After twenty years in the business, you start to notice patterns. The same mistakes. The same blind spots. Here’s what I’ve learned:

1. Write everything down. Memory is a liar. Timestamps, names, quotes—get them on paper. You’ll thank yourself at 3 AM when the pieces finally fit.

2. Assume nothing. The “obvious” lead is wrong half the time. Verify. Cross-reference. Follow the thread even when it seems too simple.

3. Talk to the janitor. The people nobody notices see everything. The night shift. The interns. The person who restocks the break room. They have stories.

4. Sleep on it. Your subconscious is better at puzzles than you are. Stuck? Walk away. Come back tomorrow. The answer will often be waiting.

5. Know when to close the file. Some cases don’t have endings. Some questions don’t have answers. Knowing the difference saves you years of chasing ghosts.

That’s it. No magic. Just process. Now go find something.