Shadows of Deceit | MilkLove

Chp 5: Part 1: Love is in the Air

The humid air of Bangkok wrapped around Detective Pat like a heavy blanket as she stepped out of her car, the city's vibrant chaos buzzing in the background. The scene before her was grim, a stark contrast to the colorful life surrounding it. Inside an unlisted house, tucked away from prying eyes, the office library had an unsettling stillness, with the vault at its center standing ominously.

Flashing lights illuminated the area, and uniformed officers moved about, maintaining a careful perimeter. Pat took a deep breath, steeling herself for what lay beyond the entrance. Tinh was already inside, his expression somber as he awaited her arrival.

"Sergeant," he called, his voice steady despite the gravity of the situation. She approached, her heart pounding with a mix of dread and determination.

"What do we have?" she asked, adopting a solemn professional tone. She needed to focus; emotions could come later.

Tinh gestured toward the center of the room. "The vault is empty," he said, his voice low. "And the body is over there, seated at the desk."

Pat's gaze shifted to the desk, where the victim sat slumped, a stark figure against the polished wood. The scene was eerily calm, the body positioned almost like a macabre centerpiece in the library.

"Any signs of a struggle?" she asked, her stomach knotting at the sight.

"None," Tinh replied, shaking his head. "Same M.O. as before," he said, his voice low. "Clean evidence, execution style. The body is posed... in a praying manner."

Pat's stomach turned at the sight. The victim's hands were clasped together, the face eerily tranquil despite the violent end.

She walked beside the body, examining the scene closely. "Do we have an ID?" Pat asked, trying to maintain her composure.

Tinh hesitated, his gaze dropping. "Yeah... It's Atty. Chareon Ambhom. Paitoon Pansawat's lawyer."

The name struck Pat like a blow. "Paitoon's lawyer?" Pat echoed, her mind racing. "What was she doing here?"

"I don't know," Tinh admitted, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "But it connects back to this vault for sure."

Pat stood, her heart heavy with the implications. "This keeps getting more tangled. We need to find out what Miss Ambhom knew before she was silenced." As they surveyed the scene, the weight of the investigation pressed heavily on Pat's shoulders.

"Let's get back to the office," Pat finally said, determination hardening her resolve. "We need to piece together this puzzle. Detective Kasem, I need you to dig deeper into both Atty. Ambhom's connections and the vault's contents. If she was involved in whatever scheme was happening, there might be more evidence buried with her."

As they left the scene, the vibrant city outside seemed distant, the laughter and chatter of Bangkok muted by the grim reality of their case. Pat's thoughts flickered back to Pan, to the warmth and light she brought into the darkness of their work. But for now, the investigation took precedence.