Chapter 338: No longer necessary

CHAPTER 339

THIRD POV (welp)

A taxi rolled to a slow stop in front of the police station. Two girls sat unmoving with nerves. The engine idled softly while the imposing stone building stood silently beyond the windshield, its wide staircase leading to a pair of heavy glass doors that reflected the afternoon sun.

Chiara was the first to recover. She pushed the door open and climbed out, smoothing the wrinkles from her shirt almost absentmindedly.

A second later, Katya leaned forward, handed the driver the fare Nonna had unknowingly provided, murmured a quiet thank you, and stepped onto the pavement beside her.

The taxi pulled away but Neither of them watched it leave. Their attention remained fixed on the building before them.

It looked… intimidating. Not because of its size alone, though it was certainly large enough. The polished stone exterior, the rows of narrow windows, the Italian flag hanging motionlessly near the entrance, the patrol cars parked neatly along the curb—it all carried a quiet authority that made the air feel heavier.

Katya unconsciously clasped her hands together. Chiara swallowed. “So…” Chiara spoke first, her voice noticeably smaller than usual.

“So,” Katya echoed. Neither of them took a step. For several long seconds, they simply stood there, staring at the entrance as though it might somehow become less frightening if they looked at it long enough.

It didn’t. Chiara released a slow breath.

“We’re really doing this.” Katya nodded.

“We have to.” Another moment passed until, almost at the exact same time, both girls drew in deep breaths before forcing their feet forward.

One step. The sound of their shoes echoed softly against the wide stone steps leading toward the entrance.

Katya’s heartbeat seemed louder with every step she climbed. By the time they reached the doors, her palms had already begun to sweat. Chiara hesitated only briefly before pushing one of the glass doors open.

Warm air greeted them immediately. The station was far busier than either of them had expected. Telephones rang somewhere deeper inside the building.

Printers hummed almost constantly. Officers in dark uniforms walked briskly through the corridors carrying thick folders beneath their arms.

Some spoke quietly to one another. Others escorted civilians toward offices lining the hallway. The faint scent of freshly brewed coffee mixed strangely with paper, polished floors, and the lingering smell of rain carried in from people entering throughout the afternoon.

Everything moved with purpose. Nobody seemed idle. Nobody seemed relaxed. Yet despite the constant movement, there was no shouting.

No chaos. Only an organized rhythm that somehow made the place feel even more intimidating. Katya instinctively moved a little closer to Chiara as they simply stood there for several awkward seconds, uncertain where they were supposed to go.

Eventually, Chiara noticed a reception counter positioned near the entrance.

An officer sat behind it, typing steadily on a computer while occasionally answering the telephone.

Gathering what little courage they had left, the girls exchanged one quick glance before walking toward the desk. The officer looked up as they approached.

He appeared to be somewhere in his forties, his expression professional but not unkind.

“Good afternoon.” Katya opened her mouth. Nothing came out. Every sentence she’d rehearsed during the taxi ride disappeared from her mind. Beside her, Chiara looked equally frozen.

The officer waited patiently. His gaze moved between the two nervous young women standing before him.

“Can I help you?” Katya finally found her voice and cleared it quietly.

“We were asked to come.” The officer tilted his head slightly.

“By whom?” Katya glanced briefly toward Chiara before answering.

“Inspector Ricci.” Recognition flickered briefly across the officer’s face.

“Your names?”

“…Katya.”

“And Chiara,” Chiara added almost immediately.

The officer turned back toward his computer, his fingers moving quickly across the keyboard. The clicking of the keys sounded impossibly loud to the two girls waiting on the opposite side of the counter.

Neither of them noticed the brief pause that followed. Nor did they notice the subtle change in the officer’s expression as he read whatever appeared on his monitor.

His eyebrows lifted ever so slightly. Then, almost as quickly, his professional expression returned.

“I see.” He stood from his chair.

“Please wait here for just a moment.” Without another explanation, the officer stepped through a nearby security door and disappeared into the corridor beyond.

Silence settled between the girls once more.

Not even three minutes passed before the security door opened again. The same officer stepped out first. Behind him walked Inspector Ricci.

Her stride was steady, measured, her dark suit as immaculate as it had been the previous day. She carried a thin folder tucked beneath one arm.

Unlike yesterday, however… There was no welcoming smile. No polite warmth. Only the composed, unreadable expression of someone entirely focused on her work.

Katya’s stomach tightened. Beside her, Chiara straightened almost instinctively. Their hearts seemed to beat in perfect, terrified rhythm as the inspector approached.

She stopped a comfortable distance in front of them. “Miss Katya.”

Her gaze shifted. “Miss Chiara.” Both girls hurriedly greeted her. “Good afternoon, Inspector.”

“Good afternoon.” Her response was courteous but detached. Professional. Almost mechanical. Katya couldn’t stop comparing it to yesterday.

Yesterday, Inspector Ricci had smiled. Today, she looked as though smiles weren’t part of her vocabulary. And this made both girls to wonder if this meant something had gone horribly wrong.

Inspector Ricci looked down at the folder briefly before closing it. “I appreciate that both of you came today.” Neither girl spoke.

“However…” She paused just long enough for both of their nerves to tighten even further. “…following additional developments in the investigation, it appears your attendance is no longer required.”

Katya blinked. She wasn’t sure she’d heard correctly.

“I’m… sorry?” Inspector Ricci met her gaze. “There has been a change in the direction of the investigation.” Her tone remained calm and even.

“As a result, we determined that bringing you in for questioning is no longer necessary.” Chiara frowned.

“…What?”

“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.” Katya simply stared. None of this made sense. Yesterday they had insisted the two girls report to the station.

They had spoken as though it were important. They talked about the evidence but Now… Now they were apologizing? Inspector Ricci continued before either of them could interrupt. “Thank you for taking the time to come regardless.”

She offered a small, polite nod. “You are free to leave.”

Silence. Complete silence.

Katya felt like her brain had simply… stopped working. She couldn’t even form a question. Beside her, Chiara looked equally stunned.

romeo kept his word? aw