Liam drove as fast as he could without caring for traffic rules. 

He wasn’t breaking traffic rules because he was a cop, but because no one was around. So even if he broke the rules, he wouldn’t be harming anyone.

Liam dialed a number on his phone and put it on the speaker. After a few rings, the call was answered.

“Hello?”

“Chief! This is me, L. Where are you right now?” Liam asked while glancing around the streets as he decreased his car speed.

“I just got to the department.” the chief responded. “What’s wrong? And why do you sound so… impatient and loud?”

“Yeah, I am—”

“Are you talking on your phone while driving?!” the chief yelled.

“No, I mean, yes. But the phone is on the speaker.”

“You can’t—”

“Chief! Listen to me! This is an emergency!” Liam shouted. “I need your help.”

“… What’s going on?” the chief asked in a calm voice.

“I think I might know the killer, but I am not sure. It’s just a guess,” Liam stated.

“So, what do you need my help with?”

“I will send you an SoS. And when I do that, send a five-squad back-up,” Liam asserted. “I will send you the location with the Sos.”

“Five Squad back-up?! That’s twenty officers!” the chief exclaimed. “How many suspects are there?”

“…” After a brief pause, Liam answered, “Only one.”

“You sound serious, but then again, there has never been a day where you are not serious.” The chief chuckled and said, “Okay. I will prepare the quad with our best members.”

“Thank you, Chief.”

“Best of luck. And do anything reckless. We can’t afford to use our genius and hot-blooded detective.”

“I won’t disappoint you, chief!”

After driving for thirty minutes, Liam finally reached Leon’s apartment.

“Why does he live in a place like this?” Liam wondered. “Probably because he has money issues.”

Liam placed his gun around the belt on his waist and got out of the car.

‘Or maybe because it’s easy to hide around here.’

Liam entered Leon’s apartment building and climbed up the stairs.

“This place doesn’t even have an elevator. And I don’t think it has undergone maintenance in years,” Liam sighed.

After climbing up two floors, Liam reached Leon’s apartment door.

‘He will probably be pissed if he saw me at this door if he is innocent. And he will be scared if he is guilty.’ 

Liam took a deep breath and rang the doorbell, but it was broken.

SIGH!

He sighed and knocked on the door.

KNOCK KNOCK!

He looked at the clock to see the time.

‘It’s nearly 8 AM. His college starts at 9 AM, so he should be awake.’

Liam waited for a while, but no one answered the door, so he knocked again.

KNOCK KNOCK!

After a few seconds, the door opened, but Liam was left baffled.

“Anna…? What are you doing here?” Liam asked with a curious yet puzzled look on his face.

Anna frowned her face and asked, “What are ‘you’ doing here?”

“I am here for the investigation,” Liam answered. “Now step aside. I have to search the house.”

Anna raised her brows and asked, “Do you have a search warrant?”

“Of course I do.” Liam took out a warrant from his pocket and handed it to Anna.

Anna inspected the warrant and glanced at Liam.

“Can I enter now?” Liam asked impatiently.

Anna furrowed her brows and ripped the warrant into pieces in front of Liam’s eyes.

“What have you done?!” Liam shouted. “Do you have any idea how long you can go in prison for doing that?”

Anna folded her arms under her bosom and said, “That warrant was a fake one.”

“…” Liam bit his lips and said, “No, it wasn’t.”

Anna was correct. Liam had indeed faked the warrant because he didn’t have much time to issue the actual warrant. And even if he had filed and issued a warrant, it wouldn’t have passed, considering his last warrant against Leon also failed due to the lack of evidence.

“I am smart enough to tell the difference between the real warrant and the fake one.” Anna frowned her face even more and said, “Now, do you know how long you can go in prison for faking the warrant and trying to break into someone’s house?”

SIGH!

“Listen…” Liam sighed and muttered, “I don’t want to do this, but I have no other choice. I have had my suspicions on Leon for a while now, and this is my chance to prove whether he is innocent or guilty.”

“Leave him alone!” Anna yelled. “You have no idea what he is going through right now.”

“What are you even doing here? What’s your relationship with Leon?” Liam asked.

“I don’t think I have any obligation to answer that question, but I am his girlfriend. Now, if you don’t go back, I will have to call my lawyer,” Anna warned. “And I will make sure to mention the fake warrant.”

“Leon might be a serial killer. And your life can be in danger too,” Liam stated. “I am trying to help here.”

“I thought Ray’s case was already solved,” Anna remarked. As always, her acting was superb. No one could get past her guard, not even Leon.

“Not that. I am talking about the recent murders on 69th street. I am sure you have seen or heard it in the news,” Liam replied.

‘I don’t think Leon is dumb enough to leave any proof behind. He even got rid of that weapon. And considering how this detective faked the warrant, I am sure he doesn’t have any solid proof,’ Anna thought to herself.

“Are you going to blame every murder of Leon now?” Anna uttered in a disdainful tone.

“No, I am not. I just want to—”

“What’s going on?” A voice sounded from the end of the hallway.

Both Liam and Anna looked in the direction and saw Leon.. He just came back from Ida’s apartment.