Chapter 2

"Officer, I need to report something. I found Chloe's body."

Detective Sergeant Evans arrived.

He gave me a look I knew too well: sympathy mixed with impatience, like he was dealing with a disruptive child.

"Maya, it's you again."

"Detective Sergeant Evans, Chloe is right here."

He didn't speak, just led his team inside.

The old house wasn't big – a small three-bedroom place.

They searched room by room. Nothing.

Detective Sergeant Evans came out, taking off his cap.

"Maya, Chloe isn't here."

"She is."

"We've searched."

"Search again."

Detective Sergeant Evans sighed.

Just then, a black sedan pulled up outside.

David stepped out of the car, wearing pajamas underneath a jacket.

"Maya! What are you doing here again?"

He walked over, his tone still that soothing, child-like cadence, "I got a call from the property manager saying someone broke in. I didn't expect it to be you. This place is empty, it's not safe."

He turned to Detective Sergeant Evans, sighing, "Officer, I apologize. I haven't been able to look after her properly. Her mental state has been unstable since Chloe disappeared. I've already arranged for a rehabilitation center."

A cab screeched to a halt at the door. My mom got out, her face deathly pale.

"Maya! Are you calling the police with false alarms again?"

"Mom, Chloe is right he—"

"Shut up!"

My mom rushed over and slapped my shoulder. It stung.

"David wants to send you to the rehabilitation center, and I've agreed. You can't keep doing this."

"Look at you, running out at four in the morning! Are you trying to kill me with worry?"

Detective Sergeant Evans looked at my mom, then at David.

"Maya, filing a false report can lead to arrest."

David quickly waved his hands, apologizing.

"Officer, please don't pursue this. Maya didn't mean it. She just misses Chloe too much. I'll take her home, we won't cause any more trouble."

He walked over and reached for my arm.

My mom also walked over, gripping my other hand.

Detective Sergeant Evans told his officers, "Pack it up. Take Maya back to the station for a statement. False reports need to be handled."

An officer walked over, taking out handcuffs.

I struggled free.

"Detective Sergeant Evans, please, just one more search. Just one."

Detective Sergeant Evans looked at me. For a long time.

"Maya, I've already searched twice."

"We've taken every possible measure. There's no sign of murder or bloodstains on the premises."

"A third time."

"There's nothing here."

"One last time, I'm begging you."

4

I gripped Detective Sergeant Evans' hand, pleading desperately.

Detective Sergeant Evans paused, probably thinking I'd truly gone mad.

David sighed, walked over, his voice soft as if soothing an infant: "Maya, come home with me. The doctors from the rehabilitation center will be here soon to pick you up. Someone will take care of you there. Please, no more scenes, okay?"

The officer approached again, this time directly reaching for my wrists with the handcuffs.

Gritting my teeth, I struggled, shaking off his grip.

"Please, search again. I'm begging you."

Detective Sergeant Evans' brows furrowed.

He looked at me for three seconds, then raised a hand to stop the officer.

"Search one more time," he said. The officers went back inside.

Behind cabinets, under the floorboards, they even checked the walls for false compartments.

More meticulously, more carefully than the previous two times.

The entire house was subjected to bloodstain detection.

Still nothing.

When Detective Sergeant Evans came out, he took his cap off, then put it back on.

He didn't look at me, but I knew what he was thinking.

He was thinking this girl was truly being unreasonable.

David gently patted my shoulder: "Maya, that's enough. You've put the police through enough."

He walked over to take my arm.

My mom also came over, and both of them held me tight.

Detective Sergeant Evans told his officers: "Pack it up. Take her in."

The officer walked over, this time without hesitation.

The cold metal of the handcuffs clicked shut on my left wrist.

My tears finally fell.

I still hadn't found Chloe.

My mom clutched her chest nearby, scolding me furiously, while David tried to soothe her.

"Chloe was such a good person, and you've learned nothing from her! Now you're treating calling the police like a game!"

David sighed and bowed to Detective Sergeant Evans.

"Again, I apologize, Officer. She just misses Chloe too much. I apologize on her behalf."

Detective Sergeant Evans waved his hand, signaling the officer to take me away.

The officer pulled on my handcuffs, dragging me towards the door.

I was pulled two steps, my eyes scanning every corner of the room.

Suddenly, I noticed something.

I lunged fiercely in that direction.

The handcuffs clanged against the doorframe, leaving a red mark on my wrist.

The officer pushed me, struggling like crazy, onto the floor.

"What are you doing?!" My mom shrieked.

Detective Sergeant Evans yelled, "Hold it!"

He wasn't talking to me. He was talking to everyone.

He stared in the direction I was looking, walked quickly over, and squatted down.

A few seconds of silence.

David opened his mouth to say something, saw Detective Sergeant Evans' expression, and closed it again.

Then he stood up, his face utterly changed.

"Secure the scene. No one leaves. Call in the CID, forensic team, and K9 unit."

I lay on the floor, looking at that corner.

Chloe, I found you.