Chapter 52

"Don't be so formal! It's no trouble for Robert to give you a lift. You enjoy your meal, and I'll fetch Robert!" Tenley said with a smile as she turned towards the bedroom to call Robert.

While Tenley was away, Zoey quickly grabbed some more food.

When Tenley was there, she felt a bit embarrassed.

After Tenley's wake-up call, Robert quickly roused himself. By the time he finished getting ready, Zoey had nearly finished her meal.

"Zoey, it's inconvenient for you to carry this big bag around. Leave it here, and I'll bring it to you in the afternoon," Robert said, looking at her bag.

Before Zoey could speak, Tenley snatched Zoey's bag and said, "I think Robert's right; leave it here."

What were this couple up to? Zoey didn't understand at all.

Having just eaten the meal Tenley cooked, she felt embarrassed to take the bag back from her.

Zoey said, "I'll go with what Tenley and Officer Davis said."

Under Tenley's watchful eye, Zoey and Robert left the house and got into Robert's car.

As Robert drove, he casually asked, "Zoey, how's your work at the Riverside Police Department?"

Zoey assumed Robert was just trying to make conversation. Fearing the journey would be too monotonous, he deliberately engaged in conversation.

Zoey said, "It's okay."

Robert asked, "Getting along with your colleagues?"

Zoey said, "It's okay."

Robert fell silent. When she wasn't working on a case, Zoey reverted to her cold demeanor. How was he supposed to bring it up with her being so cold?

Soon, they were approaching the Riverside Police Department.

Zoey knew this route well; it was always terribly congested during workdays.

If Robert insisted on driving her, she might be late and it would waste his time. So she softly said, "Officer Davis, you can drop me off here. It's always jammed ahead at this time; I can walk the rest of the way."

Robert glanced at the traffic ahead; they were at an intersection.

He had the day off, so he didn't mind waiting, but Zoey being late wouldn't be good.

Robert said, "Alright, call me when you get off work; I'll come pick you up."

Zoey expressed her gratitude. "Okay, thank you, Officer Davis."

She hadn't returned to the police station for some time, but upon revisiting the Riverside Police Department, she was unexpectedly overwhelmed with a sense of familiarity and nostalgia. Maybe it was because the high-intensity work in the criminal investigation department contrasted perfectly with the calm here.

Back at her desk, she did a quick disinfecting.

The Riverside Police Department was always quite relaxed, with almost nothing to do.

After tidying up, she opened her laptop, thinking of updating her novel.

Just as she started typing, a face popped up beside her laptop. Emma had come over to her desk and took a look, asking, "You're back? Did you catch the killer? So quickly?"

Zoey glanced at her. "Yes."

While Emma was having dinner in the cafeteria last night, she intermittently overheard others mentioning that Zoey had discovered new clues in the stalking case, successfully solved a series of serial murders, and restored peace to the entire city. It was a major case in criminal investigations.

Emma was consumed with jealousy, as she had always considered Zoey the most idle member of the Riverside Police Department, assigned only to trivial cases. She didn't expect that this case would turn out to be a series of serial murders.

Zoey had stolen all the limelight. If Zoey got a permanent position, it would be a done deal. Zoey might even get a permanent position faster than her. Why? How did such a good thing happen to her! Emma was almost driven crazy by this.

Emma felt an overwhelming urge to strangle Zoey, and her smile was a bit forced.

Zoey had long seen through her little schemes.

But Emma liked to keep up the act. "Can you tell me about the process? The suspect was so cunning; how did you catch him?"

Zoey only wanted to update her novel and didn't want to bother with her now.

But seeing the eager look in Emma's eyes, she decided to tease her, "I just followed the clues and found him."

Emma was silent.

She didn't get the answer she wanted and was infurious. Zoey was doing this on purpose, right?

Emma was quite tempted to confront Zoey, but the thought of the neighboring table's astonishment when discussing the matter intrigued her even more.

As a fellow intern, she hadn't even seen a dead body yet; while Zoey had already solved a case.

Could Emma feel balanced? Knowing Zoey was like this, she continued to ask, "Can you tell me in detail? Everyone's talking about it like it's a miracle. I heard it was dismemberment? How did you find the body parts?"

Zoey hated trouble. Emma was now a 'trouble.'

Her side gig as an online novelist earned her at least two thousand dollars a month. If Emma kept talking, she might not make that money if she had work in the afternoon.

If she had work in the afternoon, she wouldn't be able to update. Then she wouldn't have money today.

Zoey looked at the empty word count on her laptop, then at Emma's eager face.

Zoey said, "Sure, I can tell you everything you want to know. As detailed as you want."

"Really? That's great. Thanks, Zoey." Emma pulled up a chair, ready to listen.

Zoey's expression turned cold. "But you have to pay me."

Emma's smile froze, blinking, not understanding what she meant.

Emma was confused and asked,  "I have to pay to hear a story? Or is it confidential? Are you afraid I'll leak it? Don't worry, I won't."

Zoey remained unmoved and stared at her.

"You misunderstood me," she explained. "The story you want to hear cost me several sleepless nights and a lot of effort with my colleagues. You think you can just listen for free? Am I that idle?"

Emma thought she was joking at first, but Zoey didn't seem to be.

"We're colleagues and schoolmates, right? You don't have to be like this..." she started to say.

Zoey cut her off, "Stop with the nonsense; pay up if you want to hear."

Emma was silent. She hated Zoey but she really wanted to hear the story.

She asked Zoey, "How much?"

Zoey replied, "Two hundred and fifty dollars."

Emma was furious but helpless as she remained silent.

As she hesitated between getting angry and not, Zoey had already taken out her phone.

She opened the payment app and held it out to her. The amount was exactly two hundred and fifty dollars.