The Police Department headquarters loomed in the darkness, its imposing structure casting long shadows across the deserted corridors. Adrian, weary from a day filled with unanswered questions, finally arrived at his desk. Just as he began to immerse himself in the solitude of the late-night atmosphere, Julian emerged from the shadows, holding a steaming cup of coffee.
"Here you go, Adrian," Julian said, his voice betraying a mix of fatigue and determination. He extended the cup towards Adrian, a gesture of camaraderie in their shared pursuit of the truth. "I know it's not whiskey, but I thought you could use a little pick-me-up."
A grateful smile tugged at the corners of Adrian's lips as he accepted the offering. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, mingling with the faint scent of ink and paper. He took a sip, feeling the liquid's warmth cascade down his throat, momentarily driving away the chill of the night.
Leaning forward, Adrian locked eyes with Julian, his gaze filled with a hunger for answers. "So, Julian," he inquired, his voice a mixture of curiosity and anticipation. "What have you discovered?"
Julian, his body leaning against the edge of the desk, exuded a palpable sense of urgency. Every line etched on his face conveyed the weight of the day's investigations. "I dedicated the entire evening to Lady Juliana's estate," he began, his words chosen with care. "I searched tirelessly for any connection between her and Johnny Terenkin, but it seems there's no discernible link."
Adrian's brow furrowed, a mixture of frustration and intrigue coloring his expression. He leaned back in his chair, contemplating the implications of this revelation. "No connection," he mused aloud. "That leads us back to square one."
Julian nodded, a glimmer of disappointment flickering in his eyes. "Indeed," he replied, his voice tinged with determination. "But I refused to let that deter me. I turned my attention towards determining the cause of her untimely demise."
Adrian's interest rekindled at the mention of a possible breakthrough. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk, his gaze fixed on Julian. "And what did you uncover, my friend?"
A flicker of excitement danced in Julian's eyes as he leaned closer, as if sharing a forbidden secret. "Chief dispatched Vincent Orlin to thoroughly examine the scene and Lady Juliana's body," he explained, his voice laced with a mix of incredulity and determination. "But Orlin, inexplicably, concluded that she died of natural causes, attributing it to her age."
Adrian's eyes widened, disbelief coloring his features. "Natural causes?" he repeated, a note of skepticism creeping into his voice. "That doesn't sit right with me. She wasn't that old."
Julian's gaze never wavered as he continued, his words delivered with unwavering conviction. "I thought the same. So, I delved deeper, examining every inch of that room and the body. And that's when I found it."
Adrian leaned even closer, his curiosity consuming him. "Found what, Julian?"
Julian's voice dropped to a hushed whisper, as if fearful of being overheard. "Signs of a struggle, Adrian," he revealed, a hint of triumph seeping into his words. "The telltale marks on her neck indicate suffocation, likely through strangulation. Lady Juliana did not meet her end by natural causes."
Adrian's eyes sparkled with a mix of satisfaction and admiration. "You've done exceptional work, Julian," he praised, his voice filled with genuine respect. "This revelation helps us a lot."
Julian's lips curled into a proud smile, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. "Thank you, Detective Belinsky," he responded, his voice tinged with gratitude. "But that's not all. There's something else I stumbled upon during my investigation."
Adrian leaned back, his interest piqued. "What is it, Julian?" he asked, his voice laced with intrigue.
Julian reached into his coat pocket, his fingers fumbling for a moment before he pulled out a small stack of letters bound together with a frayed ribbon. He smacked them lightly against the desk, placing them before Adrian. The sound of paper meeting wood echoed in the silent room.
Adrian's gaze shifted to the stack of letters, his brows furrowing in curiosity. "And what are these, Julian?" he inquired, his voice a mix of anticipation and curiosity.
A glimmer of excitement danced in Julian's eyes as he looked at Adrian. "These, detective, are letters exchanged between Lady Juliana Zorkin and her lover," he revealed, his voice brimming with excitement.
Adrian's eyes widened, a mix of astonishment and intrigue coloring his expression. "Her lover?" he repeated, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Who could it be?"
Julian's smile grew wider, his excitement bubbling over. "Jeremy Alder, Detective," he said, his voice tinged with triumph.
Adrian's mouth fell open in shock, his mind struggling to process the revelation. He glanced once more at the stack of letters resting on his desk. "This is a remarkable find, Julian," he exclaimed, a sense of awe evident in his tone. "Well done, kid."
Julian's face lit up with pride at the words of praise. "Thanks, Detective Belinsky," he said, his smile unwavering. "I called you because I didn't really know what to do with them."
