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I nod in agreement, my mind still preoccupied. "Yeah, it is odd. Maybe he's dealing with something personal or got caught up in another case."
Derek looks concerned, but he doesn't press the matter further. "I hope he's okay. We'll have to keep an eye out for any updates from him."
The rest of the day at the office feels like an eternity. I'm constantly glancing at the clock, counting down the hours. I find it challenging to focus on the case.
It's late afternoon when Derek leans back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. “Any updates from Tristan and Max?"
I check my phone but the screen is just as blank as it was when I checked not long before he asked. "Not yet. I’m sure they're still digging through the data.”
He nods in response as though it's what he expected. “It's a lot of information to go through, so it might take some time. We'll have to be patient."
As much as I want to push for faster results, I know Derek is right. Rushing the process could lead to mistakes or overlooking crucial details.
Hours pass, and the afternoon turns into evening. The building seems quiet now, but Derek and I continue to work diligently, going over the case files yet again, trying to find any patterns or connections that we might have missed the previous times we looked at them.
Still, I press on, determined to make the most of the time I have.
As the clock inches closer to midnight, I decide to give Tristan a call to see if there have been any new developments. Dialing his number, I wait anxiously for him to pick up.
"Tristan Winters." Tristan's voice comes through the phone, sounding slightly tired but still attentive.
"Tristan, it's me," I say, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Are you calling to harass us already, Alex? I’m fast, but not that fast,” the humor in his voice manages to alleviate some of my tension.
“I wouldn’t go telling the whole world that fact,” I say to him with a grin.
He chuckles, “I certainly haven’t had any complaints.”
I laugh again, but my reason for calling has the laughter dying on my lips. "Any updates from Max on the data?"
There's a pause on the other end before Tristan replies, "I'm sorry, but there's nothing concrete yet. Max is still working on searching for information. The internet has a lot of data to sift through, and we want to be thorough."
I sigh, feeling a mix of frustration and disappointment. "I was hoping we'd have something by now. The clock is ticking, and we're running out of time."
"I understand, Alex," Tristan says reassuringly. "But we can't rush this. Max is doing his best, and we'll get back to you as soon as we have any leads."
"Okay," I reply, trying to sound more composed. "I'll trust in Max's abilities and your expertise. Just keep me informed of any progress."
"Of course," Tristan assures me. "We won't stop until we find something substantial. Stay safe, Alex."
"Thanks, Tristan. You too," I say before ending the call.
Turning my attention back to Derek, I find him deep in thought, his brow furrowed. "Any new leads?" he asks.
I shake my head, feeling the pressure of the situation. "Nothing concrete yet. Tristan and Max are still working on it. It's just a waiting game now."
Derek lets out a frustrated breath, but he knows as well as I do that we have to be patient. "Alright, let's keep going through the case files. Maybe we missed something."
We continue sifting through the information, searching for any connections or patterns that might have eluded us before. The hours pass, and the clock strikes 10pm before we know it.
Derek stretches and yawns. "I think we've done all we can for today. We should head home and get some rest. We can pick it up fresh tomorrow."
He's right, and I can feel the exhaustion settling in. But my mind is still preoccupied with the midnight meeting. I need answers, and I can't shake the feeling that tonight will be crucial in unraveling this web of mysteries.
"I'll check a few more reports before I head down," I tell Derek, trying not to let my anxiety show.
Derek eyes me for a moment, concern evident in his gaze. "Are you sure? I can walk you to your car. It's late, and I don't want you to go alone."
