"People change."
Alex let out a heavy sigh.
He used to avoid alcohol and cigarettes entirely—bad habits that dulled a forensic expert's senses of smell and taste. But after that incident forced his retirement, pulling him away from the work he loved most.
Nights became endless insomnia, filled with anxiety and pain.
He'd tried pills, therapy, hobbies to distract himself—and somehow, accidentally, picked up smoking.
"Not often. Just when I'm stressed. I like watching the smoke curl up."
Like turning the fog of the world back into mist, waiting for him to clear it away.
"Oh, right—call Li Jin and Gu Xiangrui soon. See what they've got?" Alex cleared his throat, reminding them.
Captain Lane nodded. "Based on the details from your autopsy—left-handed, surgical precision, expert stitching—Gu Xiangrui's team scoured every hospital in town. No matches yet. They're expanding to nearby cities now. Fingers crossed."
"As for Li Jin, I'll ring him right now!"
Lane pulled out his phone. A familiar booming voice answered on the other end.
According to Li Jin's update, he and his undercover crew had split up and hit four Lolita boutiques so far. All the owners confirmed: the dress was handmade, with premium fabric. High-end custom jobs like that start at ten grand, easy. And Gothic Lolita? Niche market—women prefer the cute, sweet styles. Gothic barely moves a piece every few months.
Gothic Lolita is a unique subculture from Japan, also called Goth Loli.
But its roots trace back to Europe—tied to gloom, mystery, death. A medieval vibe favored by the upper crust nobility.
In short, Li Jin's findings backed Alex's hunch: this wasn't something an average person would splurge on.
If the killer just wanted to satisfy twisted urges, cheaper off-the-rack stuff would do—less risky, less traceable.
Unless money was no object... burning a hole in their pocket.
But Alex leaned toward another theory: this was a client's demand!
Meaning, beyond the dog and the hunter, this deadly game had buyers—employers pulling strings.
The dog and hunter knew how to cover tracks, but clients? Their anti-detection skills might be weaker.
"I need to visit Emma Hayes's apartment myself."
Alex's tone left no room for debate.
To confirm a third player in this game, he had to check it out personally—see if fresh clues turned up.
Lane nodded. "We can head out now."
Alex added: "And make sure Li Jin and Gu Xiangrui stay on their leads. Don't let up—keep digging."
"I've got a feeling both lines will break big."
Alex's words injected a surge of confidence into Luo Weiwei and Lane.
But just as they geared up to leave for Emma's old apartment, Bai Yidao called in with a breakthrough.
Following Alex's tip, he'd led SWAT on a full sweep along both sides of the White Marsh Basin—where Lily might have entered the water.
They'd found an abandoned waste station nearby.
Inside a sealed shack, SWAT breached with guns drawn—empty.
But they recovered strands of Lily Hopper's hair. Likely the primary crime scene.
"Detective S—no, Alex—you want to come see this yourself?"
Bai Yidao's voice over the phone was earnest, almost pleading.