Edward Montgomery slammed the newspaper onto his desk, the crisp crackle of the pages slicing through the suffocating silence of his study. The bold headline taunted him: “Darwin Dunhill Wins Hearts with Free Cake Event at Brindow Bakery!” He clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as the image of his long-time political rival, Darwin Dunhill, smiling alongside a crowd of adoring civilians burned into his mind.He muttered under his breath, pacing the room like a caged animal. "A free cake event? Is that all it took to steal my spotlight?!" He stopped abruptly, gripping the edge of his desk. This wasn’t just an ordinary bakery stunt—it was a calculated move.The face hissed in his mind like a venomous snake. The so-called "ordinary bakery owner" who had smoothed his way into the hearts of Brindow's people under the guise of generosity. But Edward knew better. Thenma had stolen the show at Edward's campaign event, luring guests away to his bakery with charming sincerity and a seemingly

The bustling chatter of the precinct died down as Thenma stepped inside, his presence commanding attention. Dressed sharply in a tailored black coat, his confident stride and the faint smirk on his lips were enough to make the officers glance at each other, wary. He ignored their stares, heading straight for Miles Whittaker's office.Detective Miles Whittaker sat behind his desk, his face buried in paperwork. The most honest detective in the city, or so his reputation claimed—though that title felt tarnished now.Thenma pushed open the door without knocking, his smirk widening when Miles looked up, startled."Ah, Detective Whittaker," Thenma drawled, stepping inside and casually closing the door behind him. "I didn’t think I’d find myself sitting across from you again. After everything, of course."Miles sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Thenma," he greeted, his tone clipped. "What do you want?"Thenma chuckled and took a seat, crossing one leg over the other as if he owned the room