The culprit in the case at 19 Conrod Avenue was revealed to be Dean Hamilton.

Walter Asner would write the report, but Sidney herself had to report on the police officers who threatened Peter.

But how to meet the elusive Logan Redford? So the method she came up with was to stop by the office late at night.

Logan might be catching up on work, or if not, she planned to write a report and leave it on his desk.

As expected, the light was on in Logan Redford’s office.

Glad, she was about to knock when the conversation from beyond the door sounded unusual. Unable to do this or that, waiting for the right moment… she ended up eavesdropping like a little mouse.

“At this hour? When no one’s here? In my office?”

It’s natural to be angry and displeased. Sidney stood with her hands behind her back and stepped to the right.

Then she calmly explained why she came to the empty office at this hour.

“Even though you’re hardly ever in the office these days, documents are still being approved properly… I thought you might be working at this hour, Commander.”

“You came to see me?”

The narrowed eyes and the smile playing at the slightly raised corners of his mouth – happiness? No way. There’s no way Logan Redford would be glad to see her.

Sidney stiffened her face and put strength in her voice.

“Yes, I have something to report. I’ve secured testimony and witnesses regarding the culprit in the Conrod case, and have confirmed it.”

“To report… So it was purely for the purpose of reporting.”

“…I understand it’s a situation that could be misunderstood, but I absolutely had no intention of eavesdropping…”

Sidney trailed off as she was actively explaining. This was because Raon Lind, who suddenly appeared behind Logan, introduced himself and offered a handshake.

“I’m Raon Lind, here to assist Lord Logan from the Redford family.”

Raon Lind, with his neatly arranged blue hair and gray eyes behind glasses, was as quiet and cold as a winter night.

Rather than having any hostility, that was just his impression and atmosphere.

Because there was no pretense of trying to gain favor, because the dry tone was comfortable and familiar… she unconsciously took his hand.

“Lieutenant Sidney Warden.”

After the brief handshake and eye contact, Logan Redford’s gruff voice was heard.

“Raon Lind, you haven’t left yet?”

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Raon Lind’s lips trembled as if holding back laughter as he politely excused himself.

What’s so funny? As she frowned, Logan spoke as he walked to his desk.

“What’s that?”

“Bread and milk to eat while working overtime.”

Logan sat on Sidney’s desk and took out a long baguette from the yellow envelope. As he brought the baguette to his mouth.

“Commander, what are you doing?”

“Eating. You bought it for me to eat.”

Sidney approached the desk with quick steps and said firmly.

“No, I bought it for myself to eat.”

“You were going to eat while reporting?”

“If you weren’t here, I was going to write a report and leave it on your desk. Then, I, was going to eat.”

Logan grabbed both ends of the baguette and broke it in half. Then he held out one half with a grin.

“You can eat while reporting, and I’ll eat while listening.”

Logan’s profile backlit by the light from the office and his charming smile, combined with his deep baritone voice echoing as if in a cave, strangely stimulated sensuality.

Too close. Sidney rustled the yellow envelope to hide her suddenly racing heartbeat as she took out the milk bottle.

“I can share the bread and milk, but you can’t sit on my desk.”

“Be sure to say those words to Walter Asner too.”

Why suddenly bring up Walter? I guess I should just nod for now. Sidney vaguely nodded as she twisted the cap off the milk bottle.

“Ah… yes.”

Only after hearing the response did Logan move to Walter Asner’s chair. Sidney sat in her own chair while taking a bite of bread.

“The taste is not bad.”

“Yes.”

“Is this instead of dinner?”

“Yes.”

She responded halfheartedly while chewing the bread. The all too trivial questions ended with a deflating chuckle.

They chewed bread and moistened their throats with milk in a silence that was a little awkward, and a little more uncomfortable.

As they were almost finished eating the bread, Logan Redford ordered.

“…Report.”

“Walter Asner will write up a detailed report, so I’ll just give a brief overview. The third victim in the Conrod serial murder case, Miss Marien’s sponsor was Count Dean Hamilton. This was confirmed by dancer Lisa at Cielo strip club and La Sena boutique.”

“Well done.”

Sidney’s head turned involuntarily at the unexpected praise.

He was flipping through the documents Walter had been writing. His gaze paused as he read down the letters, and his lips parted slightly.

“Why?”

“It’s nothing.”

The hasty turning of her head and the stupid answer. It was as good as admitting she had been secretly peeking.

A sigh escaped involuntarily at the sense of embarrassment. Sidney put the remaining bread back in the envelope and continued her report.

“Assuming all three murder cases were committed by the same perpetrator… I went to 19 Conrod Avenue and met Peter. He testified that the first victim, Miss Nora, was also Count Hamilton’s former lover, and that he frequently visited Miss Marien.”

“No matter if he’s the son-in-law of Duke Yant, for a serial murder charge… we can make an emergency arrest without procedure.”

To Duke Yant, Dean Hamilton was a second son-in-law who brought no benefit. On top of that, he had even killed his mistresses while neglecting his daughter, so the Duke would be glad to see him dead.

