort.”
Marvelle merely raised an eyebrow and didn’t push further.
After Work — Nightfall
Vi drove out of the underground garage and soon spotted a familiar sedan parked by the roadside.
Beside it, a slender figure leaned against the driver’s door, a cigarette between her fingers.
Given Caitlyn’s usual rigor, that oversight shouldn’t have happened.
Vi knew—she was holding something in again.
“Why stop here?” Vi asked softly as she walked up.
“Forgot to refuel.”
Vi didn’t believe it. She didn’t call her out either—just gently took Caitlyn’s free hand.
“Don’t smoke. Come to my place. Leave the car. I’ll come back with you tomorrow.”
Caitlyn let herself be pulled into the car.
Vi didn’t drive straight home.
Instead, she pulled up outside Riverside, the Italian restaurant—the place where Caitlyn had once invited her to dinner, now a quiet symbol between them.
Warm light. Familiar scents. A quiet booth.
After ordering, Vi didn’t sit across from her.
She slid in beside Caitlyn, wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and pulled her close.
Protective. Wordless.
Caitlyn relaxed almost immediately and let out a soft sigh.
“Rest,” Vi murmured. “Don’t think about anything.”
The food arrived.
“Sometimes it feels like rowing in fog,” Caitlyn said quietly.
“You know the direction—but every stroke feels like you’re not moving, like weeds are wrapping around the oars.”
“Marvelle is like someone charging into the fog with radar,” she continued.
“Precise. Efficient. But she doesn’t care if the boat hits hidden rocks—only how fast she reaches shore.”
“I really did overlook some things.”
Vi met her gaze.
“She was only half right. She found a connection—but without what you uncovered first, it means nothing.”
“How does it feel working with the new lead?”
“…Not great,” Vi said after a moment.
“I don’t like her methods. She treats people like pieces on a board.”
“And she has a thing for you. Not healthy competition.”
“The way she talks about the ‘Eve Case,’ those offhand remarks—she’s targeting you, Caitlyn.”
Vi was outlining next steps when she noticed Caitlyn’s unfocused gaze.
Her fingers kept opening and closing around a silver engraved lighter. The food in front of her was untouched.
“What’s wrong? Don’t like the food?”
Caitlyn hesitated, then spoke carefully.
“Well…Ugh”
“It’s not a big deal. A few days ago I tried cooking at home.”
“Something went wrong with the ingredients—or something.”
“I gave myself gastroenteritis.”
“Medication didn’t help. I ended up on an IV.”
“Didn’t sleep much after.So I probably missed some details.”
Vi didn’t know whether to laugh or ache for her.
“You didn’t tell me?”
“There was nothing to say,” Caitlyn cut in quickly, ears reddening.
“It was stupid.”
“What’s stupid?”
“Next time you want to cook, call me. We’ll figure it out together.”
“Don’t do it alone again. Okay?”
“…Fine”