2025-01-19 03:40:42"I still don't believe you," Manchester's voice echoed off the walls after listening to Emma's seemingly made-up explanation.
"This is all nonsense especially after you said that you didn't hear anything and now you are saying that Atkinson was speaking with someone about a business deal ... we will settle all this at the station. //Do you wish to arrest the suspects?// "Yes." // Sending in the team // Within a minute, a knock was heard on the door and Manchester opened it to let the team of three cops into the room, and he pointed the suspects out to them. Emma continued to beg, and swear that she was saying the truth while Atkinson willingly offered himself to be taken away. "Don't worry Mr. Langley I will get to the bottom of this before the end of the day... "Please do," Mr. Richard Langley uttered before Manchester could finish speaking, "In the meantime, I'd search for something similar in case I don't find it today." "Very well," Manchester nodded before walking out of the room along with those who had been arrested. Along the way, the butler approached him with a worried look. "Please help my master find his jewel, he will be so relieved and we can finally catch a break in the manor." Manchester stared at the man before him, and something triggered a sense of sympathy within him but he quickly suppressed them and replied "I'll do what I can." .................. "Mr. Manchester!" A young lady approached Manchester as they arrived at the station. The young detective had visited numerous police units in the city but never this one, he didn't even know that this unit existed until now, but it appears that all the workers knew him. "My name is Sophia Mason, one of the investigative analysts for this unit, we have been expecting you." She stretched out her hand for a handshake which Manchester received with a firm nod. "Nice to meet you," he said, as they started walking towards the reception while the cops brought the suspects in from behind. "Here is his phone," Manchester handed Atkinson's mobile phone over to Sophia who received them. She already knew what to do with it because Manchester had requested it before now without knowing that she was the one to handle it. And while she was at it, Manchester was in the Interrogation room with Atkinson, the air was thick with tension as Manchester locked eyes with the man he believed stole the necklace or at least had something to do with it. "Will you tell me the truth now Atkinson? Or would you rather be detained until you are willing to?" Manchester asked, slamming his palm on the desk, "Where is it?" "I do not know!" Atkinson answered in an even louder voice, "I do not know where the necklace is at the moment, I do not know who stole it. And it didn't even go missing yesterday, the only reason why you were called today is because my master had requested to see it last night at 10pm but I had to tell him that it was gone. I noticed the necklace missing two days before now." Manchester's jaws dropped in shock, he could sense the sincerity in Atkinson's voice, but he wanted to suppress that feeling to avoid being fooled. "Does Emma know about this?" He asked, and Atkinson nodded his head in agreement. "I threatened to... to make his life miserable if she says anything about it. " Manchester sat down, the information was a lot to take in, and he needed to be more attentive because the twist was unexpected. "Tell me about yesterday again, since you have decided to speak up." "Please!" Atkinson fell on his knees before Manchester could finish speaking, taking the young detective by surprise, "If I tell you anything sir, please don't tell my master, help me find the real thief and save my job. It's all I have to keep my family running I beg you. " "Mr. Atkinsons can you stop pleading with me and just tell me what you know." Manchester's tone dripped with apathy, but still, it was a facade. "I will tell you," he started, "Two days ago, I went over to check on the necklace as usual. My task was to check in the morning, noon, and evening to keep an eye on Emma as she polished it per my master's instructions. But it wasn't there and I freaked out." "My master has promised to pay me more if it's safe until he presents it to his wife. So I was doing my best until I noticed that it was gone. I panicked and started to look for it on my own without involving anyone. I think Emma suspected that something was wrong when I wouldn't let her go into the room to polish it." "Go on," Manchester nodded with keen interest. "So, I searched everywhere in the manor, I was too scared to ask anyone for fear that they might tell my master. But then toward the end of the day, I got a message from an anonymous phone number saying that he had the necklace and that I should kiss my job goodbye." "I tried to beg him, I'm a mere servant and this job is all that I have to feed my family. I can't afford to lose it. When my master said that he would be coming to see it soon, I rushed to the garden since it was the only secluded place in the manor and I tried to contact the anonymous number." "I begged him, I offered him some money, I offered him everything in my account but he said no and disconnected the call... "And why didn't you just open up and tell Mr. Langley?" Manchester asked, his brows raised in curiosity. "That would be a bad idea, sir." Atkinson exclaimed, "Mr. Langley doesn't listen to anyone, he gets upset very quickly and would get every one of us arrested for stealing his necklace without investigating. I couldn't take that chance, my family would suffer dearly, my wife and my newborn. So when he came to see it, I lied that it just got missing and it was in the manor somewhere. I also suggested that he send for a detective immediately and that's why he called you and locked down the manor so that none of us servants leave." "Please help me, detective, you are a very smart man and the only hope that I got... "What about Emma?" Manchester interjected, "How did she find out?"
