Subject: Belle

Chapter 1

Belle Hart carried herself with the quiet confidence of someone who knew exactly how capable she was. Her fitted police uniform hugged her athletic yet undeniably feminine figure, accentuating her narrow waist and graceful curves without sacrificing professionalism. Warm brown eyes, framed by long lashes, held a sharp, determined gaze that could unsettle suspects in seconds. Soft strands of chestnut hair escaped her neatly tied bun, giving her an effortlessly alluring appearance. Even after long shifts, there was an unmistakable elegance about her an attractive blend of strength, intelligence, and natural beauty that often drew attention wherever she went, though Belle herself hardly seemed to notice.

The buzzing of phones and the clatter of keyboards filled the Major Crimes office as Detective Belle Hart sifted through another stack of reports, her thoughts never straying far from the one case that had consumed the last two years of her life.Suddenly, the doors burst open. "Move!"
Several officers escorted a handcuffed man through the bullpen while Tony Reynolds, Belle's supervising detective, walked close behind him with a stern expression. "We got him trying to destroy evidence," Tony announced. "He's not Jiovany... but we're almost certain he works for him." Belle's heart skipped a beat. "For Jiovany?" she asked, already pushing herself out of her chair.Tony nodded."It's the closest we've ever gotten."

Without another word, Belle hurried after the officers. Her heels clicked rapidly against the polished floor as she followed them down the corridor toward the interrogation wing. Every instinct told her this man knew something-something that could finally lead her to the elusive scientist who had remained untouchable for two long years.The suspect was forced into the interrogation room and secured to the metal table. He looked to be in his late thirties, his clothes stained with dirt and chemicals, a nervous smirk lingering on his face despite the handcuffs around his wrists. Belle stopped outside the one way mirror, taking a slow breath before stepping inside. This wasn't just another interrogation. This might be her only chance to find Dr. Jiovany. Pulling out a chair, she sat across from the suspect and locked eyes with him. "So," she said calmly, folding her hands on the table, "let's start with something simple." "Tell me where Dr. Jiovany is." The suspect slowly lifted his head until his eyes met Belle's. There wasn't a trace of fear in them. Instead, a slow, arrogant smile crept across his face. He held her gaze for a moment before deliberately letting his eyes wander lower, lingering on her chest with an unmistakable smirk.Belle shifted uncomfortably, a faint blush crossing her cheeks. She was used to the occasional disrespect from criminals, but the confidence in this man's expression made her skin crawl.

"Dr. Jiovany?" he finally said, feigning confusion. "I'm sorry... I got a little distracted." He chuckled to himself. "Those have to be at least a double D. They must be pretty heavy to carry around all day."The room fell silent.Belle's patience snapped. Her chair scraped violently against the floor as she shot to her feet.SMACK! The slap echoed through the interrogation room, sending the suspect's head whipping to the side. A bright red mark immediately appeared across his cheek. Belle leaned over the metal table, her hands planted firmly on its surface, her eyes burning with anger. "Listen carefully, you little punk," she hissed. "If you want to be able to walk out of this building when we're finished, you'd better wipe that smile off your face and start talking."
The suspect slowly turned back toward her. He rolled his jaw, spat a tiny streak of blood onto the floor, and smiled wider than before. "Heh..." he laughed quietly. "Strong... especially for such a tiny woman." He leaned back in his chair as far as the handcuffs allowed, looking almost amused.

"I'll make you a deal, Detective."Belle didn't move."You let me walk out of here..." He paused, watching the frustration build in her eyes. "...and I'll tell you exactly where Mr. Jiovany will be tomorrow." Belle stared at him in silence. Every instinct told her he was playing a dangerous game. But after two years of chasing ghosts, this was the first real lead she had ever been given and they both knew it.

Belle remained standing for several seconds, her fists clenched so tightly that her knuckles had turned white. His offer echoed in her mind. What if he's telling the truth? She had chased Dr. Jiovany for two years. Two years of dead ends, false leads, and disappearing witnesses. Letting this man walk was unthinkable... But what if he really could lead her to Jiovany?

