After hearing the police's warning, Evelyn whispered, "Fuck!" under her breath, gritting her teeth and tightening her fist around the lock-picking set. Overwhelmed by a mix of failure, frustration, and self-directed rage, she muttered, "Now I'm screwed. What should I do now?"

"Put down your bag and lock-picking set, and raise your hands above your head. Mrs. Taylor, don't try to outsmart us; we won't hesitate to shoot if you do."

When the final warning echoed through the air, like a voice resounding in a silent, vacant mountain, she closed her eyes to calm her panicked mind and heart, hoping to find a way out of the adverse circumstances.

"Can't you hear us? Please, put those items on the ground and surrender yourself."

Upon hearing the advisory once again, Evelyn opened her eyes with a faint hope on her face and a fragile possibility in a small corner of her heart when she recognized the owner's voice.

"Collins," she murmured to herself with a weak smile, loosening her grip on the lock-picking set. As a result, it landed on the ground with a soft thud.

"Good. Now, please set the bag aside, remove your hat and mask, and turn your face toward us with your hands on your head." Jack Collins, one of Ronaldo Whitley's trusted junior officers, instructed her in a calm yet serious voice. His tone clearly indicated that he was performing his duty and could not ignore or help her achieve her goal.

In the past, he had repeatedly assisted Olivia's father by preventing him from being reprimanded by senior officers, thanks to his impeccable handling of Ronaldo's tasks. He also attended a crucial meeting with their senior officer, Mr. Pattinson, regarding the C.G. company fraud case when Ronaldo was forced to leave the police station after receiving a call from his wife on his birthday.

Evelyn nodded, removed her shoulder bag, and tossed it to her right with a thud. She then took off her hat and mask and threw them toward the bag. Afterward, she raised her hands above her head and slowly turned her back.

But she was compelled to close her eyes and guard her face with her right palm when she felt the strong flashlights on her face.

"Turn off the excess lights," Mr. Collins instructed the other officers. They obeyed his order without hesitation, leaving only one flashlight illuminating the area. The streetlights were sufficient to dispel the darkness, so one police officer held the remaining flashlight, aiming it at their target.

Evelyn removed her hands from her face and saw six officers standing with their flashlights. Three male officers and two female officers had their service weapons aimed at her, while one officer remained focused on her with a flashlight. Mr. Collins stood nearby with a megaphone, ready to warn her if he felt the need.

After handing the megaphone to his junior officers, Mr. Collins took out the handcuffs from his uniform's back pocket and started walking toward their target.

Upon reaching the trespasser, he politely requested her, acknowledging his limited authority under police guidelines, "Mrs. Taylor, please surrender yourself to us. You know the system better than I do. I beg you."

Evelyn blinked and let out a bitter chuckle, raising her hands in front of the officer.

"Thanks for cooperating," he whispered, looking down as he placed the handcuffs on her wrists. His body language and expression clearly conveyed his helplessness and reluctance to cuff her.

Noticing this, Evelyn seized the chance to ask for his help while adhering to all police protocols. "Mr. Collins, please help me get into Snyder Villa. My daughter's innocence is hidden inside," she pleaded, her voice trembling. Her vulnerable expression conveyed the silent anguish of a mother desperately crying out for her child.

"What?" Mr. Collins exclaimed, his eyes widening in shock.

"Yes, the reason behind Olivia's actions toward her husband is hidden in the garden of Snyder Villa. Please come with me and help me uncover the truth about Leo's death," Evelyn said in one breath. It seemed that if she paused even for a moment, it would be like waiting a year to explain her daughter's actions. She knew Olivia's behavior was unexpected and criminal, but she believed it was blameless, driven by a desire to seek justice for someone.

"Mrs. Taylor, I don't understand what you're trying to say. Olivia confessed to her crime in front of the judge, and there was no mention of the garden at Snyder Villa. Furthermore, when we searched the garden, we found no signs of a struggle or anything useful; the garden was like a desert. Ninety-five percent of the trees were dead, and there was no reason to continue searching." Mr. Collins tried to explain their investigation to her, hoping she would understand why there was no reason to revisit Snyder Villa, especially the garden.