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I-Mode: Becoming A Famous Detective With A System 9. I- know who it is
"When I was in the garden, I caught her listening to my conversation, and I had no choice but to tell her the truth. However, she was scared of getting into trouble too and wanted to tell Mr Langley. So... I threatened her... or rather I blackmailed her with something I'd rather not talk about if that's okay with you sir."Manchester shrugged, he couldn't care less about the blackmail."This is what I am going to do." He said,"You will remain detained until we find the necklace, since we have your phone coupled with what you just told me, this case would be easier to solve. If what you have just said is the truth, then the necklace must be in the manor somewhere."Manchester was about to leave the room when he remembered something and turned to ask him,"Is there anyone in the manor that you suspect? Someone that holds something against you enough to want to get you fired."Atkinson thought about this question for a while, but he shook his head when he couldn't think of anyone. "I
I-Mode: Becoming A Famous Detective With A System 10. I- am sorry sir
Back at the Bellvue Manor, Mr. Langley was anxiously anticipating Manchester's return. "Does he have answers, has he found the the thief?", these questions ran through his mind and it was impossible to sit down. "Ah, Mr. Detective," he exclaimed the second the butler ushered Manchester into the living room. Mr Langley couldn't help but notice that both Emma and Atkinson came in along with him, and he started to question if they were innocent all along, or perhaps they had come to confess. "Do you have answers?" He asked, "Please tell me that you have answers. My wife's plane would land in an hour, and I'd have to go pick her up soon, so if you don't have answers yet, you can leave it while I... "We have answers, Mr. Langley, " Manchester interjected, his tone was firm and certain. He felt that it was rude to cut the man off while he was still speaking, but knowing Mr Richard Langley's loquacious nature, it was for the best. "So?" Mr. Langley asked, still standing. "Well, sir." M
I-Mode: Becoming A Famous Detective With A System 11. I- can win you back home, Mel
Now alone in the living room with the detective, Mr. Langley took a deep breath and stared at the young man in the eyes. "Is it true?" He asked, gesturing for Manchester to sit on the couch opposite him. "She left without a reason?" "Oh, that!" Manchester let out a faint smile. This isn't a subject he'd love to discuss with anyone, and the only reason he mentioned it in the first place was to prove to the butler that he could relate to the hurt he felt on the inside. "I'd rather not bother you with it, sir," He added before taking his seat and stapling both fingers together, "And your son?" Asked Mr. Langley, "Where is he?" Now, Manchester doesn't mind the show of concern, but he wishes that Langley would read his body language and end this conversation or at least change the subject. "I left him at the daycare," he lied "I'll pick him up on my way home." Mr. Langley soon noticed that Manchester had no interest in proceeding with this conversation, and he understood. It was
I-Mode: Becoming A Famous Detective With A System 12. I-need an overview of the area
Just as he has said to Mr. Langley, Manchester headed for the hospital first to complete the payment from Nelson's treatment and words couldn't describe the wave of relief that washed over him when all that was cleared. Nelson's health was a priority to him because losing his child just after his wife had left would eventually cause him to end up at a rehabilitation centre. "We are doing everything we can, and he will be fine." The doctor assured him with a firm nod, before taking him to Nelson's ward for a few minutes. The one-year-old was yet to awaken, so Manchester did what always made him feel relieved, and that was to take Nelson's tiny hand in his, and talk to him as though he was awake and listening. "Don't worry, I'll get mummy back home." These were Manchester's last words to his unconscious child before leaving the hospital to rest. However, Manchester's depression worsened as soon as walked through the front door. He wasn't coming home to his family as usual, but
I-Mode: Becoming A Famous Detective With A System 13. I- might have use for Mr. Langley's party afterall