Something doesn’t add up. Sidney tilted her head pensively.

“Commander, do you think that great Duke Yant was unaware of his second son-in-law’s infidelity?”

“We’ll find out when we arrest him. Now, can I hear the real reason you came to see me like this?”

Logan Redford gazed steadily while fiddling with Walter’s pen.

“May I ask a question first?”

“Go ahead.”

“Have you been absent all this time trying to get approval for investigating police corruption?”

“There were many people to persuade.”

“Duke Yant must have noticed that you’re trying to touch the police force.”

“I didn’t particularly hide it.”

A brief answer came back as soon as the words ended.

By this point, Logan Redford should have guessed what she was trying to say, but he brushed it off as if it were nothing. As if there were other words he wanted to hear.

After pondering for a moment, Sidney got straight to the point.

“The police officers who killed Big Mouth Rick threatened Peter. Fortunately, Peter remembered those guys’ names, so Officer Spencer will identify them.”

“You’ll be in danger.”

Why is that so… And if you put it that way, Logan was in a much more precarious situation than herself. Frustration made her voice unconsciously stronger.

“You’re in more danger, Commander.”

With the sound of the pen dropping, silence fell.

Avoiding Logan’s frozen expression and questioning gaze, she bit her lower lip. It was because of the feeling that she had made some mistake and the embarrassment of being flustered.

“So… now, um, did you come because you were worried about me?”

Her chest stung as if hit right on target. Logan was covering his mouth with his fist and grinning, clearly amused. His smiling eyes asking if that wasn’t the case were so flirtatious.

For a moment, as if a spark had been thrown on dry kindling, heat swept through her whole body and her face flushed.

“What? That, well, you’re a respected… superior after all.”

“Well, I was worried too since you’re a valued subordinate. If you have nothing more to report… let’s go now.”

She stood up in a daze. Following him as he strode away, Sidney cooled her burning cheeks with the back of her hand.

Despite not doubting even once in the past 4 years that Sidney was a woman. The conviction that Sidney Warden was Marien grew stronger and stronger.

If only it had stopped there. When not seeing her, wanting to see her, and when face to face, wanting to touch… Not being just a beast left with only desire.

Until obtaining definitive proof that Sidney Warden was a woman, or even if not, to avoid losing rationality like last time, he tried to keep his distance from the guy. After hearing that sharp analysis and voice, he felt like he would go crazy from an inexplicable thirst.

In the midst of this, Sidney Warden came to see him. And she came because she was worried he might be harmed by Duke Yant.

As he descended the stairs, he glanced back to see Sidney startled, lowering her hands that had been pressing her cheeks.

How cute. Logan frowned trying to hold back a smile as he spoke.

“It would be better to change residences for the time being.”

“Aren’t you going to arrest the Count tomorrow?”

“That’s the plan.”

“I’ll arrest the police officers as soon as their identities are confirmed… so I’ll be careful for a few days.”

Stepping outside the building, his shoulders instinctively hunched at the cold night air.

The courtyard bathed in moonlight was white with unmelted snow. Scanning the bare trees lined up along the wall, he took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth.

“Even if we deal with all of them… Duke Yant may try to retaliate. But imposing on Lady Owello who doesn’t know the situation would be inconsiderate.”

“I suppose so.”

“It would probably be safer and more efficient to stay with a colleague in the same situation.”

“I’ll discuss it with Walter.”

“Walter Asner, you’re going to stay at that guy’s place?”

“Yes, we shared a room back in academy days too.”

Damn it. Logan exhaled a long stream of cigarette smoke instead of the curse that was about to burst out.

A freezing wind blew, ruffling Sidney’s red hair as they walked side by side. His gaze inadvertently shifted to her white face bathed in moonlight.

Even though she said she would go to another bastard… seeing her face made him happy nonetheless. With someone so pretty, there’s no way Walter Asner who shared a room with her wouldn’t know she was a woman.

Logan’s gaze slowly caressed Sidney’s profile as if appreciating a work of art.

The slender facial lines, straight forehead and fine eyebrows, downcast eyes with long lashes, straight nose bridge, plump lips tinged red, and… those green eyes looking at him, asking why he was staring like that.

Flustered for a moment, his vision swayed dizzily and Sidney’s husky voice called to him.

“Commander?”

“Anyway, not that guy.”

Logan flicked his fingers to discard the cigarette butt and quickened his pace. Then he raised his hand towards the public carriage parked in front of the main gate and shouted ‘Here!’

“27 Dustin Avenue, please.”

“Yes, sir.”

The coachman quickly jumped up to the driver’s seat. Logan strode over and opened the carriage door.

“Commander, I…”

“I have something to talk about on the way.”

“I’ll listen tomorrow.”

So stubborn. Surely she’s not planning to go to Walter Asner like this?

Logan lowered his head and put his lips to Sidney’s ear and whispered. Something that absolutely could not be ignored…

“It’s about Marien and you.”