Lara arrived at the address he had given her—a nondescript warehouse on the outskirts of Vancouver's industrial district. Police tape cordoned off the area, and a few officers were milling about. The late afternoon sky was turning a deep grey, matching Lara's mood as she flashed her press ID to the officer at the perimeter.
"Detective Sinclair expecting you," the officer said, lifting the tape for her to duck under.
Lara spotted Ryan Sinclair near the warehouse entrance. He was talking to a forensic tech, his expression serious. As he glanced up and caught her approach, his eyes lingered for a brief moment before he turned back to the tech.
"Lara Thompson," he said when she reached him, offering a brief nod. "Thanks for coming."
"No problem, Detective. What's the situation?" Lara asked, her journalist instincts on high alert.
Ryan gestured towards the warehouse. "We have a body. Looks like the latest in a string of similar incidents. Victim's ID is still being confirmed, but there's enough to suggest it's connected to the Henderson case."
Lara's mind raced with possibilities. This could be the break she'd been waiting for. "Similar M.O. to the others? Any leads?"
n
Ryan's expression turned cautious. "We're working on it. But I'd like to keep some details off the record for now. Can I trust you'll respect that?"
Lara nodded, accustomed to such requests. "Of course, Detective. But can you at least tell me why you wanted to speak with me specifically?"
Ryan hesitated before answering. "You've covered some of these cases. I think we could...help each other. But like I said, discretion is key."
Lara sensed there was more to his request but decided to play along—for now. "Understood. What's the plan?"
As they began discussing the case details, Lara couldn't ignore the professional spark between them. Ryan was guarded but seemed willing to collaborate. She made a mental note to tread carefully; this partnership could yield a big story...or complicate her life.
Their conversation was interrupted by a shout from one of the officers. "Detective! We found something."
Ryan excused himself, leaving Lara to process what she'd seen so far. A piece of paper poked out from under a nearby crate. Lara's instincts told her it was part of the evidence. Before she could stop herself, she moved closer.
Inside, the atmosphere was tense. Ryan Sinclair stood by a cluster of forensic technicians, his eyes scanning the area. He looked up as Lara approached.
"Detective Sinclair?" Lara said, extending her hand. "Lara Thompson from _Coastline News_."
Ryan shook her hand briefly. "Thanks for coming. We're still piecing things together, but it looks like another break-in with some unusual circumstances."
Lara's journalist instincts kicked in. "Unusual how?"
Ryan hesitated for a moment before gesturing to a corner of the warehouse. "There's no sign of forced entry or struggle. The security cameras were disabled remotely. And this was left on the floor."
He handed Lara a photo of a small, blank note card with a single symbol on it—a stylized crescent moon. Lara's brow furrowed.
"This symbol been seen in other cases?" she asked.
Ryan nodded. "Similar symbols were found at two other break-ins in the past month. All in upscale neighborhoods. Nothing's been stolen, but there's a sense the perpetrator is sending a message."
Lara's mind was racing. A string of seemingly pointless break-ins with cryptic symbols suggested more to the story. "Do you think it's a lead to something bigger?"
Ryan's expression was cautious but intrigued. "We're treating it as a priority. I'd like to keep some details off the record for now, but I'd appreciate your discretion. Maybe we can discuss more later? Over coffee?"
The invitation caught Lara off guard, but she recognized it as a professional courtesy—and possibly something more. "Sure. Sounds good."
They exchanged contact details, and Lara began taking notes and photos for her article, careful to stay out of the technicians' way. As she wrapped up, Ryan approached her again.
"Lara, be careful with this story. We're not sure what we're dealing with, and I'd rather not see speculation escalate things."
Lara nodded, her mind already working on angles and follow-ups. "I'll be careful. Thanks for the heads-up, Detective."
As they parted ways, Lara couldn't shake the feeling this case was going to lead her somewhere significant—both in her career and in her increasingly curious thoughts about Ryan Sinclair.
Here's where things stand:
- Lara's investigation into the break-ins is underway, with Ryan as her key contact.
- The mysterious symbol and lack of theft suggest there's more to the crimes than meets the eye.
- There's a cautious spark between Lara and Ryan.
*Ryan's Reflections*
Detective Ryan Sinclair watched Lara Thompson leave the warehouse, her journalist's mind probably already spinning with theories about the case. He couldn't blame her; the symbol on that note card was unsettling. It reminded him of something he'd seen before, but he couldn't quite place it.
- - -
*Flashback: Ryan's Early Days*
Ryan had joined the Vancouver PD about a decade ago, fresh out of the academy. Early in his career, he'd worked a series of similar break-ins in a different part of town. No symbols back then, just petty theft and vandalism. But one case had stuck with him. A family had been home during a break-in. The intruder hadn't taken anything but had left a strange drawing on their wall. The family was shaken but unharmed. The case went cold.
Ryan had always wondered if that case was a precursor to something bigger. Now, with these new break-ins and the crescent moon symbol, old instincts were kicking in. Was this a revival of an old pattern? Or was he reading too much into it?
- - -
*Present Day*
Ryan's phone pulled him back to the moment. It was the department's profiler, Dr. Patel.
"Ryan, I've looked over the symbol from the break-in. It's not a common motif in known criminal activity here. But... there's a possibility it could be tied to an old art collective from Montreal. They used similar imagery in the early 2000s. I'll send you what I have."
Ryan's mind started connecting dots. An art collective? That could explain the lack of theft—the point wasn't to steal but to convey a message. But what was the message?
Ryan made a mental note to look deeper into the collective and possible connections to Vancouver. He also wondered if he should mention this to Lara. She was sharp; she'd likely dig up something useful. But he also didn't want to inadvertently feed her—or the public—speculation that could complicate the investigation.
Ryan's past experiences were shaping his approach to the case:
- He's cautious, partly because of the eerie similarities to older, unresolved cases.
- He's intrigued by Lara's involvement, both professionally and personally. Her instincts could be useful, but he needed to keep things professional.
Here's a bit more of Ryan's current thoughts as he processes the case:
"I need to get a team on the art collective angle. And I need to keep an eye on how much Lara digs into this. Could be a good partnership... could also get messy."
The dynamic between Ryan and Lara is getting more layered. They're navigating the case's complexities while being aware of their opposing roles (cop vs. journalist).