Manchester gazes at the wall, the building itself was a single-story structure, with a faded sign that read 'Research facility' in peeling letters. Maybe it was due to Sophia Patel's disappearance, but the environment gave off an eerie feeling as they walked further into it.When they entered her laboratory, Manchester was greeted by a middle-aged woman who was taking pictures of the area before their arrival. Her name is Kim and she is the lab director whom the security officer had talked about."Thank you for coming, detective," she said, shaking hands with the Manchester, she could tell by the ID hanging from his neck and the box in his hand. Plus, she had also requested one a few hours ago."We are worried sick about Sophia," she began, her voice dripped with sadness,"It has been three days and we have no idea what happened to her."Manchester nodded sympathetically, dropped his box on the floor and opened it up to take out his notepad. "Can you tell me more about Dr. Patel's re
I-Mode: Becoming A Famous Detective With A System 14. I- will have the wine instead
// Exp 1200/ 1000 ////Congratulations! Case 3, unlocked! //// Earn 600 Exp to unlock the next case////Exp 0 / 600 //Manchester knew that he couldn't proceed with this task until he had gotten some Intel from the Everglow company, so he put the case on pause and headed for the hospital to spend the rest of his day with Nelson.At past 5pm the same day, in a part of the city, the halls and decorations were all set up for Mr Langley's wife's birthday celebrations.It was her fiftieth birthday, so it is no surprise that he made it so elaborate and grand.From 5:30 pm, cars were already at the parking lot, and the chairs in the hall slowly got occupied until Mr. Langley and his wife arrived, marking the commencement of the occasion.He had hired a stand-up comedian to anchor the celebrations. As expected of him, the event kicked off with a few laughs, sarcastic roasts, and recognition of some important guests.At this time, Manchester showed up at the entrance, he wasn't bothered by th
I-Mode: Becoming A Famous Detective With A System 15. I- need your help with an investigation
The party stretched on for what seemed like an eternity, and Manchester just couldn't wait for it to come to an end. He stole a glance at his wife now and then, but Mel didn't seem to do the same or notice him. It hurts so much how she appears to have forgotten about him entirely to the point that she acts uninterested even in his presence. Or was he overthinking the situation? Three hours passed and it was 8:45, the celebrations were officially over, but as expected, not everyone would leave immediately. A number of them wanted to see Langley and congratulate his wife, while others just sat back to enjoy a few drinks before leaving. The whole time, Manchester had been tracking his wife and Aiden Lamar's movement simultaneously, it was a difficult task but he was up for it. As soon as he got a chance, seeing that Aiden Lamar was less crowded by people, he approached the elderly man with a humble and polite greeting. "Good evening, sir." He stretched forth his hand with a war
I-Mode: Becoming A Famous Detective With A System 16. I- would take off that stupid ring
Manchester caught up with them at the parking lot, and the only way he could get their attention without causing a scene was to call his wife by her name. "Mel!" The couple paused and turned around to see who had called one of them. "You know him?" The man asked, staring suspiciously at Manchester who didn't say a word after they turned. "Yeah," Mel replied, tightening her grip on his arm, "We met at high school, I haven't seen him in a while." Mel pauses and whispers into his ears, "Smile a little so that he won't be so intimidated, you are scaring him." "Can I see you for a second, please?" He requested, avoiding his wife's fiancé's gaze. He has a strong feeling that she might say no to him, but to his greatest surprise, Mel said. "Sure." She kept a smile on her face the whole time, "Sweetheart I'll be with you in the car shortly, let me catch up with an old friend if you don't mind." she requested, and her fiancé walked away with the key dangling from his index
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65. I- think you love this baby more than I do
