Signed K

Chapter Forty-Five: Rogue Cop

The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over Alex's face as he stirred from his slumber. With no need for an alarm clock, he awoke at 10:45 am, the weight of the past few days heavy on his mind. Forced to take two weeks leave from the case he had dedicated himself to, Alex found himself restless and unsettled, the absence of purpose gnawing at his soul.

As he stood at the back door of his house, a cup of coffee in hand, Alex surveyed the neglected garden that once bore the mark of his care and attention. The overgrown plants and unkempt lawn bore silent witness to the toll that the case had taken on his life, each blade of grass a reminder of the sacrifices he had made in pursuit of justice.

"Fuck this, I can't sit and do nothing," Alex muttered to himself, a surge of determination coursing through his veins. With a resolute expression, he set his coffee down and dialed Pete's number, the need for information burning like a fire in his belly.

"Pete, where are we on the case?" Alex's voice was urgent, a plea for answers that he knew might not come easily.

"You know I can't tell you, Alex," Pete's voice was tinged with regret, a reminder of the barriers that stood between them and the truth they sought.

Determined to break through the wall of silence, Alex pressed on, his tone unwavering. "Please, Pete. I need to know," he implored, a sense of urgency coloring his words.

There was a moment of hesitation on the other end of the line before Pete finally relented. "Fine, just let me get somewhere private," he conceded, a note of resignation in his voice.

As Pete shared the latest developments in the case, Alex listened intently, his mind racing with possibilities. The team was demoralized, the hunt for Kelvin seemingly at a standstill. No new bodies, no new letters - it was as if their elusive quarry had vanished into thin air.

"He won't be gone for long," Alex declared with conviction, a steely resolve glinting in his eyes. "Get me a copy of the case notes and evidence. I'll go over everything again, see if there's anything we missed."

Pete hesitated, the weight of Alex's request hanging heavy in the air. "Alex, I could lose my job," he protested, the fear of repercussions evident in his voice.

Shocked by Pete's response, Alex countered with a stark truth. "What's the alternative? We could lose Kelvin," he stated, his words a stark reminder of the stakes they were playing for.

After a moment of contemplation, Pete relented. "I'll see you at your house after shift," he agreed, a sense of determination mirrored in his voice.

With a renewed sense of purpose, Alex set about preparing for the task ahead. The pieces of the puzzle lay scattered before him, waiting to be assembled into a coherent whole. Wherever Kelvin was hiding, Alex was determined to uncover the clues that would lead them to him.

As the day stretched before him, filled with the promise of renewed investigation, Alex felt a sense of anticipation building within him. The hunt for Kelvin was far from over, and with each passing moment, they drew closer to the truth that lay just beyond their reach.