ON THE RIGHT TRACK

Adrian let out a sigh and glanced at his cane, thinking, 'You better be more helpful from now on. I'll be counting on you,' to himself.

"Can I accompany you next time?" Emilie suddenly questioned, her curiosity getting the best of her.

"How do you think you can be of help, Emi?" Adrian asked, intrigued by her sudden interest in joining the investigation.

Emilie's voice resonated with confidence as she declared, "You forgot that I'm not someone weak. I can take you to the dream realm if the situation calls for it."

Adrian, ever the inquisitive detective, raised an eyebrow and inquired, "How many cores do you have?" He fixed his gaze on Emilie, curious about the extent of her powers.

Emilie, with a hint of pride, continued to explain her unique abilities, her eyes filled with an unusual mix of vulnerability and determination. "I've got one full and a half cores so far," she revealed, "but I'm still learning, Adrian. I've got quite a long way to go before I can fully harness their potential. The dream realm, though, is where I've made significant progress."

Adrian was genuinely intrigued; his detective instincts piqued. He knew that understanding the depth of Emilie's powers could prove to be an invaluable asset in their journey ahead. "That is impressive," he mused. "Not many can master even one. And progress in the dream realm, you say? Why did you even do it in my absence? I told you not to."

Adrian gently cupped her face, guiding it in slow, circular motions that momentarily entranced her. "Don't underestimate me. I understand the importance of becoming stronger to prevent a repeat of what happened before," Emilie said, her words resonating with profound wisdom.

Adrian silently reflected, 'I've been underestimating her, overlooking just how formidable she truly is.'

"Can you take me with you to the dream realm now? Shall we give it a try?" Adrian inquired, eager to explore the realm of promises firsthand.

"I can transport you there, but let's reserve it for dire situations. My energy cores won't have a chance to recharge anytime soon if I use them. It's best kept as a last resort," Emilie responded, her tone conveying a firm decision regarding their potential predicaments.

"Don't raise red flags. I'm already juggling a lot," Adrian replied, a shiver running down his spine as he recalled the unceasing scrutiny he faced from unseen eyes.

Adrian couldn't help but ponder whether the mysterious observer would intervene to save him if he were ever on the brink of danger, considering his role as their "lamb" or some such thing. Yet he quickly dismissed such thoughts, realizing their futility.

Intrigued, Adrian asked, "So, what did you do in that realm?"

Emilie nonchalantly responded, "Well, first things first, I made myself taller. So, now I can say I've had the experience of being tall."

Adrian couldn't help but chuckle at Emilie's withering look of disdain. "Do you think you won't grow any taller in real life? I mean, it's true you survive on a diet of chips alone," he teased, "but there's still hope, right?"

.

.

...

.

.

Selena reported to Alan, who had been working tirelessly for the past three days, "We've hit a dead end on the murder case. The only lead we have is Adrian, and the last report from Finn mentioned that he's been at home for the past two days."

"As I suspected. What about the house I asked you to investigate, where Adrian was headed, and the reports on that lady named Katharine? Any progress on those fronts?" Alan inquired, a sense of responsibility for Adrian's well-being driving him to dig deeper into the unfolding events. He had met Adrian when the young man was just 19, and ever since, he felt a strong sense of duty toward him.

Selena relayed the information, saying, "The house seems to be nothing suspicious. The elderly lady living there mentioned that Adrian occasionally helps her, as she once asked him to find her missing cat." She couldn't help but feel a bit perplexed, struggling to reconcile this kinder side of Adrian with her previous perceptions of him.

Alan nodded, his confidence in Adrian reaffirmed. "Good to know about the house. Now, what about Katharine?" He inquired, a subtle smile playing on his lips, indicating his faith in Adrian hadn't been misplaced.

Selena shared her findings, saying, "There are indeed some suspicious aspects to her story. I spoke to the officers, Sam and John, who handled her case. They mentioned that she was deeply affected by her husband's death and frequently visits the same hotel room where he passed away several times a week. It seems like she truly loved him," Selena added, empathizing with the woman's grief and contemplating how she might react in a similar situation.

"That does sound like she really loved him, but you mentioned some suspicious points. This doesn't sound suspicious," Alan inquired, aware that Selena had more to her report.

Selena nodded and continued, "You're right; it doesn't seem suspicious on the surface. However, here's the catch: despite her profound grief, Katharine never attended her husband's funeral. Sam and John tried to get her to come, but she declined. Also, her alibi for the night of the murder seems a bit shaky, which is why they couldn't clear her completely." She paused, letting the implications of these details sink in.

"Additionally, she's been offloading her shares in the company for an undisclosed reason. I did some digging, and it appears she initiated this sale shortly after her husband's passing. Moreover, she abruptly dismissed all her household staff. Considering her residence is in the upper block, it's quite possible she resides in a substantial estate," Emilie added, her mind swirling with potential explanations for these behaviors.

"Have you inquired within her social circle?" Alan queried, intrigued by the puzzling situation but not yet alarmed by it.

Emilie concluded her report, saying, "Indeed, I did, and it appears she has forged some new friendships in this relatively short time. That's the extent of what I discovered." She awaited Alan's response with a sense of anticipation.

"That's fine. You can head out. I'll take some time to mull this over. Go home and get some rest," Alan responded. Grateful for Selena's dedication, he watched as she left, finding a small cake and a cup of coffee thoughtfully left on his desk as a pleasant surprise.

Alone in the office, Alan couldn't help but wonder, "What are you all concealing?"