The Unlucky Turn by Mark Twain 201

In response to the officer’s questioning, Leilani shook her head. “I don’t know either.”

The surveillance footage yielded no useful information, so their only option was to head back. The officer closed his notebook and explained to Leilani with a hint of regret, “Ms. Sloan, the suspect fled too quickly, and the cameras didn’t pick up anything useful. If you have time now, would you mind coming back to the station with us to give a formal statement?”

“Sure.” Leilani nodded.

She accompanied the officers to the precinct and spent half an hour giving her statement. On the way there, she couldn’t stop wondering why the figure in black had seemed so familiar.

Operating on the principle that it was better to be thorough than sorry, Leilani also mentioned the strange car accident she had previously experienced at the entrance of Celestial Heights. The police assured her they would take the matter seriously and investigate the truth.

Since the precinct was very close to Celestial Heights and it was a slow night with few cases, the

officers offered to drive Leilani back after she finished her statement.

The cruiser pulled up slowly downstairs at Celestial Heights. Leilani opened the door, stepped out, and nodded her thanks to the officers.

“Ms. Sloan, rest assured, if we find any new leads, we’ll notify you immediately. In the meantime, try not to go out alone. Find a friend to accompany you. If that person shows up again, call us right

away.”

The officer gave her a few final safety instructions.

“Okay, I understand. Thank you for your hard work today.”

“No problem, just doing our job.”

Leilani watched the police car drive away until it disappeared from sight. She was just turning to go inside when she heard a deep voice behind her.

“Leilani?”

Leilani looked up. Callahan was standing a few steps away, dressed in a sharp suit with his brow slightly furrowed, evidently just returning from the office. His gaze landed on her, then swept toward the departing police car, his eyes darkening.

“What’s going on?”

Why was Leilani coming back in a police car? Had something happened?

Callahan closed the distance between them in long strides, looking her up and down.

Leilani was surprised to see him too; she hadn’t expected to run into him just as he was getting home from work. But since Callahan asked, she felt no burden in telling him what had just happened.

Leilani shrugged, her tone sounding completely calm. “Nothing major. Someone tried to pick the lock on my apartment, so I called the police. I just got back from giving a statement at the station.”

19:28

“Pick the lock? Who did it?”

Could it be the Sloans again? Callahan’s expression instantly turned cold, a flash of hostility passing through his eyes.

“I don’t know. But he didn’t get in. I called the police, and they arrived quickly. The guy saw them coming and ran.” Leilani continued her explanation.

“Did they check the surveillance?” Callahan pressed.

“They did. But the cameras didn’t catch the guy’s face. He’s probably a pro.”

Callahan stared at her, his frown deepening. “What the hell is security at Celestial Heights doing? Letting a grown man just wander in like that?”

He had already complained to management after the guards let someone in without registering last time. It seemed that docking two months of their pay wasn’t punishment enough. If the police station hadn’t been close by, and with Leilani being a single woman at home, who knew what could have happened?

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