2025-04-23 15:51:32
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The Crime System The Lost Notes
"Don't joke!" Luke snapped, shaking off his initial shock. It wasn't every day someone dropped a bizarre claim about a piano competition like Emily Harper just did. "You can't lie to an officer of the law," he told her, his voice firm. "The largest piano competition for high school students in New York, the tenth annual? Are you kidding me?""Why would I lie about this?" Emily replied, clearly annoyed. "This is the only thing I've ever been proud of in my entire life. How could I get it wrong? It was definitely the tenth year!""Alright then," Luke countered, still skeptical. "Where was this grand competition held?"She tilted her head and thought for a moment, then smiled with sudden confidence. "Riverside Heights High School. That's right! It was at Riverside Heights High School!"Luke squinted at her, his disbelief still intact. "Oh?" he said, his tone oozing doubt. "The Tenth Grand Piano Competition was fifteen years ago. Participants were sixteen and fifteen-year-old high school
The Crime System Who is Lila Davis?
"Emily's face tightened as she rubbed her temples, trying to recall long-forgotten memories. "Officer Sullivan, it's been so long," she muttered. "The competition was stressful enough, and I was just a teenager. I don't remember much. I haven't even touched a piano in over fifteen years!"Luke nodded, hiding his disappointment. Still, her struggle to remember looked sincere. After a pause, she asked, "Anything and anyone linked to the competition is relevant, right?""Of course," he said, hoping for a breakthrough. "Sometimes the smallest details crack a case."She bit her lip, her brow furrowed in thought. Finally, she said, "Officer Sullivan, I think I vaguely remember... something strange."What was it? Hearing Emily mention strange things sparked Luke's curiosity, so he pressed for details."Um..." Emily began to recall. "I remember, during that year's preliminary competition, our Phoenicia had an amazing student. I can't recall her name clearly, but she was definitely a girl. Eve
The Crime System The Piano Prodigy Investigation
As Luke drove along the winding country road toward Phoenicia, his partner Bella sat beside him in the passenger seat."Bribery!" Bella Lane exclaimed, as if struck by a revelation. "Someone might have bribed the piano prodigy, gave her a ton of money, and got her to withdraw from the competition! Without her as a competitor, whoever paid her could secure a top spot!""Interesting theory," Luke said, keeping his eyes on the road, though his mind raced with possibilities. "Or, maybe it's something more direct. What if someone didn't make it to the finals, ended up in eleventh place, and bribed Lila Davis to withdraw? That way, they could take her spot." He clenched the steering wheel, considering the angles. "You know, the pregnant woman who made it in tenth—could she have…""No, Luke!" Bella Lane interrupted. "The final placement wasn't determined by who entered first or last. Even the tenth qualifier could theoretically become the champion!""Good point," he conceded, though his gut
The Crime System Will You Help or Not
Rules were rules in the Special Crimes Unit. Every investigator was required to have a tracking app on their phone, allowing leadership to monitor their location at all times. It was a necessary precaution, ensuring they could respond quickly if someone landed in danger during an investigation. And, of course, Aaron Dawson was no exception.That's why it didn't take long for Bella to find his location. But instead of being holed up at home working on the case like he'd promised, the tracker revealed Aaron lounging at a local pool hall. While Luke was busting his chops over the investigation, that sneaky, dishonest rat was playing pool!"Don't worry, leave this to me!" Luke told Bella. "You focus on the new evidence regarding Lily Xavier. If anything comes up, let me know.""Senior, what are you going to do to Aaron Dawson?" she asked, her voice laced with concern. "He's an official investigator—you can't just… do something rash! Please think this through."Luke laughed at her worry. "
The Crime System Just Do What I Say
Luke dusted his hands off, still holding the jagged remnants of the broken cue stick. The billiards hall smelled of stale beer and frustration. Aaron Dawson was glaring at him like he'd just burned down his house instead of snapping a few sticks of wood."You're a madman, Luke Sullivan!" he spat, brushing off his clothes."Madman?!" Luke stepped closer, cue raised, his voice laced with a challenge. "You haven't seen me yet, buddy. Now, check on that person for me, or I swear I'll—""Fine! Fine! I'll check!" Aaron Dawson raised his hands in surrender, his voice laced with exasperation. "It's just a search; do you have to go this far?""You tell me," Luke shot back. "A simple request, and yet here we are!"Aaron sighed, defeated. "Alright, alright. Let's go."But Luke wasn't done yet. He gestured to the scattered, broken cues and balls on the table. "Not so fast. You think this is free? Four cues, fifty bucks apiece. Seven balls, twenty bucks each. You owe me three-forty in damages.""A
The Crime System Who is Lisa?
