Shadows of Deceit | MilkLove AU

Ch8: Part 1: Choices and Betrayal

Pat stood before the murder board. Each photo and piece of string connecting the dots felt like a taunt. She clenched her jaw, grappling with the duality of her feelings. Was she trying to weave a narrative that made someone guilty, or was she desperately hoping her suspicions were unfounded? The lines were blurring, much like her emotions.

Her concentration was interrupted when Officer Anya strode into the room. "Sgt. Limpatiyakorn, we've got a lead on Phong Khanangkul's case."

"What have you got?" Pat asked.

"We recovered a CCTV footage from the area near where Khanangkul's car was found," Anya reported, pulling out a tablet. "You need to see this."

Pat leaned closer as Anya tapped the screen, bringing up the grainy footage. The image flickered, showing Phong Khanangkul getting out of his car and walking toward the Little Lion's Care building.

"Watch closely," Anya said, fast-forwarding. The footage showed Khanangkul entering the building, but moments later, he emerged, his expression shifting from calm to alarm as he glanced over his shoulder.

"Why did he look back?" Pat muttered, instinctively leaning closer to the screen.

"Here," Anya said, slowing the playback. The footage revealed a shadowy figure lingering near the entrance, leaning casually against the wall as if waiting. The figure exuded an unsettling calm, contrasting sharply with Khanangkul's mounting anxiety.

Khanangkul hesitated, his body tense. Pat could almost feel the dread radiating from him as he retreated toward his car. The figure stepped forward with an almost lazy motion, watching him with a casual interest that felt menacing.

As Khanangkul reached his car, the figure moved closer, their relaxed demeanor seeming to mock Khanangkul's fear. Pat's breath caught in her throat as she watched the scene unfold. The intimidation was palpable; it was as if the figure was playing a game, enjoying the psychological hold they had over Khanangkul.

"What happens next?" Pat asked.

"Here," Anya said, fast-forwarding again. The figure closed the distance between them, their posture confident and almost taunting. Khanangkul fumbled with his keys, glancing back at the figure as if he recognized them. There was a moment of hesitation, a flicker of recognition mixed with terror.

Then, in a swift motion, the figure lunged at Khanangkul, who struggled to get inside his vehicle. The camera captured a brief but chaotic struggle—Khanangkul's frantic attempts to start the engine, and desperate glances at the figure who now stood inches away.

The footage concluded with the figure turning slightly, their silhouette captured in the fading light before they destroyed the camera. "We're still trying to enhance that," Anya said, her tone serious. "But we've got estimated height and weight—between 168 and 172 cm, and 50 to 55 kg."

Pat nodded, dismissing Anya with a wave of her hand. As the officer left, Pat turned back to the screen, her gaze fixed on the figure.