The wind blew hard as they both sat inside the car, silence settling between them. Jacob rushed toward the parked car, which hadn't been started yet. His expression was tight as he knocked on the windshield, the report glowing on the screen behind him.
Aric and Darian stepped out of the car and straightened themselves before Jacob.
"What happened, Jacob?" Darian asked, curiosity pulling at his voice.
"It's confirmed," Jacob said. "The DNA on the nails—"
"Then let's get back to the room and discuss it with everyone," Aric interrupted. They returned to the room.
"What happened, Chief? You're back— is something wrong?" Ezra asked.
Aric didn't respond and sat on the chair beside Alex. Jacob and Darian followed him into the room and took their seats. Jacob placed the reports on the table and said, "The DNA on the nails was altered using Genex-9."
The room filled with murmurs.
"What is it, Doctor?" Lucien asked.
Jacob explained everything. The room fell silent.
Aric asked, "So they weren't Carrie's?"
"No," Jacob replied. "They were artificial nails. The DNA was transferred deliberately."
Ezra slammed his fist on the table. "Then we lost our only evidence, haven't we?"
Alex spoke calmly. "We didn't lose it. But now we know a long-extinct chemical is being supplied in the market again—and we need to find this gang soon."
An hour later...
Aric and Darian were back at the crime scene, searching for more clues. Aric flinched, turned toward Darian, and asked, "Did the forensic officers perform Luminol testing?"
"No," Darian replied.
Aric called one of the officers to perform the test. After a few minutes, blue light bloomed across the floor and walls—drag marks, footprints. Bloodstains emerged where cleaning had failed to hide them.
"Chief, a lot of blood has been moved," the officer said.
"How many?" Aric asked.
"I'm not sure, sir. I've collected the fragments. I'll send them to the lab and report back within twenty minutes."
The officer left for the base.
A couple of hours later, while they were deep in investigation, Aric's phone rang. "Chief… the report came," the officer muttered.
"How was it?" Aric asked.
"Over two hundred male DNA traces were found. But one thing isn't right—there's one female DNA as well."
Aric turned to Darian. "Bunny, come. We need to go somewhere."
Darian sighed as they got into the car. His voice lifted. "Why did you bring me along? There are many others in the team. You could have instructed someone else to investigate with you."
Aric remained calm. "Bunny, it's your responsibility to accompany me." He smiled and faced forward.
Darian clenched his fist over the steering wheel.
Aric explained the bloodstain report to Darian.
Silence settled between them once again.
.
.
.
.