Chapter 30: Let Me Try

Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Let Me Try

These rooms had been booked long-term since before he started working here. Aside from the annual payments, he’d never actually seen anyone come to stay in them.

It wasn’t unheard of for former colleagues to try and make some extra cash by secretly renting them out.

But less than an hour after one was rented out, a call would come in from the boss.

The former colleague not only had to pay a fine, but they also lost their job. It even became difficult for them to find any work in the area.

That was enough to make everyone else drop any similar ideas.

Now, aside from the cleaning staff who went in daily, no one else ever entered.

"Long-term rentals, but no one ever stays. And when a new guest checks in, it’s discovered in less than an hour." Evan Keller listened to the manager’s explanation, raising an eyebrow with interest.

’The implications of that are huge.’

’Since all the surrounding rooms are booked, there’s a high probability of a secret door connecting them.’

’And somewhere in this room, there’s probably a hidden pinhole camera, broadcasting everything in real time.’

Evan Keller scanned the room but didn’t spot anything.

’We can do a thorough search once the local police arrive.’

"Do you still have the information on the guest with the long-term booking? Find it now, and bring it to me along with the surveillance footage." Captain Lynch clapped his hands and told the manager to have his colleagues prepare an extra copy of the documents.

The manager quickly agreed and, right in front of Zoe Sawyer and the others, called his staff and told them to get everything ready.

The ambulance arrived shortly after and took Captain Lynch’s unconscious colleague to the hospital.

The local precinct also sent a number of officers over to help with the investigation.

"What’s this?"

A female officer pulled a black plastic bag from a gap in the headboard. It was bulging and crinkled when she touched it.

"Open it up and let’s see," her partner whispered, his own hands never stopping as he checked the surrounding area for anything they might have missed.

The female officer opened the bag. Inside was a sopping wet, yellow raincoat. The moment it was opened, a heavy scent of body wash wafted out.

"It hasn’t rained in days. Why is this raincoat soaking wet, and why stuff it in here?" the female officer wondered aloud, turning it over with her gloved hands, confused.

’They could have just hung it up to dry!’

Zoe Sawyer had been following behind Evan Keller and Captain Lynch, about to leave, but when she heard that, she whipped her head around.

’The raincoat in the officer’s hands... it looks just like the one I saw when I opened the door!’

"Keller! That raincoat!"

Zoe Sawyer tapped Evan Keller on the shoulder, her voice urgent.

Evan Keller remembered Zoe’s description. He strode over to the female officer and asked her to take out the raincoat and unfold it.

Once it was fully unfolded, Evan Keller deliberately leaned in and sniffed the hem.

He then frowned. The smell of body wash was strongest on the hem!

’It was as if Teacher Scott had tried to scrub out a stubborn stain and really went at it right here.’

’That’s why the smell was strongest in that spot.’

"Bag this and get it back for an immediate blood analysis," Evan Keller instructed the officer, telling her to send the raincoat for testing as quickly as possible.

’If this is really the one Zoe saw at the crime scene, then a simple wash with body wash won’t be enough to get it completely clean!’

Zoe Sawyer’s expression was a mixture of excitement and confusion. "If Teacher Scott could sneak out, why wouldn’t he destroy the raincoat? Why leave it here?"

He could have closed the bedroom door to block the view of the officers guarding the living room.

Taking it to the room next door to get rid of it would have been better than leaving it here!

Zoe Sawyer just didn’t get it.

Evan Keller thoughtfully stroked his chin. ’Why does it feel like Teacher Scott left this evidence for us on purpose?’

’But regardless of the reason, the most important task right now is to find them!’

Watching the officers moving back and forth between the rooms, Zoe Sawyer bit her lip.

’Maybe... I should try opening a door again. See if I can catch up to them nearby?’

As if sensing her thoughts, Evan Keller cut her off before she could even speak. "No! It’s too dangerous. If you absolutely have to go, I’m going with you!

Besides, this location isn’t secure. We’ll discuss it back at the station!"

’We don’t know if they left a pinhole camera in this room, so we have to be cautious about everything.’

Zoe Sawyer understood what Evan Keller meant. She nodded silently, accepting his decision.

Soon after, another officer discovered a small signal jammer inside the toilet tank.

That must have been why Captain Lynch couldn’t get a call through to his colleague earlier.

After leaving a few people behind to secure the scene, the rest of the team returned to the precinct with the surveillance footage from the hotel and some of the surrounding shops to search for leads.

It didn’t take long for Captain Lynch to figure out how Teacher Scott had slipped past the officer guarding the living room.

Just a few hours after they had entered the suite yesterday, Teacher Scott had left through a door in the room at the very end of the hall—one of the other long-term rentals.

He returned three hours later under the cover of darkness.

He had done the same thing today, only this time he was clearly out of breath when he returned, which must have been from being chased by Zoe.

Evan Keller ran a hand through his hair. They had figured that part out, but now a new problem had emerged.

Where in the world did the fugitive couple go?

Following the surveillance footage, they saw Teacher Scott turn into a small alley and never come out again.

When the lead officer for this area returned to grab something, he heard about their progress and immediately dispatched another team to investigate the alley where the suspect had vanished.

"Let me try again. Searching like this isn’t getting us anywhere!" Zoe Sawyer tugged on Evan Keller’s sleeve, her voice laced with anxiety.

Even she, a non-professional, knew that in a situation like this, the longer the suspects were missing, the worse it was for the investigation.

There was no telling what harm they might do to society next!

’I have a fifty-fifty shot at finding them, which is better than all these people searching aimlessly!’

Evan Keller also understood the problems that could arise with every passing moment.

But he couldn’t just stand by and watch Zoe go off alone to face those vicious criminals!

"Let me think, just let me think... This isn’t a small decision. My primary purpose here is to ensure your safety!" Evan Keller paced anxiously.

Professionally speaking, agreeing to Zoe’s request was the right call.

If Zoe were a trained officer, he wouldn’t be so conflicted.

But the key was!

Just two weeks ago, she was an ordinary civilian!

There was no way Evan Keller could feel at ease letting her go alone!

Zoe Sawyer looked at Evan Keller and Captain Lynch, her expression firm.

"Let me try!"