chapter 3
Morning light filtered through the tall windows of the precinct as Detective Victoria "Vika" Bennett pushed the glass door open with her shoulder, a cup of hot coffee in her hand. The station was already alive with the usual noise—phones ringing, keyboards clicking, officers moving quickly between desks.
Vika walked straight to her desk without a word. She placed the coffee down, opened the case folder, and began reviewing her notes from the previous night. Her team was already gathered.
Detective Daniel Carter leaned against the edge of his desk, flipping through printed reports.
"New witness statement came in late last night," he said. "Nothing groundbreaking, but it confirms the timeline."
Marcus Reed, sitting in his chair with a pen spinning between his fingers, frowned. "I went through the building cameras again. Nothing. Whoever did this knew every blind spot."
Sofia Alvarez, focused on her monitor, didn't look up. "I'm checking traffic cams from nearby streets. If the suspect left by car, we might catch something."
Just then, the glass door swung open again, and Lucas Malden entered. His presence immediately drew attention. The three detectives who had never met him—Daniel, Marcus, and Sofia—looked up in surprise.
Lucas carried himself with casual confidence, holding a leather-bound notebook. He smiled politely. "Good morning. I hope I'm not interrupting."
Daniel's jaw dropped slightly. "Wait… Lucas Malden? The author?"
Marcus nudged Daniel. "No way… he's real?"
Sofia blinked rapidly at her screen. "We've read his books, but he's… here?"
Lucas laughed softly. "Yes, it's me. I understand if you're skeptical. I write about crime, not actually investigate it. But I was present at the scene last night, with Detective Bennett."
Vika glanced up briefly. Her expression remained neutral. She didn't need to announce that she had recognized him immediately. The others were still gawking.
Daniel's excitement got the better of him. "Your books… they're brilliant. I've read The Silent Witness twice!"
Marcus pulled out a small notebook from his pocket. "Could I… maybe get your autograph?"
Lucas grinned. "Of course. If it boosts morale." He signed the notebook with a flourish and handed it back. "There. Now you're officially inspired."
Sofia finally looked away from her monitor, curiosity in her eyes. "So… you actually saw the murder scene?"
"Yes," Lucas said calmly. "I was there with Detective Bennett last night and then we went to the victim's parents. It's… sobering in person. Patterns are easier to see than the chaos suggests."
Daniel leaned in. "So… you think you can help us? Even though you're… a writer?"
Lucas shrugged lightly. "I don't touch evidence. I don't interfere. But I do notice things. Motives, behaviors, inconsistencies… sometimes my perspective is surprisingly clear."
Marcus raised an eyebrow. "You're already giving off more insight than some people here. How does that even happen?"
Lucas chuckled softly. "Experience with human nature. I read it, I analyze it, I… write it down. That skill applies outside the page too."
Vika folded her arms, watching him carefully. She didn't say anything. She had seen his skills firsthand at the scene. She didn't need to admit she had read his books—or liked them. Not yet.
Lucas looked around at the three detectives. "I'm here to assist, nothing more. But I promise, if we pay attention, the details will speak for themselves."
Daniel muttered, almost to himself, "I can't believe we're about to work with the author…"
Marcus and Sofia exchanged a grin. "This is going to be interesting," Sofia said softly.
Vika sipped her coffee, keeping her focus. "Alright, Mr. Malden. Observations only. Follow my lead. And don't get in anyone's way."
"Understood," Lucas replied with a polite nod.
For a moment, the precinct seemed quieter, even with the usual clatter. Everyone sensed that the day—and this investigation—was about to get… different.
L
Lucas set down his notebook and glanced at the three detectives: Daniel, Marcus, and Sofia. Their initial excitement had faded into professional curiosity, though Daniel still looked like he might ask for an autograph at any moment.
"I've read the reports and gone through the crime scene photos you sent," Lucas began, his voice calm but measured. "One thing stands out—timing."
Vika raised an eyebrow but didn't interrupt. She wanted to see where this was going without giving away that she'd read his books.
Lucas continued. "The victim's schedule was predictable. Whoever planned this knew it. The murderer had access to information most people wouldn't notice—the kind of details that are easy to miss unless you're trained to observe patterns."
Marcus leaned forward. "So… we're looking at someone close? Or someone professional?"
"Professional," Lucas said, his eyes briefly flicking to Vika. "But with a personal stake. The lack of forced entry and the precision of the attack indicate someone who could enter without raising suspicion."
Sofia typed rapidly, nodding. "That matches the witness reports. Nothing unusual outside the building, no forced windows or doors."
Daniel scratched his head. "But then… who benefits? Business rivalry? Personal grudge?"
Lucas smiled faintly. "Both are possible. But there's something else. I've read cases like this, countless times in my work. Motive isn't always money or anger—it's leverage, control. Someone wants something, and they're willing to manipulate everything to get it."
Vika shifted in her seat, intrigued despite herself. The way he phrased things—it wasn't typical police talk, but it resonated with the gaps she had already noticed.
At that moment, Daniel, unable to contain his excitement, muttered, "I swear… if he gives us an insight that actually works, I'm asking for an autograph."
Lucas's eyes twinkled. "You might be disappointed. I usually write about fictional criminals, not hand over solutions for free."
Marcus chuckled. "Doesn't mean we won't try. Come on, you are the guy who keeps readers guessing until the last page."
Lucas nodded, acknowledging the humor, but then turned his attention to the case folder in front of him. "Let's go back to the scene. I've noticed patterns in the way the victim's movements and interactions were recorded… small things you might overlook if you're rushing through reports."
Vika's gaze softened imperceptibly. She wanted to ask how he knew so much, but she didn't. Instead, she leaned in slightly, following the rhythm of the discussion.
Sofia raised her hand. "Wait—are you saying the murderer planned all this weeks ahead?"
Lucas shook his head. "Not weeks, but enough to study the victim's habits, her routines, and her interactions. Whoever did this knew exactly when and where to strike without witnesses."
Daniel muttered, half to himself, "Damn… that's actually smart."
Marcus leaned back, tapping a pen against the desk. "Okay, so we have someone clever, patient, and willing to kill. That narrows it down… but not by much."
Lucas smiled faintly. "True. But the more pieces we put together, the more the picture forms. And some of those pieces are… unusual. They point to a group rather than an individual."
Vika's pulse quickened. "A group?" she asked carefully, keeping her tone neutral.
"Yes," Lucas said. "But not a typical gang. A highly organized network. They operate in the shadows, with money and influence. Diamonds, financial leverage, things that make them untouchable through conventional methods."
Sofia frowned. "You're saying the parents aren't involved?"
Lucas shook his head firmly. "Not at all. They're innocent. But the victim… she stumbled onto something she shouldn't have. Or someone decided she was expendable. That's what makes this complicated."
Vika remained silent for a moment, letting the information settle. She already knew she'd have to follow this carefully. Lucas Malden, a writer who hadn't solved a case in his life, had somehow framed the first threads of a lead—threads that could unravel an entire organization.
Daniel glanced at Marcus and whispered, "This is insane. He's just… a writer. And yet he sees all this."
Lucas overheard and smirked lightly. "Writers pay attention to details others dismiss. That's our secret weapon."
Vika couldn't help but let a ghost of a smile cross her face. She wasn't saying it out loud, but for once, having Lucas in the room felt… useful.
And somewhere, deep down, she realized: the Denova case was about to move in directions none of them could have predicted.