Suspects

Kate and Bradley entered the club and looked around, scanning the place thoroughly. Unlike the loud music and the colorful lights in the dark they had usually been accustomed to, the club was bright and clear and most of all, clean. All the workers were waiting for them in two lines and the manager introduced himself before taking a step back.

"Is everyone here?" Bradley questioned as he studied everyone with his eyes narrowed.

"Yes, Sir." The manager replied instantly. "The people in the front were the ones on duty that day."

"I see." Bradley didn't ask any more questions and he glanced at Kate who was inspecting the place with her keen eyes. 

She first examined the dance floor, followed by the bar and the resting area. The club had another floor above. But it was mostly meant for sitting and watching over the dance floor below. There was no place to hide here at least.

Kate frowned as she made her way towards the women's washroom where Hannah was murdered. Making sure to survey the place thoroughly, she opened each washroom cubicle and checked conscientiously. Her frown deepened as she continued to search. She then made her way towards the men's washroom and inspected the place as well.

Noticing nothing usual, she walked out and examined the washroom corridor before detecting a camera just outside the corridor.

Bradley, who had followed her, noticed her frown and read her thoughts immediately.

"May we see the CCTV footage from that day?"

"We have already handed over a copy to the police, Sir." The manager replied politely.

"But if you wish you see, we will show it to you."

"Please lead the way," Kate replied before Bradley could answer and the manager led them to the surveillance room. 

The manager took the chair while Kate and Bradley stood behind him. Since it was a private party and Hannah herself was the host, they didn't have to wait for a long time. Hannah's face appeared the moment the manager played the video footage.

"Start from the beginning," Kate ordered.

"Beginning?" The manager turned around in confusion.

"From the moment the club opened." She clarified and Bradley gave her a look of realization.

The manager did as he was told and Kate's eyes were fixed on the camera near the washroom corridor.

"Increase the speed," Bradley ordered. The footage was more than four hours long and if they watched it at the normal speed, it would take them a long time. And time was what they didn't have.

The party started and Kate noticed quite a few men entering the corridor and they took a turn in the direction the men's washroom was in. But there was no one entering the women's washroom. Both Kate and Bradley had caught onto the anomaly and they gave each other a knowing look. 

They continued watching the footage until Hannah entered the women's washroom almost four hours after the party started. An hour later, another woman entered before running out screaming. Quite a few people then entered the washroom, including Hannah's guards and the club staff before the police were called and the place was sealed.

"You may stop now," Bradley ordered and the manager stopped the video before standing up.

"May I talk to you in private?" Kate pursed her lips as she kept staring at the frozen screen.

Bradley understood her meaning and he walked out of the room with her. They didn't stop until they were outside the club, away from any keen eyes or ears.

"Did you notice something amiss in this video?" Kate queried as she tapped her fingers against her thigh thoughtfully.

"Yes. No one entered the women's washroom after the club opened. The killer must have hidden inside the washroom before the club opened."

"Or there is a secret door in the men's washroom or somewhere else which we're unable to detect." Kate gave her analysis and Bradley didn't discard the possibility.

"The club workers are involved in the murder." Bradley was sure about it and Kate nodded thoughtfully. Either someone among them had killed Hannah or had helped the killer to do the deed.

"Also, there's something else that seemed peculiar to me."

Bradley quirked his brow in wonder. The lady before him was intelligent and observant. He now understood why his Chief had insisted on having her on the team even though she was a newbie. She had a keen attention to detail and was brilliant at analysis, something which he had seen a lot of agents failing in in the IB. She was definitely a worthy addition to the team.

Kate had no idea what Bradley was thinking at that moment. She didn't know how her brilliant brain had managed to impress him. She was still lost in her thoughts as she arranged her deductions before expressing them to him.

"The ladies who attended the party never once entered the ladies' washroom and there is only one ladies' washroom in the club." 

"Now that you mention it, it does seem odd." Bradley's mind started to work immediately and he looked at the club with a frown.

"Let's say none of the ladies wanted to pee the entire night. But it is impossible they never wanted to visit it even once."

"What do you mean?" Bradley didn't know what Kate wanted to convey. Her words only served to confuse the heck out of him.

"I'm just doing behavioral analysis. It's impossible that none of the ladies who attended the party wanted to touch up their makeup. The party lasted close to four-five hours. Don't you think it's weird?"

"Fucking hell!" Bradley cursed and Kate didn't mind him hurling profanities in frustration. She herself felt her mind explode with the dreadful possibility.

"We'll have to watch the footage again."

"We should. I'm sure we'll find something else." Kate agreed. 

"We should go in before we alert the killer or their accomplice." Bradley ran a hand through his hair, showing his obvious frustration openly. If their analysis was right, then there was a high chance that they'd be dealing with a lot of suspects and just the thought of it gave him a freaking headache.