Page 16 of Shapeshifter's Vengeance

I clench my jaw. “What about Alexei’s car? Have we found it?”

“Yes, ma’am. We found it parked a few blocks away from Alexei’s house. We dusted for prints, but it’s been wiped clean.”

My frustration mounts. “Someone’s covering their tracks well. Too well.”

Sam nods. “We’re working on enhancing the footage, but it’s going to take time.”

I look around at my team, seeing the same frustration mirrored in their faces. We’re back to square one, and time is running out.

“Alright, let’s keep pushing. We need to figure out who that driver is. Check traffic cameras, security footage from nearby businesses, anything that might give us another angle.”

The team disperses, diving back into their work. I head to my office, sit at my desk, and bury my face in my hands for a moment, trying to gather my thoughts.

A knock on the door startles me. It’s Ana, looking as exhausted as I feel.

“Evelyn, any updates?” she asks, stepping inside.

I hand her the file. “We found footage of Alexei’s car. He’s in the passenger seat, but we can’t identify the driver. The car was wiped clean.”

Ana’s face falls as she flips through the images. “This is bad. We’re dealing with someone who knows how to cover their tracks.”

I nod. “And it means Alexei wasn’t alone. Someone was with him, someone who’s trying to frame him.”

“We need to find out who that is,” Ana says, determination in her voice. “And fast.”

“We’re working on it,” I assure her. “We just need more time.”

Ana’s eyes narrow. “The longer Alexei is locked up, the harder it will be to clear his name.”

“I know,” I say, my voice tight with frustration. “But we can’t rush this. We need to be thorough.”

Ana takes a deep breath and nods. “Alright. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”

“Actually, there is,” I say, an idea forming. “Can you go through Alexei’s personal contacts? See if anyone stands out, someone who might have a grudge or a motive to set him up.”

“On it,” Ana says, already pulling out her phone. “I’ll start right away.”

As she leaves, I return to my desk, my mind racing. We’re missing something, some crucial piece of the puzzle. I just need to figure out what it is.

The department buzzes with activity all day. Sam comes in and out, updating me on their progress. They’ve managed to enhancethe footage slightly, but the driver’s face is still obscured. It’s frustratingly close, but not enough.

Just as I’m about to call it a night, Sam bursts into my office, a look of triumph on his face.

“Sheriff, we’ve got something,” he says, breathless.

I sit up, my heart pounding. “What is it?”

“We found another camera angle from a store down the street. It’s not perfect, but we’ve got a clearer view of the driver.”

He hands me the enhanced image. The figure is still shadowed, but I can make out some features. It’s a man wearing a hood, but his face is partially visible.

“It’s not enough to ID him,” Sam says, “but it’s a start. We can run it through facial recognition, see if we get any hits.”

“Do it,” I say, hope flickering in my chest. “And keep me updated.”

As Sam leaves, I stare at the image, trying to commit every detail to memory. We’re getting closer. It’s only a matter of time now.

The night drags on, and I force myself to stay focused. We’re on the right track, but we can’t afford any mistakes. Alexei’s life depends on it.

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