As Manchester stood before the lady who was now back home, his heart was crushed as he watched the tears drop from her eyes. In as much as he wanted her to get some answers on her husband's whereabouts, he didn't expect it to be a picture of their burnt car with a statement confirming that he died in flames. "I am so sorry," he muttered because it was the only thing he could say. Certainly, nothing can console a woman who learns that she lost her husband to this kind of accident three months later. Both her kids stood next to her, their hands on their mother's shoulder while they stared at the pictures in her hand. Tears clouded their eyes, and they trickled down their chins at intervals. "He shouldn't have left," she said, "He should have just stayed at home; he would be alive today, wouldn't he?" While the family grieved, Manchester excused himself and returned to his car, parked in front of their apartment. He sighed heavily after taking a seat behind the steering wheel.
64. I- found the subject's car
The entire crew, consisting of over thirty policemen in cars and motorcycles, went in search of the car that Manchester had shown them. They followed the alternative route, which they assumed the restaurant's owner had taken, and a search along that area is nearly similar to searching for a needle in a haystack. Both sides of the road were covered in thick forest, stretching a few hundred kilometres. Upward on the left, which mostly consisted of rocks, and downwards on the right. It'll take a twenty-minute drive through this lonely path before getting to the highway, which is why most people avoid it. Usually, the road is closed down for most of the year due to how lonely it is but it reopened from November to February when it gets a lot busier. Another reason it was closed down was because of numerous reports of car theft and robbery along the path, which is not a surprise. "It has been over two hours," Manchester sighed heavily, "No signs of his car anywhere yet; we've drive
63. I- promised his wife an answer
"So tell me, where did he say he was going?" Asked Manchester; he couldn't care less whether she put her hopes on him, after all, he couldn't be one hundred per cent sure that he could solve the case. "To the restaurant, towards the evening," she replied, "He said he wanted to see how it was doing and check on the kitchen wares that needed to be fixed. I remembered the manager called to tell him that one of the cookers was faulty, so he was going to check that out." "Alright," Manchester nodded and noted that down, "And did he call anyone else before leaving?" "I'm not sure," she replied, "If he was going to call anyone at all, he'd call our repair man to come and take a look at the cooker and get it fixed, but he certainly didn't make that call at home, maybe he did it on his way, I don't know." "Hmm," Manchester muttered and took another note, "How long is the drive from your home to the restaurant ." "Ten minutes, it can be shorter, because we live really close to
62. I- am willing to give you answers
Manchester wasn't sure how to begin that investigation; he left the court feeling overwhelmed, which is surprising, especially knowing that he is a detective and solving mysteries is what he does. On his way to the station, his mind was occupied by negative thoughts, like what if Nelson wasn't truly his son and he had no choice but to let the kid go? What if the result were true?Suddenly, his phone buzzed with a notification, and while driving, Manchester picked it up with his left hand and stole a glance at the screen. "The four culprits will stand before the jury in a week, they will be detained until then. Once again, thank you so much, Mr. Manchester, for this; your name would appear on the headline newspaper in no time." As Manchester read through the messages, a smile crept upon his face, but just then he realised that it wasn't over yet. He still has to find the restaurant owners to mark this task complete and get paid. But he had no clues to work with, and with the c
61. I- am the one you want
"Hello, who is this?" Mel asked; her tone was soft and welcoming. She laid back on the bed, wrapped in thick duvet, after giving up her plans of going to the mall. "You can't tell from my voice, Mel, can you?" asked the voice from the other side of the phone. Mel raised a brow, sat up and put the phone on speaker. "If I could tell who you were from your voice then I wouldn't be asking." "I'll make this introduction very short, Mel; this is Cain, Cain Hycinth; remember me now?" Mel's jaws dropped in shock, her eyes glued to the phone screen as if she had seen a ghost. Just a few days ago, Manchester had called her concerning this man, and now she is receiving a call from Cain himself; what does he want? "What do you want?" She cut straight to the point, "I don't even want to know how you got my number; just tell me what the hell you want. Let's end this call as soon as possible. I'm pretty sure that you have succeeded in taking Nelson away from Manchester and you want to rob it
