Criminal Case: Shadows of Qyshin

Sub-Chapter 3: Follow The Orders

William and the others arrive at Juliette's lakeside cottage. Jeoung immediately guides Evelyn to sit in a nearby couch.

"Thank God, you're okay." Dorothy strokes her chest. "Just need recovery on your chemical energy."

Evelyn nods, fixing her short hair. "Thanks, all of you."

"It's okay, Evelyn." William puts on his glasses. "You are safe, and that's all there is to it."

"You still owe us an explanation, though." Charlie proceeds to sit down in the opposite couch. "Why did you kill Rudolph, Evelyn?"

Everyone else takes their own sitting. Michael, Elle and Juliette sit in three retractable barstool near the kitchen counter, Christopher and Dorothy in the lower stairs, while William, Charlie and Jeoung don't sit.

"Yeah, Eve, why did you kill him?" Elle repeats the same question that Charlie asked. "William said that you did it to free him from Technofair's shady dealings. Was that all, though?"

Evelyn, still trying to control her breathing, answers, "I had no choice. I couldn't let Rudolph get involved with the force of evil."

Christopher crosses his hands. "If you mean my dealings with that religious group, you were totally barking up the wrong tree."

"How do we know that?" Jeoung squints her eyes. "You're a perfect liar, if you haven't noticed."

"Don't jinx it. But hey, me and him, we're just business partners, nothing more and nothing less. I will not do anything that could lead me to my arrest. That's where I draw the line."

"Really?" Dorothy crosses her hands, speaking in a doubting tone.

Christopher does the same gesture. "At least Technofair isn't as sketchy as Next Level."

"What do you mean?" William turned his head to Christopher.

"Well, unlike them, we don't have any secret plan going on."

"What secret plan?"

"Dorothy and Michael can answer that one."

Michael's face turns pale. "N-no, I don't want to talk about that-"

"Oh, that plan." Dorothy puts one hand on the side of the chair. "Stellae Architectus."

"Stella what now?" Juliette plays with her hair.

"Stellae Architectus. Architect of The Stars in Latin."

"What is that?"

"I have no idea, but Michael here knows."

"No." Michael nervously adjusts his glasses. "No no no. I don't want to talk about that. Never."

Elle plays with Michael's blazer. "You sound so scared. What happened?"

"Clearly, something about the plan bothered him." Jeoung crosses her legs. "Dorothy?"

"Like I said, I have no idea. Michael was an intern at Next Level just like me, but he upgraded to the higher level, the only group of people that got to see the plan."

"Whatever that is, it can't be good." Charlie puts one hand in his waist. "Take notes, Will."

"I am." William crosses his hands. "But now, we're on a dead end."

Juliette moves her barstool around. "You know, my friends can probably help you guys out."

Everyone stares at her.

"Which socialite friend are you talking about here?" Elle glues her back to the kitchen counter.

"They're not some freaking socialites. They're singers, just like me."

"Funny you said that in a calm tone." Jeoung tilts her head.

"Well, was I supposed to be angry? No, right?" Juliette snuffles. "Anyways, I'm sure William knows who I'm talking about."

William adjusts his necktie. "Leon, right? He's a DJ, not a singer."

"That's literally the same thing."

Elle lets out a creepy smile, like she's ready to kill off Juliette.

"Okay okay, I'm joking. They're not the same."

"How to kill yourself with two steps." Michael mumbles.

"Fuck off."

"Juliette." William squints his eyes. "Who's the other one?"

"Cindy Campbell."

"Cindy Campbell?" Jeoung stands up. "That influencer?"

"Why do you look surprised?"

"She's also one of us."

"Really? Wow, I seriously need to catch up with everything."

"You don't have to, actually." William adjusts his glasses. "The less you know, the better."

"That fella's damn right." Michael crosses his hands.

Silence.

"So are we still going to have a liquor party tonight?" Michael suddenly asks.

"After this, probably not." Jeoung rolls her eyes. "But maybe later."

"Yeah well, I can't bear to have another glass of whiskey this week." Christopher waves his hand as a no sign.

"I have someone to meet today, so I'll probably pass too." Juliette looks down at her nails.

Charlie smirks. "Isabella, right?"

Juliette blushes.

"Right...?"

"M-maybe." Juliette stutters—perhaps not on purpose.

"Oh, I smell love in the air~" Dorothy laughs.

"Shut up, all of you."