Evidence

Elizabeth stumbled back, she grabbed the key from Chief Alejandro's hand and opened the car door.

The door to the church opened with a loud bang and the two men ran out to catch up with Elizabeth but she had already started the car. She reversed and drove away at full speed, skilfully moving past obstacles.

"Dammit!" The loud frustrated curse from Mr. Richard reached her ears but she ignored it, not even daring to take her eyes off the road for even a second.

Before she could leave town, two cars were already on her back.

"Argh!" She gritted her teeth in annoyance and briefly glanced at the house she just passed by, it was Layla's, the light from her room was turned on. Elizabeth shook her head, Layla was already suspicious as it is and she couldn't even stop if she wanted to because of the car behind her.

With a swift turn, she left the creepy town but the car chase did not stop. After this town, there was nothing else but empty land before a residential area a few miles away. This meant that Elizabeth had to drive at full speed until she reached the residential area while avoiding accidents.

"An accident would do nicely just like the past Chief Kenneth Louis." 

She remembered Chief Alejandro's words and chuckled maniacally, "They want to push me to my death, huh? If only they knew how much I've longed for it."

Elizabeth pressed on the gas pedal, discarding all thoughts of rationality. The once fast car swooped in full speed now.

She closed all the windows to avoid the dust that might enter her eyes and took a quick glance at the rear mirror, the cars chasing behind her were now far from her by a large margin.

Elizabeth turned on the GPS, she had decided to travel all the way to the city where the police department was located.

She drove miles away from the town before slowing down, the cars that were following after her had long disappeared and the day was slowly getting bright. She hasn't slept a wink since the previous day but her eyes were open, glancing at the rear view mirror every once in a while.

When Elizabeth got to the city, it was already dawn. The car had stopped because it ran out of fuel and she had no money on her, this made her walk all the way to the police department. 

Elizabeth was wary of anything she came across, even the police officers.

"Yes? How may I help you?" An Officer popped up immediately as she entered the building.

A few officers were scattered around doing one or two, while some were preparing for patrol.

The officer attending to her scanned her from her head to her feet before asking, "Where you robbed? You look tired."

Elizabeth scoffed and shoved her barge into his face.

"Hey!" The officer frowned, "You're a police officer."

"I'm here to report a case." Elizabeth said, ignoring his cursing eyes.

"What case?" The officer asked.

"I want to meet your detective, detective chief inspector or superintendent, even a chief superintendent." Elizabeth spoke in a rush, her body quivering from fatigue and tension.

"Hey, hold your horses there. How big of a case is that?"

"Just let me see them."

"How'd I do…"

"Let her in." A loud voice interrupted the Officer, who wanted to ask more questions. 

"Yes…Sir." He nodded and gestured at the office with his head.

"Thanks." Elizabeth smiled and literally ran all the way into the office.

"Hello, Sir." She greeted the man who was on the desk. He had grey hair and dark skin, his glasses fell on his nose bridge as he handled a few files.

"Hello, how can I help you, Miss?" He raised his head and glanced at her.

"I have an important case to report." Elizabeth breathed out those words. 

"Sit." The man pointed at the chair and Elizabeth sat on it.

"I am Chief Inspector Vans, I know you asked for a Superintendent or Chief Superintendent but you'll have to make do with me, I'm sorry." Inspector Vans smiled and kept the file in his hands aside.

"Ah, it's no problem at all." Elizabeth shook her head, "It's just that, the town I was transferred to was said to be a crime-free town but it was just a gathering of cultists."

"Huh? Mind explaining?"

"Yes, a town named Vandhill, located in the South…" Elizabeth quickly explained how everything came about in a rush.

"I, I'm sorry but it's not very easy to believe. Do…you have the case file with you? Or any evidence?" Officer Van, who had already taken off his glasses at this point, asked. He shook his head from time to time, unable to comprehend the things he heard.

"Mass murder, a town of serial killers, a cult organisation and its whole town of members." Chief Inspector Vans murmured and wrote the key points down.

"The case file is currently with the local chief police at the local station but video evidence is here." Elizabeth said and took out her phone from her pocket, played the video and handed it to Inspector Vans.

Chief inspector Vans took it from her and focused on the video that was playing.

The video started from when Elizabeth found the hidden passageway, all the way to when she saw the bloody corpse heap.

Inspector Vans' expression changed and he scrunched up his face at the gory sight. He placed the phone on the table and held his chin, looking sideways.

"Who would be so cruel?" He muttered underneath his breath.

"This evidence, it's enough for a search to be conducted but it's not enough for an arrest." He turned to Elizabeth and sighed.

"No, I have a video of them entering through the passageway." Elizabeth hurriedly said, she scrolled up and played the second video.

The video played and the two men could be seen, though with blurred faces.

"That girl the Lord favoured and sent to us, she's parading with the little quidnunc."

"The child is the only one that has encountered the Lord after so many years.".

"Did I tell you? The quidnunc happened to be at my backyard earlier this night. She was drunk but didn't even reek of alcohol, what a terrible excuse."

"So? Wanna get rid of her?"

"Why? She doesn't seem to know anything, and Alejandro has his eyes on her…the Lord's servant would not dare to spill anything either."

"She's just like the past detectives, so nosy…" 

The video stopped and Inspector Vans looked up at Elizabeth, "You're an officer yourself, you should know that even though we were to make an arrest, only two of them would be arrested unless a victim or one of them testifies."

Elizabeth blinked and nodded slowly. Only one victim survived and that was Layla."

"Do you know who the Lord is? His favoured girl? And the quidnunc?" Inspector Vans asked.

"Not really, I have a feeling that I was the quidnunc they referred to."

Inspector Vans nodded and asked, "Do you have any evidence of the local police chief's involvement in this case?"

"I think so." Elizabeth took back the phone and scrolled down but there was no new video. A realisation then hit her - She did receive a call when she was in the church, which made the video stop filming and auto save.

"Argh, dammit, I don't have it. Can I testify as a witness?"

"No, but if you have another witness…most likely a victim connected to the case, then it would do just fine." Inspector Vans spoke with a light smile on his face.

"..."

"So, do you have a witness?"

"...Yes, I think I do."

...