C17 Chapter 17

Detective Thompson rang the doorbell, his expression serious. Since he'd handled Jules' case before, he was assigned to work with Detective James on it. "Morning, Emily," he said, nodding as she opened the door. "We've got some updates."

Emily led him to the living room where Jules was waiting, eyes fixed on the detective. The tension in the air was palpable.

"We've analyzed the paper," Thompson said, getting straight to the point. "No DNA found except for Jules'. The paper's a common material sold in markets around town."

Jules' eyes narrowed. "So, whoever wrote that note was careful." Her voice was laced with a mix of frustration and curiosity.

Thompson nodded. "Looks like it. But we're working on tracing the paper's origin, see if any shops stand out. We're checking security cameras and interviewing vendors."

Emily stepped forward, her voice firm. "What about the handwriting? Any match in the system?"

Thompson shook his head. "Not yet, but we're running it through databases. The writing was... peculiar. Looks like the person tried to disguise their handwriting."

Jules leaned forward, her eyes intense. "Peculiar how?"

"Sloppy in some parts, precise in others," Thompson said. "Like they were trying to throw us off. It's a technique we've seen before, but it's making it harder to pinpoint the writer."

Jules' gaze drifted, thinking. "Or maybe they were trying to send a message." Her mind was racing with possibilities.

Suddenly, Jules' eyes snapped back. "The note. Where's the note?"

Emily pulled out the note, and Jules took it, studying the words. "They’re not the only ones," Jules read aloud. Her voice was barely above a whisper. "It's not just about me, is it? It's about whoever's doing this... they want something."

Thompson's expression turned serious. "We think so too. We're looking into connections between you and recent cases. We've got a team reviewing files, looking for patterns."

Jules' grip on the note tightened. "What kind of connections?"

"Anything unusual," Thompson said. "Cases with similar MOs, unsolved crimes... we're exploring all angles."

Emily's eyes widened. "You think this is connected to other cases?"

Thompson nodded. "It's a possibility. That's why we need to dig deeper into Jules' past, see if there's a link."

Jules leaned back, her eyes narrowing as she pieced together the clues. The room fell silent for a moment, the only sound the soft hum of the air conditioner.

"I think they're watching," Jules said finally, her voice low. "They're waiting for us to make a move."

Thompson's expression turned grim. "We'll be ready."

Emily smiled slightly, breaking the tension. "Coffee, Detective Thompson?"

Thompson nodded, taking a seat. "Thanks, Emily. Black, no sugar."

As Emily headed to the kitchen, Jules leaned forward, her voice low. "So, what's the plan? Dig into my past?"

Thompson's expression was serious. "We need to look at everything, Jules. Any enemies, old cases... anything that might connect."

Jules nodded, her eyes narrowing. "I'll cooperate."

Emily returned with the coffee, handing it to Thompson. "Here you go."

Thompson took a sip, then pulled out a small notebook. "Okay, let's start with your friends, colleagues... anyone you've had conflicts with recently?"

Jules thought for a moment. "Nothing out of the ordinary. Work's been normal, friends are cool..."