The furrow between Ryan’s brows deepened as he slowly swiped the icon to answer the call.
"Officer Davis," he said, pinching the bridge of his nose in an attempt to ease the discomfort brewing inside him. "Sorry, I didn’t get the time to revert back to your earlier call. Was it something important?"
The police officer’s voice came through, solemn and steady.
"Yes, Mr. Foster," he said, continuing, "there was something that I thought I should let you know. It’s regarding Ms. Quinn’s accident —the one you previously asked me to investigate."
Ryan’s expression shifted instantly. His hand, which had been massaging his temple, froze mid-motion. Suspicion flickered in his eyes as he asked, "What is it?"
"Like you requested, we looked into the accident from that night," Officer Davis said, his voice controlled but carrying an underlying weight. "And you were right —it wasn’t just an accident. Someone staged it to harm Ms. Quinn. And —"
He hesitated.
Ryan, who felt his patience wearing thin, pressed, "And what, Officer Davis? Did you find out who was behind it? The men responsible?"
A short silence followed before the officer finally replied.
"We couldn’t."
Ryan’s grip on his phone tightened.
"We examined all possible surveillance footage," Officer Davis continued, "and while some footages were clearly destroyed =, we were able to get hands on a few through which we were able to identify the men who were tailing Ms. Quinn’s car. But they have … disappeared."
He halted before explaining further. "It’s as if they were wiped off the face of the earth. There are no records of them leaving the country, no activity on their personal accounts, nothing. They have simply vanished."
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"Vanished?" Ryan muttered under his breath. "How is that possible?"
"Mr. Foster, we suspect there is someone involved behind the scenes." Officer Davis admitted. "Those two men were affiliated with a subsidiary gang involved in several illicit activities. But here is the strange part —those two weren’t the only ones who went missing. Overnight, the entire gang disappeared as if they had never existed in the first place. Not even a single trace was left behind. It felt like someone not just punished the two souls responsible, rather the whole family that gave them the audacity to do something they should have never."
Ryan’s expression darkened.
The deeper the officer’s words sank in, the more ominous the situation seemed. A chill crept up his spine, but it wasn’t fear.
It was realization.
Someone had orchestrated this cleanup —which further proved his previous suspicion to be right.
Delyth might be the one who instigated the accident, but she was merely a pawn in someone else’s hands.
Someone who was there to take advantage of her malicious intentions.
But who?
Who was capable of such a feat?
Ryan’s jaws clenched as his mind raced. At first glance, it seemed like this mysterious person was avenging Arwen. But something didn’t sit right with him.
If this person truly wanted justice for Arwen, why didn’t he go straight for Delyth? Why target the hired men instead? Given the capability he showcased by wiping off those men, finding Delyth’s involvement must have been just a piece of cake.
And Delyth —
A sudden realization struck Ryan.
Everything reeled back —Delyth’s accident, the pain and suffering she endured … her downfall …
How did he not notice this before?
"Mr. Foster!"
The silence over the call stretched too long. Officer Davis spoke again to confirm.
"Mr. Foster, are you still there?"
"Y-yes," Ryan answered, after snapping back to reality.
Several questions whirled in his mind, but none of them were the ones he could discuss with the officer. While he had wanted the police to investigate Arwen’s accident, he never intended for Delyth to be implicated. His goal was simply to track down the men involved and, from there, uncover the mastermind.
But who would have thought the revelations would only leave him more confused?
"Mr. Foster," Officer Davis spoke cautiously, "there’s something that I wanted to ask you regarding this accident case."
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Ryan, still lost in thought, responded absentmindedly, "Yes, please, go ahead."
"On the night of the accident, did you visit the site where it all happened?"
The way the question was phrased made it clear —the officer already knew the answer.
Ryan didn’t bother lying.
"Yes, I went there to help a friend," he admitted, and then added to give better elaboration. "Delyth Ember, my friend, she was also injured in the accident. She called me, and I went there to take her to the hospital."
A pause stilled the conversation for a moment.
"So, were you aware that Ms. Quinn was also in the car, not far from where Ms. Ember was found?"
Ryan felt his chest tighten.
Just from the officer’s tone, guilt crept into him. He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply.
"I wasn’t aware that Arwen was in such a dire state there. I just put Delyth to be my priority then," he confessed.
After all, it wasn’t his place to judge.
Another silence.
It was as if Officer Davis was trying to make sense of his words. And even if he found it ridiculous, he didn’t voice it.
But he did have the questions, and he needed Ryan’s cooperation.
"Then, Mr. Foster, can you tell me about the relationship between Ms. Ember and Ms. Quinn?" he asked. "Would Ms. ember be capable of plotting against Ms. Quinn?"
Ryan was taken aback at that question.
Had they found evidence of Delyth’s involvement?
But hadn’t they just said that they couldn’t trace the men involved?
Ryan couldn’t be sure. His priority was protecting Delyth —for the promise he made to Zeke, so he didn’t reveal anything just yet. Carefully, he asked, "Officer Davis, what are you trying to imply? Are you suggesting my friend had something to do with Arwen’s accident?"
The officer didn’t reply immediately. After a pause, he said, "No, Mr. Foster. But there was something that was caught in the surveillance that put Ms. Ember under suspicion. I will send you the footage. You can check and then tell me."
"But let me make one thing clear," Officer Davis continued, his voice firm, "...if Ms. Ember’s involvement is found, then we will be forced to take an action against her."