I didn't expect to see him again today.
But then again, this case wasn't exactly predictable.
I was heading back from the records room when I heard voices near the front desk.
"…just a few more questions," Eman was saying.
I slowed down slightly.
Yuri stood across from him, nodding like this was just another normal conversation.
Like he wasn't involved in a murder case.
"Of course," Yuri said. "Anything that helps."
Eman gave a small nod, then noticed me.
"Jay," he called. "You free?"
"Yeah."
He glanced between us.
"Take over for a minute. I need to check something with Angelo."
Before I could respond, he stepped away.
And just like that—
I was left with Yuri.
Great.
He turned to me, smiling like nothing about this was weird.
"Guess I'm yours now."
"Don't phrase it like that," I said immediately.
He laughed softly.
"Relax. I'm cooperating."
"Good. Then this won't take long."
I crossed my arms slightly.
"You've already given your statement. Why are you back?"
"Clarification," he said. "Apparently my timeline wasn't clear enough."
"Yeah. It wasn't."
That didn't bother him.
At all.
"I'll try to do better this time," he said.
His tone was light.
Too light.
"Start with the time between 9:20 and 9:30," I said. "You skipped that."
A small pause.
There.
I saw it.
Fast—but it was there.
"I didn't skip it," he said. "I just didn't think it mattered."
"It does."
"Then I was outside."
"Where exactly?"
"Near the driveway."
I didn't react.
"Doing what?"
"Thinking."
I blinked.
"…Thinking."
"Yeah."
"That's your answer?"
"It's the truth."
I stared at him.
He didn't look nervous.
Didn't look like he was making anything up.
If anything, he looked… calm.
Too calm.
"You're very comfortable," I said.
"Should I not be?"
"You're a suspect."
"Am I?"
That—
That was new.
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
"You're involved. That's enough."
He smiled again.
Soft.
Careful.
Like he knew exactly how he was coming across.
"You're very serious," he said.
"And you're not serious enough."
"Maybe I just don't scare easily."
"Maybe you should."
That made him pause.
Just for a second.
Then—
"You've talked to Keifer," he said.
Not a question.
I didn't answer.
"Careful," he added. "He's not as simple as he looks."
"That applies to you too."
"Fair."
There was something off about the way he said Keifer's name.
Not annoyed.
Not angry.
Something else.
Something I couldn't place.
"Your timeline still doesn't match," I said.
"It will."
"That's not how this works."
He leaned slightly closer.
Not enough to cross a line.
But enough to feel intentional.
"You'll figure it out," he said quietly.
That wasn't reassurance.
It felt like a promise.
I held his gaze for a second longer—
Then stepped back.
"We're done for now."
"Already?"
"Yes."
He nodded, like he expected that.
"Guess I'll see you again, then."
"Hopefully not."
That made him smile again.
Like he didn't believe me.
Eman returned a second later.
"You good?" he asked.
"Yeah," I said.
Yuri glanced at me one last time before stepping away.
Still calm.
Still composed.
Still—
Wrong.
Since the chapters have kinda been uninteresting, there's no target comments.✨✨✨ ♡♢♤♧
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