A Murder, One Missing, Two Left // Val Dashing

10

You close the front door behind you as you start your journey to the police station. Forest Drive isn't super far from your house, but it's a walk. You make your way to the police station, humming your favorite song. You finally see the entrance, seeing Julie near the door. She peacefully smokes a cigarette while she pets a stray black cat. She glances over and sees Y/N so she takes one last puff, puts out the cigarette, and throws it out.

"Hey, Y/N, glad to finally meet you in person." The cat stays where it is, still pushing into Julie's ankle.

"Hey Julie! Me too," You wave softly before looking at the cat. "Who's that?"

"Hm?" She looks down at the cat softly nudging her, asking for more pets. "Oh her? I don't know, she just came up to me, asking for food and pets. I think I'll call her.. Ruby.." The cat stops, notices you, and starts rubbing against your ankle for a little while before sprinting off into the shadows.

"Oh, well bye Ruby-" You look at Julie and motion her inside. Both walk into the police station normally and Julie waves to the person at the front desk.

"Hey, is Alex available?" Julie asks the female at the front desk, her name tag read "Dahlia". You recognized Aster's sister almost immediantly.

"Minoe- you're back in town? So soon?" She looks at you, she also looks like she hasn't slept.

"Oh, Y/N. Almost didn't recognize you- yeah, mom called me after the news got out... I tried to get here as fast as I could," Your expression softens.

"I'm so sorry... You got here from Oregon that fast?"

"It helps that I'm a cop." She fake laughs. You do the same, still upset about Aster's death.

Julie clears her throat berefly. "So is Alex available or not..?"

"Shit, sorry, yeah. He's in his office in the back. Why do you need him?" She looks at Julie questioningly.

"Uhh.." She rubs the back of her neck and glaces over at Y/N then looks back at Minoe. "We just need to ask him few things.. That's all."

"He's pretty busy with that case, you really shouldn't bother him." Minoe looks at her computer and types some things.

"It's urgent, Minoe. Can we speak with him or not?" She slams her hand on the desk and stares at Minoe angrily. "I want to help."

Minoe looks back at her, her expression calm and tired. "Fine. Just don't let any other cop see you, I don't want to get in trouble."

"I'm in on the case Minoe, the others know too." You budge in to help a friend.

"Fine then. Good luck Y/N." She sighs and goes back to her work.

"Thank you, Minoe. And I know Alex as family so the others wouldn't know." She takes her hand off of the desk, smirks and gestures to the other cops.

"Hm," Minoe glances back at Julie and tilts her head, motion for you both to go.

You and Julie walk away from the desk and start heading towards Alex's office. Julie makes it to the office door first and knocks before jokingly saying "Officer Alexxx.. It's me, your favorite niece, Juliieee.."

A sigh is heard from inside the office and the cop opens the door. It's the same cop that interrogated you just days ago- weird how you were just wondering who he was.

"Hey Julie. Oh, Y/N, hello." He leans against the doorframe.

"Hi." You mumble, looking at the ground, thinking.

"Hi Uncle Alex, long time no see..!" She slightly chuckles mischievously. "Sorry if we interrupted your work but as you know I've heard of the cases and I want to help. And Y/N and I came together to help a bit with those cases."

He ruffles Julie's hair. "Is that so? Well then, guess we are gonna work together then."

"Aye-!" She lifts her hands up and slightly shoos Alex's hand away from her head. "I just got it done today!" She smiles, chuckles, and puts her arms down. He laughs.

"About the case, Alex." You look at him, the air turning more serious. "We have to start working on it." He nods and lets you and Julie in, a pile of files sit on his desk.

Julie stays quiet skimming through piles of papers and files. Trying to find anything important. You pick up the file about Jamie.

Julie grabs a file and walks over to Alex, whispers something in his ear then exits the office. You look at Alex in confusion.

"What was that about?" You ask him.

"Oh nothing. Julie just wanted to check the back if there was anything important there cause I haven't checked there yet."

"Oh, alright." You say quietly. "Have you found any clues who did this yet?"

"No not yet.." He looks away sadly. You hum in response. He glances up at you. "Do you have any idea of who you think it is, Y/N?"

"Nah. Not like anyone had a personal vendetta against Aster or Jamie. Not that I knew of-" You pick up Aster's file. "Aster told Torin everything. If she was hiding something from the rest of us, he would know."

"And he hasn't told you anything since, right?"

"Not since 2 days ago, just about now." You mumble, checking the time. You notice you have an unread text, from Torin. 'Y/N, Im busy with work tonight, but I'll talk tomorrow. Park @ 7. I get out early.' You just stare at the text, thinking.