Chapter 1: The Setup
Chapter 1: The Setup
The woman’s lips curled into the faintest smile.
Not fear.
Not shock.
Recognition.
Detective Morrison noticed it immediately.
“What’s funny?” he snapped.
She tilted her head slightly, still sitting on the edge of the bed as if the chaos around her belonged to someone else’s life.
“You didn’t even hesitate,” she said quietly.
The room stilled.
Captain Wilson stepped forward.
“Careful,” he warned. “You’re in no position to—”
“To what?” she interrupted gently. “To notice your detective planting evidence?”
A pause.
Then laughter—sharp, forced.
Morrison shook the bag in the air.
“That’s a serious accusation.”
“I didn’t accuse you,” she said.
She looked directly at him.
“I described what you did.”
For a split second, something flickered across his face.
Not confidence.
Calculation.
Sergeant Bradley stopped searching the dresser.
“Captain…” he muttered, uneasy now.
But Wilson didn’t look away from her.
May you like
He studied her instead.
Like a problem he couldn’t immediately categorize.
