After the theory classes end, the cadets begin to exit the classroom. As Bella steps out, Sergeant approaches her and says,
"Cadet Bella, Chief Luke is waiting for you in the parking lot."
Hearing this, Bella heads toward the parking area where she sees August, Luke, and Ethan standing and talking. She walks up to them and says to Luke,
"Dad, you're leaving already?"
Luke turns to look at her and nods.
"Hmm. I hope I won't receive any complaints about you."
Then, looking at Officer Ethan, he adds in a firm tone,
"Officer Ethan, be as strict with Cadet Bella as necessary. Out here, she is neither my daughter nor the youngest of the O'Brien family. She's just another cadet. So, there's no need to give her any kind of special treatment or leeway."
Officer Ethan nods,
"Yes, Chief Luke."
Chief Luke nods back, shakes Ethan's hand, and gets into the car. August steps forward and gives Bella a hug.
"Take really good care of yourself, okay?"
Bella smiles,
"Okay, buddy."
Then he too gets into the car. The engine starts, and Bella stands there for a while, watching the car drive away.
Suddenly, a voice breaks her train of thought.
"Did you want to go with them too?"
It's Ethan. She turns and looks at him, shaking her head no, then begins to walk away. But Ethan calls out again,
"Uncle Luke wants you to become an excellent SID officer."
Bella turns, looks at Ethan, smiles softly,
"I know," and walks off.
Meanwhile, Officer Ethan heads back to his office where Officer Matthew is already waiting. Seeing him, Ethan asks,
"Matt, have you been waiting long?"
Matthew replies,
"Yeah. I was actually going through the case Chief Luke came here for. Don't you think it's strange? Five murders—all of them high-ranking officials, and all done the exact same way."
Ethan nods,
"Yeah. But today, I'll study the case myself."
Matthew places the file on the table and, with a smirk, says,
"So, you went to see Chief Luke off in the parking lot, huh? Are you trying to prove to him that there's no better man than you for his younger daughter?"
At that, Ethan gives Matthew a look, then picks up a file from the table and playfully hits him on the head with it. Matthew laughs as he ducks to protect himself.
********************************************************************************
After her theory class, Bella was on her way back to her room with her group of friends to freshen up, when she overheard a conversation between two sergeants.
Sergeant One said,
"Did you hear about the murder? It's true… and it involved SID members. Five high-ranking SID officers."
Sergeant Two responded,
"Yeah, I heard. A major meeting is about to take place. The whole thing is being kept confidential for now."
Bella froze at what she had just heard. She instinctively glanced at Ellena and Norah, who were walking beside her, unaware. The sergeants, still deep in conversation and unaware of Bella's presence, continued down the hallway and turned the corner.
Bella, however, remained standing there for a moment, her thoughts racing. Just as Ellena began to say something, Bella quickly raised a finger to her lips, signalling her to stay quiet.
The three girls reached their room. Norah closed the door behind them, then turned around to face the other two.
"This is huge," she said. "Five high-ranking officers murdered— and all in the same manner?"
Ellena added, completing Norah's thought,
"—and with only short gaps between each of them."
Bella nodded slowly, clearly deep in thought. Then she said,
"Freshen up quickly. We have to be at the cafeteria by one o'clock."
Both Ellena and Norah nodded in agreement.
As Bella began to leave the room, still lost in thought, Norah called out to her,
"Where are you going?"
Bella gave her a small smile and replied,
"Something just came to mind. You two head to the cafeteria— I'll meet you there."
With that, she stepped out and disappeared down the hallway.
Later, when Ellena came out of the bathroom and didn't find Bella in the room, she asked,
"Norah… where's Bella?"
Norah replied,
"Something came to her mind. She said she'll meet us in the cafeteria."
Ellena simply nodded, quietly saying,
"Okay."