Chapter 68
Quiana wasn’t exactly known for her patience; she had a reputation for not forgetting a slight. Daniel figured she wouldn’t want to get involved in this, so he didn’t mention it. But to his surprise, she brought it up.
He was taken aback for a moment, and then quickly explained, “We’ve got this tricky case. We had the killer in our sights, the evidence was solid, and we were about to make an arrest. But then, the suspect was found dead at home in a locked room…
“It’s a high–level locked–room murder mystery,” he added, trying to sound casual.
Quiana lounged back in her chair, one leg crossed over the other, and leaned her arm on the backrest. She gave him a look that said, “I’m listening.” “You want me to take a look at the body?” she asked, her tone curious,
Daniel felt a bit intimidated by her aura. He gave a half–smile. “His death was just too weird, and we’re in a rush. You’ve been pretty active lately, so I thought maybe you could help us out…”
Quiana tapped her fingers on the table, deep in thought. “Wh
Daniel took that as a “yes” and his face lit up. “I know you’ve been
I’ll make sure everything’s ready.”
do you need me?” she asked.
busy with filming. Just let me know when you’re free, and
Quiana glanced at her watch. “How about tonight?” she said, her voice steady and confident.
When Quiana walked out, Zack was about to say hi with a smile. “Daniel?” he asked, surprised.
then he saw Daniel, who he didn’t expect to see there.
Daniel was a big deal in the city, and Zack and Julius were pretty famous too. Daniel greeted them with a nod that said he knew his place. “Mr. Hawley, Mr. Evans,” he said respectfully.
Zack was curious. ‘So, Quiana’s meeting up with Daniel tonight? From the Justice Bureau? How do they even know each other?‘ He looked back and forth between them, clearly confused.
Daniel was about to explain, but Quiana cut him off. “I’ve got to run,” she said firmly.
Julius, who never showed his feelings, suddenly grabbed her wrist as she tried to walk away. “Where you off to?” he asked, his voice as calm as a lazy afternoon.
Quiana frowned and pulled her hand away. “You’ll get it tomorrow,” she promised, then left without another word.
Daniel nodded at Julius and hurried after Erin, who was waiting nearby.
Leo watched them leave, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “Those guys who just left, they seemed like Justice Bureau types too…” he mused.
Zack was still scratching his head. ‘Is tonight’s dinner some Justice Bureau thing? Can just anyone crash one of those? And Daniel’s, like, fifty. They don’t seem like pals to me.
“How does Quiana even know the Justice Bureau crowd?” he wondered aloud.
Julius‘ eyes narrowed slightly. “Keep tabs on them,” he said, his tone cool and collected.
Just as Leo got into the car, his phone rang. After the call, he turned to the backseat with a grim look. “Mr. Hawley,” he said, “that big shipment from Quintana has been intercepted.”
*****
Captain Grant Weston and his team were hanging around the forensic center, all dressed up and ready for the big event. They’d heard Daniel had pulled some strings to get a top–notch expert for tonight’s case.
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Chapter 68
As the car pulled up, Grant straightened his tie and gave his crew a quick reminder. “This person Daniel’s brought in must be a real VIP. Let’s all be on our best behavior.”
The team nodded, getting the message.
Daniel hopped out first, opening the back door with a flourish. “Ms. Levine, please take your time,” he said, his tone full of
respect.
Grant was about to step forward and introduce himself when a young woman stepped out of the car. He blinked, taken aback. “Whoa, wait a minute. You said your mentor was coming. Where is she?”
Daniel grinned, catching on to the confusion. “She’s right here,” he said, pointing to Quiana.
Grant looked from Quiana to Daniel, his eyes wide. “You’ve gotta be kidding me. You’re telling me this is the big shot you were talking about?”
Daniel nodded, a proud smile on his face. “Yeah, this is Quiana. She’s my mentor.”
市