In response, Evelyn asked a question that only deepened his confusion: "Did you search inside the garden storage bench?" Her manner was tinged with sadness and hope for her daughter's innocence.

As a result, Mr. Collins once again replied with a puzzled expression and a confused voice, "What? What could possibly be inside a garden storage bench other than gardening tools and supplies?"

"What if you found a dried blood-stained body inside the garden storage bench instead of the gardening tools?" Evelyn asked in a serious, low voice, looking straight into his eyes. The glimmer of truth was evident in her voice, body language, and especially her facial expressions.

Upon hearing her statement and observing her facial expressions, Mr. Collins became speechless. One thought instantly occupied his mind and heart: Did any negligence in their investigation lead to an innocent life being ruined? Did Olivia have rational reasons behind her actions, and did she confess her crime out of guilt, given that the victim was both her husband and one of her best friends? Was their senior officer, Mr. Drake Wilson, playing dirty by instructing the inquiry task force to submit all case reports within twelve hours, claiming it was to ensure justice for the victim and maintain the trust of New Yorkers? Was Olivia's punishment the result of a conspiracy that was hidden from everyone, including the police officers?

As the storm of questions raged in his mind without pause, Evelyn's voice cut through, calling his name, "Mr. Collins," and bringing him back to reality.

"Mrs. Taylor, are you sure about what you're telling me?" he asked hesitantly, his words carrying a sense of guilt for not having done their job perfectly. Deep down, he believed that she and her family wouldn't speak without evidence.

"I'm two hundred percent sure," Evelyn said, her voice trembling as her unconditional fondness for Vinson made her weak once again.

After hearing her reply, Mr. Collins sighed in disappointment, placing his right palm on his forehead and rubbing it in regret for not searching inside the garden storage bench.

After a few seconds, he replied in a helpless tone, "Mrs. Taylor, I want to help you, but I need to get permission from our head authorities to search Snyder Villa again. The situation is more complicated than I thought. At the moment, I can't act freely because I've already received a show-cause notice for spreading the false rumor that Olivia might have died when the car fell into the river from the BRN bridge."

"We don't have enough time; please try to understand. My daughter is in Abyss Hill Prison, a den of tigers. I can't imagine what she's facing now. Can't I expect some consideration for saving my child, given all I have done for the Crime Department of New York over the years? I risked my life solving several critical cases while working for them." She asked, sobbing, which shocked everyone.

Evelyn Taylor, known as 'Chamelyn' for her ability to hide her emotions, was now a helpless, powerless mother pleading for help to save her child. This was a stark contrast to the steadfast, strong-minded undercover agent of the NYC Special Crime Department, who had never compromised or begged for anything.

After witnessing her desperate cries for her daughter, a female police officer, with unwavering determination and a serious sense of responsibility, said, "Sir, I am willing to take full responsibility on your behalf. Please help her; everyone deserves fair justice."

Upon hearing her statement, Evelyn turned to the female officer and whispered, "Thank you," her tearful eyes filled with a mix of hope and happiness, expressing deep gratitude.

"Sir, I think you should wait in your car. We don't know when or where the reporters will show up, and they could seize the opportunity to accuse us of aiding criminals-especially you. Just like bees swarming around flowers in an instant, they won't miss a chance to sting us with their bitter, imagined questions, laced with sensationalism. We'll revisit the garden with Mrs. Taylor and do our best to reveal the truth to everyone. Perhaps it might at least help her daughter get transferred to a different jail from that hellhole." Another police officer spoke in a soft yet serious tone, aiming to support a grieving mother and offer some comfort to her broken heart. Then, he lowered his service weapon, and the other officers followed suit.

A genuine smile appeared on Evelyn's face for the first time after enduring countless unwanted circumstances and incidents in her life.

Meanwhile, Mr. Collins chuckled and, in a mocking tone to lighten the situation, said, "If I get fired from my current job, I think I should take the opportunity to go to London with Mrs. Taylor and join her secret team."