Adrian's hand reached out, his fingers brushing against the weathered edges of the letters. "Well, the Royal Department would undoubtedly want to examine these," he remarked, his voice filled with a mix of determination and purpose. "But first, I'll go through them to see if they can provide any insights into our investigation. We need to understand the connection between Lady Juliana, Jeremy Alder, and the Alderian Labor League underground." He paused for a few moments, his gaze shifting to Julian, before continuing, "You've done a fine job here," his voice filled with sincerity. "Head home, have some rest, while I delve into these letters."
Julian's gratitude shone through his tired eyes as he picked up his coat and hat. "Thank you, detective," he said, his voice filled with relief. "I'll head home, and good luck."
Adrian nodded, acknowledging Julian's appreciation. "You've earned it," he replied, his voice carrying a touch of admiration.
As Julian made his way towards the exit, Adrian watched him for a moment, contemplating the weight of their discoveries. The room fell into a silence broken only by the distant hum of the city outside. With a deep breath, Adrian turned his attention back to the stack of letters.
The next morning, as the soft rays of sunlight crept through the windows of the Police Department headquarters, Adrian was roused from his slumber by the distinct sound of a door shutting. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, he found Detective Vincent Orlin removing his coat and placing his case on his desk. Vincent's surprise at Adrian's early presence was evident in the widening of his eyes.
"Adrian, have you spent the night here?" Vincent asked, a mixture of concern and curiosity in his voice. "You should freshen up before the chief catches sight of you like this."
Adrian, feeling slightly embarrassed by his unintended all-nighter, managed a wry smile. "You're right, Vincent. Lost track of time while going through the case files," he admitted, his voice betraying a hint of exhaustion. "I'll wash my face and make myself look more presentable."
With a determined stride, Adrian headed to the nearby bathroom, where the cool water offered an invigorating splash on his face. As he reached for a towel, he caught a flicker of movement in the corner of his eye. Julian, appearing breathless and wide-eyed, barged into the corridor and stood at the doorway of the bathroom, holding a freshly printed newspaper.
"Adrian, you won't believe what happened last night!" Julian exclaimed, thrusting the front page of the newspaper toward Adrian. He took the paper, smudging the edges slightly, and scanned the headline. The newspaper reported a series of violent attacks on drinking establishments in the South slum area, with the infamous 'Fat Beaver' being one of the targets. Though the perpetrators remained unnamed, there was a growing consensus that the Alderian Labor League was behind the mayhem.
Adrian's brow furrowed as he absorbed the information. "Seems like the city is boiling with unrest," he commented, his voice tinged with concern. "We should head to the 'Fat Beaver' and see if there are any leads that could be connected to our case."
Julian nodded in agreement, his eyes reflecting a shared determination. "Let's hope we find something useful there," he said.
As they made their way toward the office kitchen, the aroma of coffee surrounded them once again. Julian couldn't contain his curiosity any longer. "Did you find anything interesting in the letters between Lady Juliana Zorkin and Jeremy Alder?" he inquired eagerly.
Adrian paused, pouring himself a cup of coffee before responding. "Surprisingly, the letters seemed like a collection of simple lovebird gibberish," he said, taking a contemplative sip. "But one thing stood out—Jeremy Alder persistently sought Lady Juliana's support for his charitable endeavors, especially the Zorkin orphanage homes, which have been rumored to have connections to the Alderian Labor League."
Adrian paused, his fingers gripping the coffee mug tightly. "One particular request caught my attention," he began, his voice measured and thoughtful. "Jeremy Alder asked Lady Juliana for a substantial donation of fifty thousand Crowns to the Black Hammer Woodcutters Society. It was different from his other appeals, and initially, Lady Juliana was hesitant. But eventually, she relented."
He took a sip of the freshly brewed coffee, savoring the rich flavor that danced on his tongue, before continuing. "Based on this, it seems unlikely that Lady Juliana was murdered by Alder's men. Their relationship was not only rooted in romance but also proved to be financially beneficial for Jeremy Alder."
They both headed back to the office as Julian nodded in agreement, absorbing the significance of Adrian's words. "So, it appears that Jeremy Alder had more to gain from this relationship than just a romantic connection," he remarked, his voice filled with intrigue. "Lady Juliana's philanthropic nature and her wealth made her a valuable asset to Alder's causes."
Adrian leaned forward, contemplating the implications of their discoveries. "Precisely," he responded, his gaze fixed on the stacks of documents scattered across their desks. "While it doesn't absolve Alder entirely, it does cast a different light on the motives surrounding Lady Juliana's demise."
90Please respect copyright.PENANAZM0B610srz