Case Files of Officer Penelope

Chapter 10: The Return to Reality

The campsite still lingered in Penlope’s mind, the crackling campfire and serene wilderness offering a momentary escape. She and her boyfriend had spent days disconnected, but reality crept back. As they drove into the city, her phone buzzed incessantly. A new case awaited her.

At the precinct, the hum of office chatter and tap-tap of keyboards reminded her of her purpose. A briefing detailed a peculiar case: graffiti marking recent break-ins. Each site bore cryptic messages. The most recent vandalism targeted a suburban house, the kitchen marred by black spray paint depicting a gnome offering a flower.

Penlope crouched to examine the details, her camera capturing every angle. "This isn't random," she murmured. Moving room to room, she documented clues. A computer in the study had been fried, a blue screen glaring as she photographed it. This wasn’t mere vandalism—it was sabotage.

Back at the lab, analysis revealed the paint contained flammable chemicals. While waiting for test results, Penlope busied herself by taking fingerprints and searching a new prisoner who had just arrived. Despite the effort, no solid leads on the suspect emerged. The cryptic graffiti and sabotage continued to baffle the team.

By evening, Penlope traced the final clue on her map. "Gotcha," she whispered, adrenaline surging as she grabbed her coat and headed into the night, though uncertainty about the suspect still loomed.