"Detective, huh..."
"Yes." Detective Nolan leaned slightly, trying to peer past Leo into the house.
"If you wouldn’t mind, could I co in?"
Leo shifted, blocking the doorway with his body.
"Unfortunately," he said evenly, "I don’t think you’re invited to today’s birthday party. Are you?"
The detective kept his smile, though it looked strained now—awkward under Leo’s stare.
"I’m not," he admitted.
"But this is important, so—"
"Do you have a warrant?"
"A warrant?"
The sudden question clearly threw him off. He blinked.
"No."
"Then do you have exigent circumstances that let you enter my parents’ house imdiately?"
The smile slipped off Detective Nolan’s face.
"No," he said, more carefully now. "Not at the mont. But what I need to discuss is important—about you—which is why I’d like to—"
"I can’t allow that," Leo cut in. "Legally, this house belongs to both my mom and dad. Without their consent, neither of us has the authority to let you in."
Detective Nolan narrowed his eyes slightly.
"You know a bit of law, it seems."
Leo’s face ward into a friendly smile—one that would’ve made Lea rub her eyes if she’d seen it.
"Just sothing I picked up from watching a bunch of law and cri movies."
"I see," the detective said, the tension easing a notch.
"Then could you call one of your parents out here?"
Leo’s smile turned apologetic. He scratched his cheek, looking genuinely troubled.
"I would, but I’m sorry, Detective. My parents are always busy with work. This is one of the few tis we’re all together, and everyone’s enjoying my little sister’s birthday..."
His gaze lowered, and his smile softened as if he were speaking to himself.
"I don’t want anything to ruin the precious mories being made today."
For a brief second, the detective’s eyes went suspicious—then the warmth returned, and he nodded with understanding.
"Of course," Detective Nolan said kindly. "A detective showing up might be exciting for the kids, but it would ruin your parents’ day with worry. They’re lucky to have such a thoughtful son."
Leo looked faintly embarrassed.
"I hope so."
The detective sighed.
"Then, if it’s alright with you, would you mind if we spoke? Just the two of us."
"Sure," Leo said.
"As long as it doesn’t take too long."
The detective’s expression turned serious.
"I assu you’re aware of the recent vandalism at your school?"
Leo nodded slowly.
"The suspect has been destroying things for the past few years," he said. "Instrunts from the music club, chairs in classrooms... and stealing umbrellas from students."
Leo blinked, surprised.
Only one of those sounded like him.
The mont the detective ntioned vandalism, Leo had assud it was about the music room. But now it seed there was an actual vandal roaming the school—soone Leo hadn’t known about.
"I... wasn’t aware of most of that," he admitted.
The detective nodded.
"But you were aware of the instrunts, right?"
Leo nodded again, letting his expression tighten into sothing distressed.
"My teacher—Instructor Kaya—has had to replace instrunts a few tis because of it."
"I know," Detective Nolan said. "The school is lucky to have a teacher like that—willing to lend so many of her own instrunts without demanding extra pay."
Leo nodded once more.
The detective sighed again, heavier this ti.
"Unfortunately," he said, "out of these recurring acts of vandalism, I believe the person responsible may be doing the damage with malicious intent toward you."
Leo took a step back, feigning shock.
"Against ?" he said. "But why would you think that? Everyone knows I use the music club to practice, but I have nothing to do with the other two."
"I don’t know about the other two yet," the detective admitted. "But the destruction in the music club is the most frequent. When I looked deeper, I noticed the damage tends to occur around the tis you leave the club room. Whoever is doing this may be trying to fra you—or send you so kind of ssage."
’He couldn’t be more wrong.’
Leo raised a hand to his mouth, like he was struggling to process it.
"I... I see..."
Detective Nolan placed a reassuring hand on Leo’s shoulder.
"I know that’s unsettling to hear," he said. "But the school is taking this seriously—that’s why they contacted . And I don’t an to boast, but I have the highest solve rate in my departnt. You’re in safe hands."
Leo looked at him gratefully, then hesitated.
"Does this an you’ll... be acting as my bodyguard, or...?"
Detective Nolan shook his head.
"Whoever this is, they’re cautious. They avoid witnesses, and they aren’t stupid enough to confront you directly." His eyes sharpened. "Not yet, at least. But I do advise you not to be alone whenever you can avoid it."
Leo nodded in understanding, and the detective’s expression softened again.
"You know," Detective Nolan added, "I’ve heard a lot about you. Your na has made the newspaper more than a few tis—refusing roles in films directed by top directors and all that. Most people wouldn’t turn down a chance to beco famous."
He gave a small, almost fond smile.
"My wife and I have a child ourselves. We go to the theatre often. We’ve seen you perform more than once. Honestly... it’s a sha you haven’t been in any plays lately."
Leo scratched the back of his head and gave an awkward laugh.
"What can I say? I guess my passion for acting has died down."
"That’s unfortunate," Detective Nolan said.
"But you’re young. Soone as bright as you will have plenty of things you can excel at."
"Haha... thank you, Detective."
The detective reached into his coat pocket and handed Leo a card.
"Listen," he said.
"If you get into any trouble, my number is on that card. Call imdiately."
"Thank you," Leo replied.
"I hope I won’t have to use it."
" too." The detective nodded.
"For now, though, I’ll leave you to it. Happy birthday to your little sister. Enjoy the party."
"Goodbye, Detective."
Detective Nolan gave one last polite smile, then turned and left.
