Outside the Devonport Police Station.


    Colby and Sophie pulled up in their car, and Chief Miller came running over, looking frazzled. "Colby, Mrs. Costello, thank goodness you''re here!"


    Seeing Chief Miller drenched in sweat and looking like he''d seen better days, Sophie knew that Odie must have been causing quite a scene inside. "Is he inside?" she asked.


    "Yes! Right inside! Please, I''m begging you, take him away. I can''t take it anymore," Chief Miller pleaded, practically sping his hands together in desperation.


    Sophie raised an eyebrow, amused. "Didn''t expect Odie to be such a handful."


    "I''m not going in," Colby said, twirling the car keys in his hand. "If I go in, he won''t say a word."


    "He specifically asked for you, and you''re really not going in?" Sophie asked, a bit surprised.


    "Can''t be bothered," Colby replied nonchntly.


    Sophie chuckled softly. "Alright, got it."


    Inside the station, Odie had already been brought out from the interrogation room, handcuffed. The two interrogators were falling over themselves with apologies. "Mr. Odie, we had no idea you were the president of the Mintons. The way you were dressed, we didn''t recognize you."


    "Yeah, Mr. Odie, we thought you were just messing with us. Please, take off the handcuffs..."


    "I''m not taking them off," Odie said, leaning back in his chairzily. "If you want these off, get Colby to do it himself!"


    "Mr. Odie likes them, let him keep them on," Sophie quipped from the doorway, instantly souring Odie''s mood.


    Seeing Sophie, the two interrogators looked like they''d just seen a beacon of hope.


    "Mrs. Costello!"


    "That''s enough, you two can leave now. This doesn''t concern you," Sophiemanded.


    "Yes, ma''am," they said, retreating quickly, relieved to be off the hook. They knew they''d messed up big time by arresting the president of the Mintons. Catching Odie was supposed to be Summerfield''s


    problem, not theirs.


    Sophie pulled up a chair and sat across from Odie, taking in his fisherman outfit and the shiny handcuffs. The key he was twirling in his hand caught her eye.


    "Mr. Odie, sure you don''t want to unlock those?" she asked.


    Odie looked away, grumbling, "No! Get Colby to do it!"


    "If you don''t want to unlock them, fine. It''s not really a problem," Sophie said casually.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    "What did you say?" Odie snapped.


    "I''m just here to ask a few questions. Let''s cut to the chase. What were you doing at the harbor today?"


    "Why should I..."


    "Transporting machinery, right? And I heard there was a severed hand involved. Jonah''s handiwork, perhaps?"


    Odie fell silent, and Sophie smirked. "Looks like I was right. Mr. Odie,ing all the way down here to move those machines personally, it''s no wonder people got the wrong idea. Seems like you''re the mastermind behind this. I''ll have Chief Miller coordinate with the Summerfield police to get you transferred back."


    Λ


    е


    Then, Sophie stood up and snatched the key from Odie''s hand.


    Seeing her take the key, Odie jumped to his feet. "Sophie! What gives you the right to take my key? Give it back!"


    "You..."


    "Didn''t Mr. Odie say he didn''t want to unlock the handcuffs? Seems like you know you''re guilty, that''s why you''re reluctant to take them off."


    "Ah, what a shame. The president of


    the Mintons, caught here in Devonport Guess I''ll have the media under my control break the news online tonight. At least Mr. Odie can enjoy a bit of inte fame before his capture."


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