MasukOn his way driving back from the bar, Marcel gripped the steering wheel firmly, his eyes fixed on the road ahead as the city stretched before him in its usual busy rhythm, yet his mind was far from the traffic, far from the honking horns and passing lights. There was a strange mix of emotions stirring within him, something he hadn’t felt in a long time, not since before he became entangled in Nathan Mills’ world. He felt relieved, deeply relieved, and at the same time, a quiet guilt gnawed at him from within. The relief came from the simple fact that he had done something good, something that wasn’t tied to violence, intimidation, or destruction. It had been so long since he had allowed himself to act out of conscience rather than command, and even though it was just a warning, it felt significant to him. But the guilt lingered because he knew the kind of man he worked for, and he knew that if Nathan ever found out about what he had just done, there would be consequences, not just
The next day, Gerald stepped into his usual bar just a few minutes past noon, the familiar creak of the wooden door and the soft chime above it announcing his presence. The atmosphere inside was calm, almost soothing, with a low hum of quiet conversations and the faint clinking of glasses blending into the background. It was a place he had come to rely on over time, not just for food, but for the brief sense of normalcy it offered amidst the chaos of his work.He walked toward his usual spot by the side, a small table tucked slightly away from the center of the room, giving him a clear view of both the entrance and the bar counter. It was a habit he had developed unconsciously, always positioning himself where he could see everything. Old instincts never really left him.He pulled out the chair and sat down, letting out a quiet breath as he settled in. For a moment, he allowed himself to relax, his shoulders easing slightly as his gaze moved casually around the room.Then she app
“How dare you sit there and watch one of your boys, that bastard called Inspector Ford, meddle in my affairs?” Nathan’s voice exploded the moment the call connected, his anger pouring through the line without restraint. He stood beside his desk, one hand gripping the receiver tightly while the other pressed hard against the polished wood surface, his knuckles whitening from the force.On the other end, the man receiving the call remained silent for a brief second before responding. “Mr. Mills,” Commissioner Harold Whitaker said, his voice calm and measured, carrying the authority of a man used to power but careful in how he exercised it. “What are you talking about? What did Inspector Ford do this time?”Nathan didn’t respond immediately.There was a pause.A dangerous one.Then he let out a short, humorless chuckle, the sound low and filled with disbelief. “You seriously don’t have an idea?” he asked, his tone dripping with sarcasm before he continued without waiting for a response.
Just as Nathan was about to rise from his seat, his body still carrying the momentum of the command he had just given, a knock came at the door.The sound was soft.Cautious.It carried the unmistakable tone of someone who understood the kind of man they were interrupting.Nathan’s movement paused mid-action, his jaw tightening slightly as his gaze shifted toward the door.The door opened gently and his secretary stepped in.She held an iPad close to her chest and a brown envelope in her other hand. Her posture was careful, her steps measured as she approached the desk, fully aware of the tension that already filled the room.“Sir, this just came in,” she said, her voice polite but slightly tense as she extended the envelope toward him. “For you.”Nathan’s eyes dropped to the envelope.For a brief moment, he didn’t take it. Then slowly, he reached out and collected it.The moment his fingers touched it, something shifted.His eyes moved to the top corner. To the stamped address.And
That evening, Marcel sat alone in his study, the soft glow from his laptop screen illuminating his face as his fingers moved quickly across the keyboard. The room was quiet, save for the faint clicking sound of the keys and the distant noise of his children playing somewhere in the house.He had been working on this for hours.Every detail.Every trace.Every piece of information he could gather about Inspector Gerald Ford.Now, it was all coming together.Marcel leaned slightly forward in his chair, his eyes narrowing in concentration as he scrolled through the compiled report. He had already organized everything neatly, cross-checking facts, verifying sources, and ensuring there were no gaps that could draw Nathan’s anger.He exhaled slowly.Almost done.Just one last file.A friend within the police force had sent it earlier that day. It had taken longer to access than expected, which was partly why he had been delayed.Marcel clicked on it.The screen flickered slightly before o
The next morning arrived quietly, but for Inspector Gerald Ford, there was nothing calm about it.The early sunlight filtered through the tall buildings as his car came to a stop outside Charlotte’s apartment complex. He stepped out, his mind already running through possibilities, questions, and loose ends that refused to settle.Something wasn’t right.From everything Charlotte had said the night before, from the fear in her voice, from the way Nathan had acted, Gerald knew this case was far from ordinary. It wasn’t just about abduction anymore. It was deeper, messier, and far more dangerous than it appeared on the surface.He made his way upstairs quickly, his footsteps firm against the tiled floor. When he reached her apartment door, he paused briefly before pushing it open.The moment he stepped inside, his instincts kicked in immediately.The place was a mess.Drawers were pulled out and left hanging open. Clothes were scattered across the floor. Cushions had been ripped apart a
The hall exploded into applause.The sound came suddenly, loudly, swallowing every other noise in the room. People stood, clapping with wide smiles, nodding in approval, some even whistling. It was the kind of applause reserved for moments that would be remembered, moments that would be talked abo
Her eyes met Nathan’s as she was dragged down the hallway.They locked onto his face with raw desperation, tears flooding them, spilling freely as she struggled weakly against the guards’ grip. Her lips trembled, forming silent pleas she could no longer voice properly. If he looked closely, he wou
Nathan ripped the chain bracelet off Charlotte’s wrist with brutal force.The sharp tug sent a fresh wave of pain through her arm, and she cried out softly, collapsing fully onto the cold floor. Her fingers curled weakly as she gasped for air, her chest rising and falling unevenly. Blood smeared h
Minutes later, minutes that stretched and warped into something that felt like eternity, the night exploded with sound.Ambulances screeched to a halt. Police vehicles surrounded the wreckage, their red and blue lights flashing violently against the trees, the broken road, the twisted metal. Siren