In response, everyone laughed, and a faint smile appeared on Evelyn's sad face. Then Mr. Collins asked her in a hesitant voice, "Are you okay with these handcuffs? I mean, you know..." He couldn't finish his sentence before Evelyn assured him, "I'm completely fine with the handcuffs. I don't want any complications for you all just because you're trying to help me. Let's just go inside and uncover the truth."

"Thanks for understanding," Mr. Collins said, releasing a deep sigh of relief. He then shifted his gaze to his juniors and signaled two of them with his eyes. With a stern expression, he instructed, "Both of you stay here and keep an eye on the surroundings. Although we distributed circulars to all the neighborhoods advising them not to come out of their houses at night due to their curiosity about Snyder Villa, I believe a few might still try to sneak in to see what's happening. Given that they've already heard our warning for Mrs. Taylor, I wouldn't be surprised if some have informed reporters about this matter. So don't let anyone enter, whether they're reporters or just curious onlookers."

"Yes, sir," both of them answered in unison.

"I think it would be better if one officer recorded our entire re-examination process at Snyder Villa from the beginning on a cell phone as proof. That way, no one can accuse us of planting new evidence to make my daughter appear innocent, even though the case is closed." Suddenly, Evelyn offered this rational suggestion to ensure clarity in their work and, most importantly, to protect their reputations.

Mr. Collins nodded and pulled his phone from the back pocket of his uniform. He then extended it toward a female officer, silently instructing her with his eyes to record all the incidents.

The female police officer took the cell phone and began recording everything, while the other officers turned on all the flashlights to ensure everything was clearly visible.

"Hi, New Yorkers, I'm Jack Collins, and I'm now trying to re-enter Snyder Villa with my team and Mrs. Evelyn Taylor," he said as he unlocked the door, which was secured with a thick chain. He then entered the password on the lock, and the door opened within a few seconds.

In the front, two male officers led the way, holding flashlights in one hand and their service weapons in the other. Evelyn and Mr. Collins were in the middle, while two female officers followed behind-one recording everything and the other holding a flashlight and her weapon. They proceeded toward the garden as Mr. Collins continuously explained their activities.

"A few minutes ago, Mrs. Taylor was caught red-handed while illegally trespassing into Snyder Villa. We arrested her, and after investigating, we discovered that there is a mystery hidden inside the garden storage bench that might reveal Olivia Snyder's true motive for killing her husband. We don't yet know what's inside, but we are determined to uncover the truth. Therefore, without wasting any time or seeking permission from my higher authorities, I'm leading this operation. I understand that I might face dismissal along with my team for breaking the rules, but I cannot ignore the plea of a helpless mother who once worked in our crime department as an honest undercover agent and risked her life to bring justice to many innocent people. She deserves a chance to prove her daughter's innocence. So, Mrs. Taylor, can you explain what you expected to find inside the garden storage bench?" Mr. Collins asked her.

"I think it will be better if everyone sees it with their own eyes," Evelyn said confidently as she walked with them handcuffed.

The garden was situated at the back of the villa and was only a few minutes walk from the back gate.

After several minutes of walking, they reached their destination-the garden, now a desolate wasteland. They were just a few steps away. The other officers focused their flashlights on the bench and the trespasser. Evelyn bit her lower lip to stifle her sobs as she looked at the garden storage bench. She was reminded of Vinson's body, covered in dried blood, as her daughter had described it to her in the parking lot of C.N. Hospital.

"Are you ready?" Mr. Collins asked, his expression serious.

In response, Evelyn whispered with teary eyes, "Please, check first."

"Okay!" Mr. Collins said, pressing the opening button. The cover of the garden storage bench slid open, and he peeked inside. Turning toward the trespasser, he said in a disappointed voice, "Mrs. Taylor, I think you should make an appointment with a good psychiatrist."

"What?" Evelyn murmured, her voice filled with confusion.

Mr. Collins shook his head in disbelief and said with a dismissive attitude, "Come here and see for yourself what's inside."

Without wasting a second, Evelyn stepped forward toward the garden storage bench. When she peeked inside, she was forced to widen her eyes in shock upon finding nothing but gardening tools, a watering can, and other such items instead of Vinson's dead body.

====================================