I went through so much yesterday that, without any surprise, I didn't sleep well. But I still drag myself out of my bed early to sort out the leads I have of this mysterious case. I take my notebook out and start writing down the clues I've found so far.

1 I wrote an article about Emily's nightmarish life, I was then fired for unknown reasons

2 Someone was watching me as I was going home, right after I lost my job

3 I went back to the Metropolitan Hospital after receiving information from prosecutor Toro

4 I found out about Emily's death from pneumonia. She died 21 days ago

5 All her belongings were claimed by her father, except for a stuffed animal, a piglet

6 I found a photograph of Emily and her family inside the stuffed animal, and I was then confirmed that Emily's biological father was dead

7 Bob Bryar is Emily's legal guardian

8 Bob Bryar's license number is 50L973

Judging by everything that I've gathered so far, it seems that Bob Bryar is the man I was looking for. But considering how many people there are in New York City, it will be nearly impossible to find him.

I suppose it is time that I contact this informer whom Urie recommended. Let's give it a try. I have nothing to lose anyway.

I comb my brown strands with my fingers, grab my pants, shirt, shoulder straps. Once I'm ready, I step outside to make the call from the nearest phone booth. This 'Leo' person, or at least I assume that it's him, answers. Because of the complexity of my case and for safety reasons, we decide to meet at the Corner Café on the 26th street, today, at 4 p.m.

I arrive at the Corner Café at half past three, half an hour early. Never have I ever arrived so early at any appointment, but the perspective of discovering more about this mystery hypes me up.

After a little while, a man slides on the sit next to mine, his face hidden by a journal. "Mr. Way?"

"Are you Mr. Leo?" I ask back

"I am," he replies. "How can I help you?"

"Could you look at me? I need to tell you something and this is a bit unsettling – if you don't mind."

Leo hesitates and his journal drops a little, revealing a... boy. A blonde, thin boy. I am wondering if he is any older than 18. He is wearing a sober outfit somewhat similar to mine: brown pants, shoulder straps, shirt – except that his is a dirty, greyish blue. He is also wearing a black beret.

"I would like you to help me find a man. His name is Bob Bryar."

Leo tugs his beret a little lower on his face to hide himself better. He pouts. "So, you want to find him. I don't think that I can find a man with nothing but a name."

"I have other clues for you. He knows a man named George Taylor who most likely used to be a police officer, and his license number is 50L973. He is also Emily Taylor's legal guardian, and he paid her a visit at the Metropolitan Hospital a month ago."

Leo purses his lips a little. "Hm. That is enough. I will take 25 dollars right now, and you will pay me 25 more once I am done."

My eyes widen. It's too expensive! Even my rent isn't that expensive... But I'm out of ideas and Leo is my last hope at this point. I sigh and hand him the 25 dollars.

"Here is your money. Please begin as soon as possible."

"Of course." Leo grins confidently. "I wouldn't want to upset my client."

I salute him and go home, hoping he would soon have good news for me.

______

3 days later.

"Mr. Way, the Bob Bryar you're looking for... he's a cop," Leo tells me. "He works for the NYPD, but the license number you gave me isn't registered under his name. As far as I know, Bryar doesn't own a car, he drives a patrol car to go to work."

So, Emily's stuff could have been taken by someone else? "Can you find the one that license number belongs to?" I request.

"Of course, but you will have to pay for that additional service."

"Don't worry, I will pay you once you find that person."

I head for the police station Bob Bryar works at. If Leo is telling the truth, Bryar will be there. Meeting hi could help me solve this case.

I enter the hall and walk to a police officer who immediately turns away. "Good morning, I am looking for someone named Bob Br- hey, you're Leo!"

Leo looks away. "You got the wrong person, Sir. My name is John."

"Stop your show, I could recognize you anytime, even in that police uniform."

"Please have a little bit of respect. This is a police station, and you are talking to a police officer."

