“What?” they all chorused as they looked eagerly at Luna's complicated face.
“Another student has been kidnapped,” Luna dropped the bombshell as she slumped back in her chair, sighing heavily.
“What!!!” they chorused together a second time with eyes wide open and mouths agape.
“Then this is getting interesting,” Asher said with a weird smile carved on his lips.
“What is getting interesting? This is getting serious and even scarier,” Sophia said with a worried expression.
“But where was the student kidnapped?” Sam asked Luna.
“…At the bus stop. Isn't that interesting?” Luna said as she let out a wry chuckle.
“The captain said I should report to his office immediately, so I think we should adjourn this meeting. It's late already—this is a little past 6 p.m. So, tomorrow, you all should investigate the case the way you did the last time. Sam and Lyra, investigate the crime scene; Asher, retrieve the footage; while Sophia will follow me to receive the victim's statement when they arrive tomorrow morning. Do you all understand?” Luna asked after assigning them their tasks.
“Yes,” they all said as they stood up and went to their respective homes.
Luna went to her captain's office to get the case file and the little information gathered concerning the case, after which she returned to the meeting room to analyze it.
Luna was alone in the room. As she was about to start checking the information in the file, she received a phone call. Luna stared at the caller for a while before picking up the call.
“Kieran,” she muttered almost inaudibly.
“Hey, Luna, I've been calling you for a while and you weren't picking up, which is very unlike you. Is everything okay?” Kieran said agitatedly on the other end of the line.
“…” Luna remained silent as she stared into the air.
“Hello… Luna, are you there?” Kieran asked.
“…Sorry, Kieran, I'm listening,” Luna said as she jerked back to reality.
“No, you weren't listening. What's up with you? In fact, where are you? I'll come and pick you up,” Kieran said hastily.
“Alright, I'm at my workplace. I just finished a meeting. I'm preparing to go home,” Luna said with a little smile on her lips.
“Okay, I'll be right there,” Kieran said as he dropped the call, got into his car, and started driving toward the police station.
Kieran is a handsome young man in his mid-twenties who is an archivist, a job he never wanted. Kieran's grandfather was an archivist, as was Kieran's father. Kieran's father insisted that Kieran become an archivist since that was their family's legacy. Kieran loved psychology, but his father didn't support him, so he had to settle for a job he doesn't love. Luna met Kieran during an investigation, after which they became the best of friends. It's just that… in the near future there might be more to it than there presently is. What if Kieran has a huge role to play in all this…
On getting to Luna's office, Kieran walked briskly through the hallway and into her office.
“Hey, Luna,” Kieran said as soon as he entered. They hugged each other briefly, then Kieran sat down beside Luna on the couch.
“You didn't sound alright on the phone. What's wrong? You know you can always talk to me. What are friends for if not to share each other's worries?” Kieran said seriously.
“I know,” Luna said as she heaved a deep sigh.
“So, I'm listening,” Kieran said with a lively smile appearing on his lips.
“I've been working on a case since morning, and the case is getting more and more complicated. I don't know what to do. I feel like there's more to it than I can explain. But nobody understands me; worse still, I don't have any evidence to back up my claims,” Luna said as she quietly played with her fingers.
“Okay… how about you give me a general idea of the case? Let's see if I could be of help,” Kieran said.
“It's a case of kidnapping. A teenage girl was suspected to have been kidnapped yesterday afternoon. We thought that was all to it, but we got another call today that another teenager went missing this afternoon. The pattern by which they went missing was ridiculously similar. I know you're a very brilliant psychologist; maybe you would be able to solve this riddle,” Luna explained frantically as she faced Kieran.
“How about this: I'll join you in analyzing the case. If I guess right, it might be serial kidnapping. But first of all, we need to go out and eat. I know you haven't even had a drop of water, let alone eaten, since morning. After that, you'll have a good night's rest. Then tomorrow morning, we can talk about the case. Alright?” Kieran said with his signature charming smile.
“Alright… I've heard you,” Luna said, finally cheering up a bit.
Luna packed some files and other things she needed and went out of her office with Kieran.
Kieran drove to the nearest restaurant where they both ate, after which Kieran drove Luna home before finally driving himself home.
Luna was so tired that immediately after casually greeting her ever-lively sister, she dragged herself into her bedroom, lay on her bed, and slept off.
When Mia, Luna's sister, entered Luna's room, she saw how tired Luna looked and how fast asleep she was. So, Mia quietly adjusted the curtains, covered Luna with a blanket, and turned off the lights before leaving Luna's room.
The next morning, Luna woke up and quickly dressed. She went downstairs and met her sister in the kitchen already awake, preparing food.
“Wow… the lazy brat woke up early today. What chased you from your room?” Luna said jokingly as she smiled.
“There we go again. I've told you…” Mia said before being cut short by her sister.
“…to stop calling me a spoiled brat. When will you ever stop calling me that annoying name?” Luna said, laughing mischievously.
Mia looked at her sister speechlessly.
“Well, how was work yesterday? You slept off as soon as you came home yesterday,” Mia said seriously as she gave her sister a cup of hot tea.
“I was extremely tired yesterday,” Luna said before taking a sip of the tea.
“In fact, I've got to get going now. I'll see you later today. Love you!” Luna said after taking a few more sips before rushing out of the house.
Luna boarded a cab to her place of work. After entering the cab, she called Kieran, and they agreed to meet at her office that morning before he went to his own workplace.
Fifteen minutes after Luna got to her office, Kieran also arrived.
“Hey, Luna,” Kieran said, smiling as he entered her office.
“Oh, you're here. Why is your face like this? Didn't you sleep last night?” Luna asked, concerned.
“I slept a little. I was so intrigued by the case, I found the information you gave me concerning the case in the restaurant yesterday so interesting that I couldn't sleep,” Kieran said with a smile.
“I'm not joking with you. Why would you miss your sleep for the case? You're making me feel guilty,” Luna said.
“Hey, don't feel guilty. I truly found that case interesting; that was why I wasn't feeling sleepy. You know I've always loved criminal psychology but I couldn't practice it, so I just couldn't help it,” Kieran explained calmly.
“Alright, so did you find anything suspicious?” Luna asked after sighing.
“Yes, I did,” Kieran said with a mischievous smile on his lips.
“Really? What's it?” Luna asked anxiously.
“As I said yesterday, it's a serial kidnapping, but I need more information to confirm it. In criminal psychology, there is a mental disorder some types of criminals have. Those criminals commit crimes in an organized manner—the same time frame, the same pattern in victims, and in some situations, the same location. I'm even more convinced since no one has called to ask for any ransom,” Kieran said confidently.
“I understand you. So, what do you think is the next line of action?” Luna asked.
“Call a meeting among those you're working with. I need more information concerning the case for more certainty. To catch a monkey, you have to behave like a monkey,” Kieran said calmly, looking at Luna.
ns216.73.216.33da2
and then Add to home screen.