A scruffy looking man stood at the doorway, with one hand in his pocket and the other holding a lollipop and sucking on it. Captain Yeong stood up and introduced him to Mal.
"We have a new member on the team. Let me introduce you to Elvin, he's an ex-CID officer from Singapore who just recently transferred to the San Francisco Police Department. This is the first case that he'll be working on with us. Take a seat," Captain Yeong announced.
Elvin pulled up a chair and sat next to Mal, stretching out his free hand and offered his new partner a handshake.
"Nice to meet you. You are..?" Elvin asked.
"The name's Mal Fallon. It's great to have you here with us. Things here haven't been the same ever since.."
Mal's words were cut off by the Captain as she gestured to both of them.
"Sorry for interrupting, but we are running tight on time. The mayor would like us working on the case ASAP and keep it as low profile as possible. Stones Inc. is one of the largest multinational companies in the country and things are going to be ugly if word about the murder leaks out.
It would be advised if we go undercover on this case as the Stones family are still grieving over their son's death and it's unlikely that they would like to have the police probing around. I put my trust in you, Mal, and I expect that you won't disappoint me." commended the Captain in an unwavering voice.
"Aye aye. We'll get to the bottom of this and nab whoever's responsible for this." Mal promised.
Later on, both Mal and Elvin were cruising through the streets of San Francisco in a SFPD squad car, with the latter sitting in the passenger's seat. The icy cold air billowing out of the car's air conditioner in the enclosed vehicle shut them off from the raging heat of the outside world.
"So," Mal said, breaking the silence. "Next stop, rich kid's mansion?"
"Well, yeah. But money's not going to buy back his life anyway. You lead the way since you know more about this place. Me? I'm as lost as an 'un-rich' kid here in a foreign place." jested Elvin.
Before long, both of them have arrived at the Stones Mansion. A gangly concrete wall separates outsiders from the interior of the actual house, which was draped in a layer of fine mist with a layer of achromatic grey, emanating a dull, monochromatic aura. An iron gate was wedged in the middle of the wall, which seemed to be the only entrance.
"Wow. Looks like we've crossed into Depressionville." Mal remarked, as he went up and pressed the doorbell.
A voice crackled through the intercom's speaker.
"Who is this?"