Thirty Nine

CHAPTER 39

Cassandra quickly stepped into the police station, her breath heavy after running from the parking lot. Anxiety had been haunting her ever since she lost contact with Alexander. She went straight to the reception desk, where an officer was on duty. “Excuse me, Sir. Have you seen Alexander earlier?” she asked hurriedly.

The officer frowned, seeming to think for a moment before answering. “Alexander? Oh, he left about an hour ago. Maybe you can try looking for him elsewhere.”

That answer didn’t satisfy Cassandra. She immediately walked further into the station, searching for other officers who might have more information. She found three officers sitting in the break room. “Excuse me, Sirs. Do you know where Alexander went after leaving here?” she asked urgently.

One of the officers, a middle-aged man in a neat uniform, shook his head. “Sorry, Ma’am. As far as I know, he said he wanted to go straight home. Nothing seemed suspicious when he left.”

“Thank you,” Cassandra said weakly, her worry growing even more. She took out her phone from her pocket, trying to call Alexander again. But as before, her call went straight to voicemail.

“His number is inactive,” she muttered in frustration. She stood in a corner of the room, clutching her phone with trembling hands. Dark thoughts began to creep into her mind. However, before she could decide her next step, her phone vibrated. Antonio’s name appeared on the screen.

“Cassandra, where are you?” Antonio’s voice sounded on the other end of the line, his tone firm.

“I’m looking for Alexander,” Cassandra replied tiredly. “But I’ll head back home soon.”

Antonio was silent for a moment before answering. “Alright, make sure you don’t stay out too late. We need to talk.”

Cassandra ended the call without replying, her mind still filled with worry. She walked towards the parking lot, intending to return home as promised. But her steps halted when her eyes caught something in the bushes near the parking area.

“Oh my God...” she whispered, seeing Alexander’s unconscious body lying there. Cassandra immediately ran closer. “Alex! Alex!” she screamed in panic while shaking Alexander’s body. There was no response. Fresh blood was visible trickling from the corner of his mouth, and his face was covered in bruises.

Without hesitation, Cassandra grabbed her phone and called an ambulance. “Please come to the police station immediately. Someone is seriously injured,” she pleaded urgently. After that, she tried to calm herself while checking Alexander’s pulse. Although weak, it was still there. That was enough to give her a slight relief.

Not long after, the ambulance arrived. The paramedics swiftly lifted Alexander onto a stretcher. Cassandra followed them to the hospital, her worry unrelenting. Upon arriving at the hospital, she called Detective Martinez to inform him of the incident.

“I’m at the hospital now. Alexander was found unconscious near the police station. He’s badly injured,” Cassandra said as soon as Martinez answered the call.

“I’ll be there right away,” Martinez replied firmly.

A while later, Martinez arrived at the hospital. His face showed deep concern as he walked quickly toward Cassandra, who was restlessly pacing in the waiting room. “How is he?” Martinez asked.

“He’s still unconscious. The doctor said he needs time to recover,” Cassandra answered, her voice filled with anxiety. Her tired eyes revealed the heavy burden she felt.

Martinez nodded slowly, then looked at Cassandra seriously. “What exactly happened? Do you know anything that might help the investigation?”

Cassandra took a deep breath before answering. “I suspect this was an attempted murder. And I’m sure Maria Callaghan has something to do with it.”

Hearing that, Martinez raised his hand to calm Cassandra. “I understand you’re worried, but we can’t make accusations without solid evidence. Our focus now is to ensure Alexander recovers and to gather the facts.”

Cassandra bit her lip, holding back her rising emotions. “He almost died, Martinez. We can’t just sit still.”

Martinez looked at Cassandra with a firm gaze. “We will get to the bottom of this, Cassandra. But you have to trust the investigative process. Don’t act recklessly.”

Cassandra didn’t respond, but her eyes showed she wouldn’t stay idle. Her mind was already filled with plans to uncover the truth, even if it meant stepping outside official channels.

Meanwhile, in the intensive care unit, Alexander lay with medical devices attached to his body. His weak heartbeat was reflected on the monitor beside his bed. Outside, Cassandra and Martinez could only wait, each consumed by deep concern and unanswered questions about who was responsible for this brutal attack.

As the night grew late, Cassandra remained in the waiting room. She paced back and forth, her mind racing to figure out what had happened. She considered every possibility, from old threats to the involvement of individuals they had interrogated in recent weeks. However, all of it only added to her frustration.

Martinez sat in a corner of the room, watching Cassandra’s restless movements. “You need to rest,” he said in a softer tone. “Alexander is in safe hands. You won’t be able to think clearly if you keep this up.”

Cassandra stopped walking and looked at Martinez. “I can’t rest until I know who did this. They didn’t just want to hurt him, Martinez. They wanted him dead. And I’m sure this is connected to the Callaghan case.”

Martinez sighed deeply, realizing that arguing with Cassandra would be futile. “Alright. But promise me, as soon as there’s any development, you’ll try to get some rest.”

Cassandra nodded slowly, even though she knew her mind wouldn’t let her sleep that night. As she sat back in her chair, her phone rang. She immediately grabbed it, hoping it was good news.

However, the voice on the other end made her blood run cold. “We know you’re looking for us, Cassandra. Stop, or Alexander won’t survive.” The call ended before Cassandra could respond.

Martinez noticed the drastic change in Cassandra’s expression. “What is it?” he asked with concern.

Cassandra looked at Martinez with determined eyes. “They’re threatening me. And I’m not going to let them win.”