In the evening, once the house had finally quieted, Renard approached Gideon with a small plastic evidence bag. Inside lay a phone, the key evidence.
"We found this in the nearby lake. It's completely water-damaged, but I can send it to our forensics team," Renard suggested.
"No, I'll handle that," Gideon said, snatching the envelope from him. "Your focus needs to be on finding who killed Zason. So far, you have proven to be a worthless Alpha in my eyes." The comment was intentionally harsh, but it served its purpose, igniting a spark of defensive fury and drive in Renard's eyes.
The Alpha didn't snap back. Instead, he shifted his gaze to Adeline, who remained silent on the sofa, her head bowed under the weight of her confusion.
"I'll bring you the answers soon," Renard stated with newfound determination. "I promise." He turned and walked away from Gideon's sight.
