1 Crime-free town

-Ping

Elizabeth stopped talking and stared down at her phone, she glanced at the person opposite her and read the notification message aloud.

"It's unfair, I can't ignore you the way you ignore me… what is the meaning of this, Daphne?" Elizabeth glanced suspiciously at her elder sister that was sitting opposite her.

"What? Why are you staring at me like that? I just created an account with your E-mail address and your picture, that's all." Daphne hurriedly defended herself.

"What app?" Elizabeth squinted her eyes.

"..."

"What app?!"

"Fine, it's a dating app… I mean you've been single since like… senior year?"

"Which of my pictures did you use?"

"...the one you took on your graduation."

"..." Elizabeth stared blankly at her cousin.

"Common, Elizabeth. You're twenty six already."

"And you're thirty."

"And happily married with a kid. You really should focus a little more on your personal life, Elizabeth." Daphne sighed.

"Exactly, per.so.nal." Elizabeth retorted, stressing every syllable in the word 'personal'.

"Elizabeth, you know I'm just worried about you." Daphe held her younger sister's hands.

"Of course, all of you are."

"Elizabeth…"

"I've been transferred, sister. I'll be leaving soon."

"Why are you telling me this just now?" Daphne had a shocked look on her face, "! Wait up, I'll prepare a few things for you."

"No, don't bother. My flight would be leaving soon, I'll be able to catch it if I leave now." Elizabeth stood up and walked to the door. She suddenly stopped and turned around, she flashed her sister a weak smile and left the cafe.

Even though her family was complicated, her cousin still cared about her…at least to a certain extent, like trying to prepare her for a journey without really knowing where she was transferred to.

Elizabeth couldn't blame her cousin, because it was already good enough that someone still cared. Her cousin had been there ever since Elizabeth lost her parents, so she couldn't blame her for such neglect.

Elizabeth was able to catch the flight on time, she sat on her seat and her mind strolled back to the conversation she had with the higher ups.

"Officer Brian, we've heard a lot about your splendid deeds, and your contribution to the protection of the citizens."

Elizabeth could remember how her eyes lit up at those words.

"That's why we've decided to have you transferred."

"Huh, to what city?"

"Vandhill, and it's a town… on a hill." The commissioner knew of the officer's splendour and what she had applied for, so he was a little awkward when passing the news.

"You… are sending me to a town? Is it crime-infested?"

"No, actually it's a crime-free town."

"Ha, what did I expect?" Elizabeth mumbled underneath her breath.

"...do I leave now?" Elizabeth asked calmly.

"I guess it would be better if you do, Officer Brian."

Elizabeth was disappointed, not just that, her motivation hit rock bottom and it was exasperating to have no hope.

It wasn't long before the plane reached her destination.

Vandhill, one of the towns with the least crimes. Elizabeth still couldn't understand, she tried so hard to be promoted but instead she was transferred to a place like this?

The scenery of the town was green and beautiful, beautiful houses and people walking on the streets with smiles on their faces.

This kind of serenity might be what most people longed for but the same couldn't be said for Elizabeth.

As she made her way to the prepared apartment, she received smiles and greetings from everyone she passed by to the extent that it felt a little creepy.

Elizabeth took a deep breath to calm her tingling nerves, she understood that she was reacting this way because she was in an unfamiliar place.

***

The next day came by quickly…

Elizabeth went out for her usual morning exercises, the smiles were no longer as foreign as when she first saw them, so Elizabeth awkwardly returned them.

"Good morning, officer." A voice greeted from behind Elizabeth.

Elizabeth turned around instinctively and saw a man who looked to be in his middle age. Only one fourth of his hair was still brown, the remaining part had turned grey, the side of his eyes were marred with wrinkles, and his eyes glistened happily as he smiled.

"Uh, Hello?"

"I know, you'd be surprised that I know who you are. It's easy, it's just because we don't usually have a lot of visitors or tourists and it was said that a new officer would be arriving, so I figured." The man explained with a smile.

The vigilant look on Elizabeth's face visibly softened, she smiled back at the man and said,

"Yes, I understand. If you don't mind, sir. I have to go now."

"No no, I don't mind at all. You can go." The man waved his hand.

"Thank you… Mr?"

"Richard, Richard Moore."

"Thank you, Mr Moore. I'll see you some other time." Elizabeth bade him goodbye and jogged all the way back to her apartment.

In an hour, she got to the local police station, the officers sat, lazing around. None even noticed her presece or they just didn't care. Elizabeth gulped when she realised that this was the fate she would face for the time being or even forever.

"Oh, Hello there, Officer Brian." The chief of police greeted as soon as he came out of his office, attracting the attention of every officer.

"Good morning, Chief Alejandro." Elizabeth greeted him that way because his uniform and his badge indicated his rank.

"It's finally nice to meet you, I've heard a lot about you, Officer Brian."

"I honestly hope there were all positive, sir." Elizabeth joked lightly.

"Of course, there were all positive reviews." Chief Alejandro chuckled and led Elizabeth further into the police station.

"Officer Brian, meet your new colleagues. Detective Daniel and Detective Christopher are the only investigators we have, not like we need one anyway." Chief Alejandro smiled.

"Hello, Officer Brian." Both detectives greeted and Elizabeth greeted them back with a smile and a "hello".

"And this is Officer Hamilton, the officer sleeping carelessly at the front desk is Officer Louise." Chief Alejandro said and gestured at the front deck.

"Hello, Officer Hamilton."

"Nice to meet you, Officer Brian."

"The pleasure is all mine." Elizabeth replied and turned to the front desk.

A feminine body was sitting on the chair with her head on the desk. Her hair and body shape was enough proof that she was a woman. But since she was still asleep, Elizabeth left the pleasantries for later.

It was going to be really hectic working here...