I sigh. "Alright, Mr. the police officer, I'd like to fill a report against an illegal informer named Leo."

Leo glances at le and says quietly, "I apologize, Mr. Way. You are here for Bryar, aren't you? Follow me."

"Oh, so this is how you found him in only 3 days, he is your colleague, you knew him from the start! You are a crook; I want my money back!" I scold angrily, keeping my voice at a reasonable volume.

"Calm down, Mr. Way. I will investigate your license plate for free. And I will give you a permanent discount on any future information you'd like. Just please, keep this secret between the two of us..."

I huff. He is sneaky and clever, but he is the only informer I know, so I don't have a choice. "You will investigate the license number and I expect a 50% discount on all our future collaborations," I demand.

"Deal! Follow me, I will take you to Bryar."

I follow Leo and sneak into narrow hallways with him until we arrive to a door on which there was Bob Bryar's name. With Bryar's consent, we enter the room.

I discover a blonde, blue-eyed man with a thick beard and a quite emotionless overall. He is wearing his dark blue uniform, badge and hat included.

"Mr. Bob Bryar, are you Emily Taylor's guardian?" I ask after introducing myself shortly – forgetting to mention my profession, though he might know it from my name.

"I'll leave now, keep going without me," Leo says and leaves.

"Yes, I am. So what?"

"Emily died from pneumonia about three weeks ago."

A frown disturbs the officer's apathetic expression. "What? She was doing quite okay the last time I saw her."

"Were you truly unaware of her death?" I frown even deeper than him.

"I wasn't warned about it, Mr. Way. I don't know how you managed to find... But thank you for telling me. I will do what needs to be done."

I suppose that he is not the one who took Emily's belongings. "Mr. Bryar, I noticed some disturbing elements at the Metropolitan Hospital. A man who claimed to be George Taylor took Emily's belongings at the hospital. And Emily's death was too sudden, I believe... I believe her death was programed."

Mr. Bryar nods. "I understand, Mr. Way. Thank you."

"Don't hesitate to reach out if you ever need help or if you find any clue."

"Thanks again, Mr. Way, but this is between Emily and me. You are just not involved in this. Besides, I don't wish for that case to be known. Please stop your investigation immediately," M. Bryar demands.

My cheeks flare up a little, but I manage to keep a grip on myself. "I will not write about this case, but I hope that you will find answers to those allegations. Mr. Taylor chose you to be his daughter's tutor, it means he had faith in you!" I advocate. "And his daughter died a mysterious death at the Metropolitan Hospital. How can you be so detached about this...?"

Mr. Bryar stays quiet for a second before answering casually. "I have my own life to live. I have been taking care of Emily for long enough. I haven't hurt her. All I can do is organize her funerals, nothing more than that."

My jaw clenches helplessly. "I will not give up! I will find the truth about Emily's death!" I snap.

"Mr. Way, let me give you another warning, stay out of all this."

"You can decide not to do anything about it, but you cannot keep me from doing so. I have a last question, it's about Emily's daughter, Julia. Did she really go missing?"

Mr. Bryar tenses up suddenly. As I expect him not to answer me, he speaks up.

"I wasn't expecting you to know about that too... You are right, Julia went missing. Without Julia's disappearance, Emily wouldn't have gone crazy. And my partner wouldn't have..." Bryar interrupts himself. His eyes look humid.

"Do you mean that your partner's death could be linked to Julia's disappearance?" I encourage him to speak.

"I didn't say that. George Taylor died in the line of duty. You shouldn't be making baseless theories."

"Thank you for the advice. I understand."

"Mr. Way, this case is way more dangerous than you think." Bryar looks deep into my eyes. "I must warn you again, stay out of this. Stay safe."

I don't know what to answer. I thank him and leave the police station.

Emily Taylor's death is like a rock thrown in a lake. The ripples will soon disappear as if nothing had ever happened. But I suppose that no one could have foreseen that such small ripples could provoke some massive waves...

______