Slowly, she pulled out her chair and sat back down without taking her eyes off him. On the corner of the table sat a box of donuts left behind by one of the officers. Without thinking, she reached inside, grabbed a chocolate-filled donut, and finished it in two quick bites. The suspect watched every movement. A faint smile spread across his face. Belle noticed. "What's so funny?" she asked sharply. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "You know..." he said calmly, "I've been watching you since I walked into this room." Belle narrowed her eyes. "You lose control surprisingly easily." "What?" "First the slap..." He nodded toward his reddened cheek. "Now the donut." He smiled. "You didn't even realize you inhaled it." Belle's expression stiffened. "You let your emotions make your decisions, Detective. Anger... frustration... even stress." His eyes never left hers. "Tell me... do you have any self-control at all?" For the first time since entering the room, Belle didn't have an immediate reply. She felt heat rising to her face. A bead of sweat rolled down the side of her temple. Is he right? She thought. How the hell did he read me so quickly?

The silence stretched between them, growing heavier with every passing second. Belle refused to let him see her hesitation. She straightened in her chair and forced her voice to remain steady."...Deal." The suspect's smile widened. "You tell me where Jiovany will be tomorrow," Belle said, locking eyes with him, "and this one time... I'll let you walk." The man chuckled softly. "Now we're getting somewhere."

Belle hesitated. Every instinct screamed that she was making a mistake, but if this man truly knew where Dr. Jiovany would be, she couldn't afford to lose him. "Everyone out," she ordered. Tony frowned. "Belle..." "I said out. Turn off the recording equipment, kill the microphones, and leave the observation room. If he's lying, I'll know soon enough." Belle's pulse hammered in her throat as the last officer filed out and the mirrored glass went dark. She stayed seated for a beat, jaw tight, then rose slowly, fingers trembling at her sides. The man watched with that same infuriating half-smile.

"Stand up," he repeated, voice low. "Play with your Boobs." Heat flooded her face. "What? Are you crazy?" "Do it," he said calmly. "Or I walk."
She swallowed hard, then lifted both hands to her breasts, cupping them through the thin blouse. Her thumbs brushed over her nipples, circling once, twice, the fabric tightening under the friction. She kept her eyes locked on his, refusing to look away even as shame burned her cheeks. "Good," he murmured. "Now tell me what color is your thong? Answer loud." Belle's eyes widened. Her mouth opened, closed. Then she snapped, voice cracking across the empty room: "RED, you piece of shit!" The man chuckled, leaning back. "Last thing. Take another donut, shove it in your mouth, and say 'MOOO' at the end." "No fucking way," she hissed. "This ends now. Tell me where Jiovay is."He didn't move. Just smiled wider, waiting.

Anger twisted in Belle's gut. She snatched a donut from the box, shoved it between her lips, cheeks bulging, and forced out a muffled, humiliated "MOOO" around the dough. Crumbs spilled down her chin as she glared at him, chest heaving. The man nodded once, satisfied. "Now we can talk, Detective. Jiovay's in the Rossi compound penthouse level.

The man smiled as if he had already won."Oh... and one more thing," he said casually. "Dr. Jiovany is expecting a call from me in exactly one hour. If I don't make that call, he'll know the police caught me, and he'll disappear before you ever get close to him." He leaned forward, his grin widening. "So don't even think about keeping me here, Detective." Belle froze. Who is this man? she thought. How does he always seem to be one step ahead? Every part of her screamed not to trust him, yet she knew he was right. If there was even the slightest chance he was telling the truth, holding him would only cost her the biggest lead of her career. With a reluctant sigh, Belle reached for the handcuffs and unlocked them. She couldn't even bring herself to look at him."...Y-You're free to go," she said through gritted teeth. "This time." The man stood up, rubbing his wrists with a satisfied smile. "Thank you, Detective." He walked toward the door, then stopped just before stepping into the hallway. Without turning around, he gave a small wave. "Bye-bye... Detective Anger." A quiet laugh escaped his lips as he disappeared around the corner.

Belle remained motionless for a few seconds before bursting out of the interrogation room. "Everybody, move!" she shouted. "I want ten patrol cars heading to the Rossi Compound-Penthouse Level. Now!" The bullpen instantly erupted into motion as officers rushed to gather their gear. Tony caught up with her before she reached the exit. "What if it's a trap?" he asked. Belle stopped just long enough to look him in the eyes. "Do you have a better plan?" Tony didn't answer. "Then let's go."