60. I- bought you that time
The courtroom was thick with silence, the kind of silence that weighed in Manchester's chest like a damped wood. His heart raced with every passing second as they all waited for the judge to come in. Once she was in, Manchester was directed to the defendant's table; he took a deep breath and held tightly onto its frame while tapping his foot on the floor at intervals. Across the room, Cain sat with a smug, his arms were folded as he anticipated the result. The judge leaned forward, her expression unreadable as always. She adjusted her spectacles, and after the introduction was made by the bailiff, she read from the paper on her desk. "After a thorough examination of Paternity test conducted by an independent laboratory, and in consideration of testimonies and submitted documentation, the court finds that the child in question, Nelson Wilfred Duke, is not the biological son of Mr Manchester Duke." These words hit Manchester on the chest like an atomic bomb, he felt the explosion in
59. I- swear I'm not trying to buy you with money
When he was close by, Roger noticed a car that had just driven out of where he was going, and he couldn't help but wonder if Valerie was inside it, and with who? But then again, he just kept driving until he parked at the front of her apartment and stepped out. This was the first time he visited her without a gift, not even a flower. He knew that she would ignore them anyway and probably not even let him into the house. Ding dong The sound of the doorbell was heard from inside as Roger pushed the button. He took a deep breath and waited until she unlocked the door and opened it "Valerie," he muttered with his jaws dropped in shock, not because he hadn't seen her in a while, but because there was a child in her hand. 'could she have been married without my consent, long enough to have a child already. But it's only been two months since I last saw her, so this can't be her child, then whose?' "What are you doing here?" Valerie frowned, "Who gave you my address... oh damm
58. I- will be Mr. Mel Brettel
While driving away from Valerie's apartment, Manchester noticed that another car drove in and parked just at the same spot where his car had been. Out of curiosity, he decided to linger a little to see who it was. However, he failed to realise that he was in the middle of the road, even though it wasn't a highway. He kept an eye on the car until a figure emerged from the driver's seat, a man. Before he could begin to ponder who this figure was, a car honked very loudly behind him, causing Manchester's body to jerk involuntarily. "Damm that's too loud." He muttered, before gently releasing the break and moving out of the way. He would have loved to stay a little bit longer to get a glimpse of the person's face, but he remembered his appointment and just drove off. "It might just be someone coming to find out why she moved from her parent's place." He thought. ****** Earlier, in another apartment twenty minutes drive away from Valerie's home, a young lady stood at the door, block
57. I- might pick him up at night
"Here goes nothing," Manchester muttered as he proceeded to press the doorbell after standing at the door for nearly five minutes. There was no reason to be nervous, but Manchester was, and that was why it took him five minutes to press the doorbell that was right in front of him. "Just a second!" Valerie's voice answered from inside. While waiting for her, Manchester took a deep breath; he really hoped that she hadn't moved out of her parent's house just because of Nelson because that would surely make him feel terrible. He just had to wait to confirm from her first before jumping to a conclusion. "Good morning!" Valerie greeted with a warm smile as she opened the door to let Manchester in. She was still dressed in pyjamas, and her hair was still a mess, but she had a cup of brewing hot tea in her right hand. "Classic," Manchester thought. "Uhm, you live here...now? I thought I was coming to pick you up and take you home before leaving Nelson with you." Manchester posed his qu