Luke was scared that Priscilla might solve the case before him, and he never stopped monitoring her conversations while working on finding the girl. The invisible eavesdropper he planted had a forty-seven-hour effective period, giving him ample time before it wore off.From what he'd overheard, Priscilla was beginning to realize her investigation might be heading in the wrong direction and was now searching for a new lead. Team B, meanwhile, had already started considering revenge as a motive. Someone even mentioned the word "piano." If they continued at that pace, they'd catch up to him in no time."Holy shit!" Luke muttered under his breath. Hearing Team B's progress while staring at the address on the map Aaron Dawson had given him made him feel uneasy. He wasn't sure if the new evidence he'd uncovered would actually lead to the culprit.The address pointed to 55 Willow Creek Street, near an old chapel called Saint John's Temple. It seemed unremarkable at first glance, but for some
The Crime System Tarnished Ambition
Seeing the old lady so agitated, Luke couldn't suppress his growing curiosity. Something monumental must have happened to the girl, Lila Davis, all those years ago. Sensing her hesitation, he told her how vital it was for him to understand the truth behind the incident. He even hinted, rather strongly, that if she didn't cooperate, he'd have no choice but to ask her daughter directly when she returned.Her reaction was immediate and intense. At the mere mention of the word "piano," the old lady seemed to shrink into herself, her worry clearly etched on her face. After what felt like an internal battle, she finally caved, weighing her options and deciding that sharing the truth with Luke was better than letting her daughter relive that painful memory.The story she revealed was far beyond anything Luke could have imagined. All his theories and guesses about why Lila Davis, the child piano prodigy, had abruptly withdrawn from the competition paled in comparison to reality."Yes," she be
The Crime System The Unbelievable Truth
Her words hit Luke like a freight train. He had prepared himself for tragedy, but this... this was something else entirely. The pain and injustice of it all hung heavy in the air as the old woman wept openly."Without the small piece of finger, Lila's hand couldn't make a full recovery!" Mrs. Hannah's voice trembled, her eyes clouded with tears. She paused for what felt like an eternity, composing herself. Then, wiping her tears, she continued, "When the doctors performed surgery to repair Lila's finger, Lila's father knelt before them, begging them to save her hand. She was the family's only hope!""But despite their efforts, the doctor told us after the surgery that the joints in Lila's middle finger were too damaged. It would never fully recover. Her ability to bend the finger was severely impaired." Mrs. Hannah choked on her words. "Do you understand what that meant for a child whose entire life was centered around the piano? It was as if her dreams were sentenced to death! When h
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The Close Attack
Hanging up, Luke scrolled through the photos again, searching for anything he might've missed. Then it hit him—the jars under Lila Davis's bed. There was an empty spot, clearly meant for a fourth jar. His gut churned. That jar was for Sophia Young. But where was it now? If it wasn't at her place, had Lila Davis taken it with her?A thought struck him like lightning. Why was Sophia Young even in town? To repair her father's grave. If her flight landed on schedule, she'd likely have gone straight to the graveyard.The graveyard. A secluded spot with no cameras and no witnesses. The perfect place for Lila Davis to strike.Luke's hands tightened around the steering wheel as he sped off. The clock was ticking, and the pieces of this grim puzzle were falling into place. Time to stop a killer.He had never driven a police car before. He didn't even have a driver's license. But Luke Sullivan from his previous life? A different story altogether. Back then, he was a street king. Police stations
The Unknown Location
Luke had barely flipped his phone open when Bella Lane's vivacious voice burst through the line. "Luke, what a coincidence! I was just about to call you!" she chirped. "Lily Xavier's private life is a mess. I just saw her go into a hotel with two guys!""What?" he stammered, thrown off guard. He had meant to tell her about what he'd just uncovered at Lila Davis's house, but this? This was unexpected.Before he could gather his thoughts, she cut him off with a laugh. "I'm joking! She's there for a conference. Relax! Kekeke…"Luke sighed, cutting her short to lay everything on the table about what he'd found. The dismembered hands, the chilling clues—everything. By the time he finished, Bella Lane was silent, her usual spunk replaced with stunned disbelief."L-Luke! What do we do next?" she stammered.Good question. What did they do next? Luke wasn't exactly a seasoned cop, and an earth-shattering case like this wasn't something they taught at the academy. He knew they had to lock down
The Ladder of Vengeance
When Luke finally laid eyes on Lila Davis's detailed plan, it all clicked. The methodology was diabolically brilliant. If "vent" was the keyword for Mary Nelson's case, then for Yara Voss's case, it was undoubtedly "ladder." The revelation hit him like a sledgehammer. Lila Davis had used a retractable ladder to bridge the five-meter gap between the building next to Yara Voss's apartment and her home. This wasn't a spur-of-the-moment crime; it was a masterclass in meticulous planning. Months earlier, Lila Davis had scouted the rooftop of the adjacent building, stockpiling food and water to sustain her. On May 23rd, after severing Mary Nelson's hand at the stadium, she didn't return home. Instead, she disappeared into the bustling morning work crowd and made her way to the neighboring building. From there, she ascended to the rooftop and hid. Her entry was ghostlike. She hadn't come through Yara Voss's building but the adjacent one, days in advance. When law enforcement reviewed s
