Chapter 32 – Silent Clues

Dominic’s POV

As David walked toward the office door, he gave me a sly grin over his shoulder.

“Maybe we should hit the bar tonight. You clearly need to loosen up,” he said, wagging his brows like a joke.

I didn’t speak. Instead, I reached up and tugged at my tie with one hand.

A grunt left my throat. That was all the answer he needed.

He chuckled. “Cool. I’ll pick a good spot. First round’s on me.”

I watched him leave.

The door clicked shut behind him, and for a while, I just sat there.

Alone.

It felt like time stood still for a while. I took a deep breath and leaned forward, picked up my coffee cup, and tried to drink.

Empty.

Of course.

I pressed the telecom button.

Clara picked up—the same secretary who had been laughing at David’s flirty jokes just minutes ago.

“Hello, sir—” she began, but then giggled and cut the line before I could speak.

I stared at the speaker.

My brow furrowed.

I was about to press the button again when there was a knock on the door.

The lines between my brows deepened, but I didn’t let my voice change. “Come in.”

Clara walked in with a slight frown, no… it was more of a scowl that she didn’t even bother to hide. Her perfume already filling the room with something strong and artificial. The sweetness made my wolf twitch in disgust.

Her face was twisted with something between irritation and fake cheer.

Maybe she thought she was coming in here to talk about whatever she overheard David say, OR MAYBE HOW David treated her.

Maybe she thought with David flirting with her, we are no in the same class or maybe she thought I cared.

I didn’t. Not one bit.

Without giving her a chance to speak, I gave a simple command. “Get me my usual coffee. I don’t have to tell you how to make it, right?”

Whatever she had come in here to complain or gossip about vanished from her face immediately.

She straightened and nodded fast. “No, sir. Right away.”

I didn’t say another word, and she quickly left.

The moment the door clicked shut behind her, I exhaled slowly. The air was clearer when she was gone, though the scent of her perfume still clung to the air.

The scent made my head ache and the perfume didn’t seem like it would disappear any minute from now, which only reminded me of something fake trying too hard to be real.

It reminded me of Zarah. Of lies.

It reminded me of how my wolf reacted around women like them—uncomfortable, edgy and cold.

My mind—no, my wolf—pulled up an image of Mannie.

Soft skin. Calm scent. Warm but strong. Every time she was close, my wolf quieted. Became still. Loyal.

Around Clara, it wanted to snarl.

That alone told me everything.

I rubbed my forehead and sat up straighter, trying to focus on work.

And then I thought of Mannie.

That scent. That calm pull. That strange warmth that made my wolf sit still like a tamed beast.

I closed my eyes for a second.

Then the buzz of my phone pulled me back.

I picked it up lazily. The name flashing on the screen made my brows twitch slightly.

Detective Harvey.

I stared at the name for a moment.

Then slowly answered. “Dominic Blackmoore speaking.”

“Mr. Blackmoore!” the detective’s voice came fast, like he’d been waiting all day to talk. “Sorry to call unannounced. I know you’re busy, but I just wanted to update you personally.”

I leaned back in my chair. “Go ahead.”

His voice turned excited. “We’ve made solid progress on the Evan Reed case. Thanks to the leads you gave us through your private team, we’ve cross-verified most of the initial inconsistencies.”

I said nothing.

He continued. “You were right. It wasn’t a random attack. Someone lured Evan there. And based on new surveillance and witness accounts, we believe we’re very close to an arrest. We just need to finalize one piece of evidence.”

Still, I didn’t speak.

Detective Harvey must’ve been nervous. He kept talking.

“Honestly, sir, if it wasn’t for your tip-off, this might’ve stayed a cold case. Most people wouldn’t go the extra mile, but you did. Your cooperation has been beyond helpful.”

I shrugged, even though he couldn’t see it.

“It’s nothng,” I said, voice casual. “I just don’t like loose ends.”

He gave an awkward chuckle. “Of course, sir. I completely understand. We’re still being careful with the details though, to avoid leaking anything that might compromise the arrest.”

I raised a brow. “Is that your way of saying you’re hiding something?”

“No, no,” he rushed to explain. “Just standard caution. We’re keeping the name of the witness and certain details private until everything’s secure.”

“Fine,” I said dryly. “Anything else?”

“Just wanted you to hear it from me before the report is finalized. We’re estimating 48 hours. Tops.”

“Good. Let me know when it’s done.”

“Yes, sir! Absolutely.”

I ended the call without saying goodbye.

The phone dropped back onto the table with a soft thud.

I stared at it for a second, then turned my chair and looked toward the drawer on my right.

I opened it slowly.

Inside was the sealed envelope from my private team.

They had delivered it days ago—before the police got anywhere. I had asked for a full background check and investigation after Evan’s body was found.

But I hadn’t opened it.

Not because I was lazy.

But because everything had been spiraling.

Zarah.

The people orchestrating behind the scenes.

Mannie.

Her scent.

The moment I held her wrist that day, my focus snapped. The line between what I needed to do and what I wanted to do blurred.

And Evan’s death had faded into the background, even if only for a second.

But now?

I stared at the envelope, still sealed with a red stamp.

PRIVATE. For Dominic Blackmoore’s Eyes Only.

I reached for it, held it between my fingers.

No more delays.

I needed to know what really happened that night.

If someone tried to set Evan up—or worse, tried to make someone else take the fall—I had to know.

I peeled back the seal and immediately brought out the envelope, my facial expression as always was expressionless.