******
’Maybe my son was wrong. He isn’t so bad after all...’
In all honesty, he’d assud Leo was so spoiled kid. He’d taken his son’s word for it—trusted what he knew—and it looked like he’d been wrong. The only reason he’d taken this case was because his son knew Leo. Nolan had heard the na a few tis, even seen the boy in the theatre. And the vandalism? Probably just a bunch of students pulling pranks. If Nolan wanted to catch them, he could—easily, without much effort.
The kid nad Leo was simply—
"Oh, right, Detective..."
Nolan stopped in his tracks as a voice called out behind him.
He turned. Leo was still standing in the doorway, watching him.
’Sothing is different...’
Leo wore a friendly smile, but his eyes looked colder.
"You ntioned you have a son, correct?"
Nolan hesitated, then nodded.
"By any chance... is your son called Dave?"
Nolan’s eyes widened.
"How do you know that?"
’Did he see with my son in public? I’ve never really been to the school during opening hours either, so it could be a coincidence, but...’
For so reason, Nolan felt a sharp spike of suspicion. Those instincts he’d built as a detective were flaring up like an alarm. And that smile—sohow it looked more chilling now.
"I think it was two years ago," Leo said calmly. "During a parent-teacher eting. I passed by Dave and his mother, and I caught a glimpse of your wife’s phone wallpaper. I saw you there—your wife, and Dave in the middle—eating ice cream."
"...!"
’That was during our trip to Paris.’
Nolan narrowed his eyes.
"You rember sothing you caught a glimpse of two years ago?"
Leo shrugged.
"Well, I’m sure you know Dave and I butted heads quite a few tis. It must’ve stuck because of that."
’He’s lying.’
"By the way," Leo added, "how is Dave? Yesterday he got quite the scolding from our teacher because of his behaviour. I’m worried he’s still upset."
’He’s definitely lying. Does he have a photographic mory?’
"He’s fine now," Nolan said, forcing the words out evenly.
"Thank you for worrying."
"I see. It’s good to hear he’s doing fine."
’...He’s threatening my son, isn’t he?’
"Yes," Nolan said.
"My son can get emotional, but he has a good heart."
’He did it.’
"I’ve noticed," Leo replied, still smiling.
"Don’t worry. I know he’s a good person."
’He’s the one who committed those cris. Of course. Who would ever suspect the genius child himself...’
Nolan stared into Leo’s eyes, and his gut tightened with certainty. It was Leo. That smile shifted—subtly—into sothing closer to a smirk.
’He knows I’ve figured it out. Why? He did this on purpose. He wants to know it was him.’
"By the way," Nolan said carefully, "I’d love to watch more movies related to law and cri with my wife and son. Do you have any recomndations?"
Leo kept his perfect act together and even looked a little apologetic.
"I’m sorry, Detective. I can’t think of any off the top of my head. I watch and read too many things to rember them all."
"Read?" Nolan repeated. "Not many kids these days are into reading. I’m surprised."
Leo laughed, light and easy.
"Well, my father has a study filled with all kinds of books. Sotis I like to poke my nose around in there..."
’He’s not a normal kid at all. He’s probably read books about the law. So it wasn’t an exaggeration—him being a genius. They just left out the part where he’s a total psychopath. He wants to play cat and mouse with , huh.’
Nolan’s gaze flicked above the doorfra where Leo stood. A cara was mounted there.
’It probably picks up audio and video. He could be baiting —trying to get to falsely accuse him, or say sothing that could be twisted into harassnt...’
"Ah, Detective," Leo said, tilting his head.
"Have you ever killed soone?"
Nolan’s eyes went wide.
"Pardon?"
Leo scratched his cheek, embarrassed.
"As you said, I’m young. I might find my passion sowhere else. Who knows—maybe becoming a detective could be it. But I’m not very fond of harming others, and... that’s part of the job, right?"
He continued, the words flowing too smoothly.
"I’ve read that cops are expected to follow the law much more strictly. And if they break it, the consequences are worse for them than for the average citizen. Also, when they kill soone in a shooting—whether it was the right thing to do or not—they get investigated. But they have their bodycams most of the ti to prove it."
Leo’s smile never left.
"But it’s not the sa for detectives like you, right? I imagine it must be even more difficult when you’re forced to take a life and then you have to go through an even more brutal investigation than the average cop."
’...What is he planning?’
Nolan felt his stomach knot. There was sothing deeply wrong with this kid.
"...We’re trained to never take a life unless there is no other option. Sadly, there have been tis when I had no choice. But if you’ve done nothing wrong, the legal system will protect you. You should have nothing to worry about."
"I see." Leo smiled brightly, like the topic hadn’t mattered at all.
"We’re lucky to have such a great legal system."
"We are..."
"Well, I don’t wish to take more of your ti, Detective. I’m sorry for the sudden questions. I wish you luck with your investigation, though."
’I should dig deeper into him later.’
"No problem," Nolan said.
"I hope we see each other again—under better circumstances, Leo."
’Taking him in will be extrely difficult. And even if I wanted to, he’s done nothing that would stick. From what I know, he’s rich—rich enough that his parents can afford the top lawyers.’
Pursuing this would lead to dead ends and put his career in jeopardy.
’But why did he want to figure it out? Just for his amusent?’
"Goodbye, Detective."
’If so... then I hope this was satisfying enough for him. Forever.’
"...Goodbye."
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