WhenTheCold Pounds on the door

小寒 [19] / [20]

Alexander called and reported to Cynthia about what was going on, telling her that they would go undercover around Lucas’ house today, and would arrest him as soon as he appeared. But Cynthia was pessimistic about it.

“He might have known that you’re police. What if he already threw away his phone and ran off? The base station’s location hasn’t changed but―”

“He shouldn’t have,”

he protested. His vision was getting blurry.

Cynthia added after awhile.

“Fine. Go undercover. I will contact transportation services, airports and ports nearby to prevent him from getting out. And I will send officers to scope out places connected to him and question people he knows. Let me know if you figure out anything new about his potential whereabouts.”

He was compelled to call Kiara a second time (Alexander could tell Kiara was clenching her teeth), and asked for everything she knew about Lucas. Because she refused to give him any information since he didn’t explain why he was doing this, he knew he should have lied to her, telling her that Lucas was involved in a violent assault with a passerby (he couldn’t even mention child abuse, as he wanted to protect her from the real details of the investigation).

Eventually Alexander got everything he could dig out of her, requesting Kiara earnestly to cut further ties with Lucas ("I said I will!" She answered in a vexed tone), and handed all information to Cynthia.

They waited for him to park the car in the corner, well out of sight of any curious pedestrian.

2 p.m. in the afternoon.

Alexander was starving. They waited patiently while filling themselves on dollar store sandwiches, instant coffee, and chocolate bars.

When Alexander grabbed his 3rd cup of coffee, it was already past 7 p.m. Will Lucas come back in today? Or is he pretending not to be at home in the house? But every light had been off since morning. Unless he was dead, he was almost certainly not home.

10 p.m. again.

Sleepiness poured over Alexander. Even if he was sure that Lucas would show up . . .

“Hey, look over there!”

Ed whispered, indicating something outside.

Alexander and Anna looked the way he indicated simultaneously. It was Lucas, without a doubt.

Alexander spoke quietly to Anna.

“Anna, turn the engine on after he's out of earshot. Ed, you trail him with me, check where he goes, and arrest him."