A Real Mastermind
Luke walked over to the bookshelf, his gut telling him this was where the answers lay. The books were arranged perfectly, categorized into literature, science, technology, and—interesting—medical science. His eyes stopped on a section labeled "Medical." Among the titles were books on anaesthesiology and human anatomy. Luke's heart raced. Could this be a clue to Lila Davis's connection to the Maimed Case? Reaching out for one of the books, he heard the old lady gasp. "Officer, why aren't you wearing gloves?"Luke stood in the dimly lit room, the faint smell of old books and lavender air freshener lingering. The elderly woman, with her worn expression and frail frame, watched him warily from the doorway. "I'm here to investigate, not to take evidence!" he said bluntly, waving off her protests. "Why would I need gloves? Don't worry, your daughter isn't a detective. She won't notice!"Ignoring her muttering objections, Luke grabbed a book from the neatly arranged shelf. The title read
The Secrets Behind Closed Doors
"Do you know where your daughter is?" Luke asked Lila Davis's mother, trying to mask the uneasy feeling creeping up on him. Something about her story didn't sit right. "How can I find her?" The old lady shifted nervously, still preoccupied with her worry over the piano incident. "Officer, I've told you everything you asked. Why do you still need to find her?" "Nothing serious," he lied, flashing his badge for effect. "This is just routine. We're investigating the piano competition. There's a chance we might catch the culprit who hurt your daughter." Her furrowed brow relaxed slightly. "Oh… well, my daughter should be with the performance troupe—the one at the City Cultural Center. She mentioned going to the countryside with them tonight and wouldn't be back for four or five days." Luke felt his chest tighten. Out of town? The timing was too convenient. If Lila Davis was the mastermind behind the so-called Maimed Case, could this be her next move? "Ma'am, let me ask you this.
The Unbelievable Truth
Her words hit Luke like a freight train. He had prepared himself for tragedy, but this... this was something else entirely. The pain and injustice of it all hung heavy in the air as the old woman wept openly."Without the small piece of finger, Lila's hand couldn't make a full recovery!" Mrs. Hannah's voice trembled, her eyes clouded with tears. She paused for what felt like an eternity, composing herself. Then, wiping her tears, she continued, "When the doctors performed surgery to repair Lila's finger, Lila's father knelt before them, begging them to save her hand. She was the family's only hope!""But despite their efforts, the doctor told us after the surgery that the joints in Lila's middle finger were too damaged. It would never fully recover. Her ability to bend the finger was severely impaired." Mrs. Hannah choked on her words. "Do you understand what that meant for a child whose entire life was centered around the piano? It was as if her dreams were sentenced to death! When h
Tarnished Ambition
Seeing the old lady so agitated, Luke couldn't suppress his growing curiosity. Something monumental must have happened to the girl, Lila Davis, all those years ago. Sensing her hesitation, he told her how vital it was for him to understand the truth behind the incident. He even hinted, rather strongly, that if she didn't cooperate, he'd have no choice but to ask her daughter directly when she returned.Her reaction was immediate and intense. At the mere mention of the word "piano," the old lady seemed to shrink into herself, her worry clearly etched on her face. After what felt like an internal battle, she finally caved, weighing her options and deciding that sharing the truth with Luke was better than letting her daughter relive that painful memory.The story she revealed was far beyond anything Luke could have imagined. All his theories and guesses about why Lila Davis, the child piano prodigy, had abruptly withdrawn from the competition paled in comparison to reality."Yes," she be
Who is Lisa?
Luke was scared that Priscilla might solve the case before him, and he never stopped monitoring her conversations while working on finding the girl. The invisible eavesdropper he planted had a forty-seven-hour effective period, giving him ample time before it wore off.From what he'd overheard, Priscilla was beginning to realize her investigation might be heading in the wrong direction and was now searching for a new lead. Team B, meanwhile, had already started considering revenge as a motive. Someone even mentioned the word "piano." If they continued at that pace, they'd catch up to him in no time."Holy shit!" Luke muttered under his breath. Hearing Team B's progress while staring at the address on the map Aaron Dawson had given him made him feel uneasy. He wasn't sure if the new evidence he'd uncovered would actually lead to the culprit.The address pointed to 55 Willow Creek Street, near an old chapel called Saint John's Temple. It seemed unremarkable at first glance, but for some
Just Do What I Say
Luke dusted his hands off, still holding the jagged remnants of the broken cue stick. The billiards hall smelled of stale beer and frustration. Aaron Dawson was glaring at him like he'd just burned down his house instead of snapping a few sticks of wood."You're a madman, Luke Sullivan!" he spat, brushing off his clothes."Madman?!" Luke stepped closer, cue raised, his voice laced with a challenge. "You haven't seen me yet, buddy. Now, check on that person for me, or I swear I'll—""Fine! Fine! I'll check!" Aaron Dawson raised his hands in surrender, his voice laced with exasperation. "It's just a search; do you have to go this far?""You tell me," Luke shot back. "A simple request, and yet here we are!"Aaron sighed, defeated. "Alright, alright. Let's go."But Luke wasn't done yet. He gestured to the scattered, broken cues and balls on the table. "Not so fast. You think this is free? Four cues, fifty bucks apiece. Seven balls, twenty bucks each. You owe me three-forty in damages.""A
