REMI HOOD

Chapter 12

Will

I wake up feeling like shit, still not used to the 10-hour time difference from the US and Maldives. It's eight AM here while it's two PM back in Washington. I yawn as I stretch my arms. I stand up to wake Finn up on the other side of the room.

"Fin...n! Wake up, dude, we need to head to the police station." I yell, but he doesn't even flinch. He sleeps like he's dead.

"Wake up! Finn! Finn! Finn! Finn!" I chant his name to annoy him.

His eyes flutter open and his hands cover his ears. He groans, "Ugh Will, it's way-y too early!"

I open my mouth to argue but my phone interrupts me. Someone's name flashes across the screen.

Ryan Ibrahim?

I answer the phone.

"Morning, is everything all right?" I ask the homicide detective.

"Well, I called to tell you there was another theft..."

Finn hears this and widens his eyes.

"... And to ask when you guys are gonna come here." Ryan finishes.

"Another theft? Oh, sorry, we'll be on our way soon, once Finn gets his ass out of bed that is. Still not used to the time difference, and all." I explain.

Ryan chuckles. "Yeah, I understand, I'll brief you on the theft once you come here."

I hang up and get ready. Finn was obviously eavesdropping on the conversation and quickly gets ready as well.

We meet Ryan in our temporary office, eager to hear about the break-in. Finn impatiently asks, "So, when did the robbery happen?"

"Well, the owner of the house which was broken into told me that they were all asleep and he woke up only to find half of his money gone." Ryan explains.

"Hold on, they have security cameras right? Most people do." I ponder.

"They do have cameras, they even checked them but found nothing."

Confusion rushes through me. "That doesn't make any sense."

Ryan shakes his head. "It does because the person we are after is smart. I never got them because he or she never leaves a trace, I sometimes wonder if this mystery person is a ghost," He slightly snorts before continuing, "All of these upper-class people have intense security systems, but the security cameras show nothing but a loop of the empty house. Every single time."

"So, our guy..." Fin starts.

"Or girl. We don't know for sure." I add.

"They're a hacker, a damn good one that is." Finn states.

"Surely someone saw our mystery thief leaving the house or on the road." I look at Ryan for an explanation.

Ryan replies, "Like I said, smart; The thefts always happen around two AM to five AM, never a specific time to make things harder. People never seem to notice our guy as it's early in the morning and all. A few officers and I actually went on a stake out once, that didn't work at all. The mystery guy - heck, or girl - somehow stole from a house and walked right past us. Ever since then, I never tried staking out."

Finn and I both have a knowing look.

"I think we're going to give the stake out idea a try." I say.

"Wait, are we sure that our guy steals every night?" Finn asks.

"Yes, every single night." Ryan tells us clearly.

Every criminal has a motive of their own.

What is this one's motive?