Semua Bab FASHION AND CRIME: Bab 1 - Bab 9

Amanda Burnet stepped out of the taxi; the evening air was thick with the scent of car exhaust and fried street food. She adjusted her bag over her shoulder, and looked up at the towering Abibba Building, its glass windows shining under the city lights.“Another long night,” she muttered to herself, sighing.Abibba wasn’t just any building; it was the financial hub of New Haven. Banks, insurance companies, and high-end businesses filled its floors. Security was tight, and as one of the key keepers, Amanda’s job was important.She walked through the entrance, nodding at the security guard stationed by the metal detectors. “Evening, Joseph.”Joseph gave her a tired smile. “Evening, Amanda. Ready for another shift?”She chuckled. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”She passed through the checkpoint and made her way to the security office. The hallway was busy, as workers were leaving, others settling in for the night shifts. Phones rang, printers hummed, and a little noise of people discussing d

There was still so much work to do. But at least, for now, one thing was right.She gripped a pencil and scribbled last-minute ideas in her notebook. She could hear faint noises as people were coming up and down the stairs, and everyone seemed busy preparing for the upcoming fashion show. After a while she sighed, rubbing her temples."Tomorrow is the big day."Her eyes turned to the mannequin beside her, dressed in one of her finest creations. A stunning white gown with beautiful decorations shined under the soft glow of the light. She stood, walking around the dress like a predator analyzing its prey."Is it perfect? Will they see the beauty I see?"Her stomach twisted. She ran a hand through her hair, staring at the dress like it held all the answers."What if they don’t like it? What if they say I’m not good enough?"Her heart pounded, and she shook her head, pushing those thoughts away."I have worked too hard for doubt now. I have to believe in myself."She straightened her post

Tears welled up in Amanda’s eyes, and her voice cracked as she spoke. She wiped her eyes quickly with the back of her hand, trying to hold herself together. “I didn’t know what they were going to do. They just took the keys and handed them to one of the others, who went straight to the safes while the rest of them kept pointing their guns at us. I couldn’t even breathe... I thought they were going to kill us all.”Anita’s eyes were wet with unshed tears, her heart breaking for her sister. She reached out and placed her hand gently on Amanda’s, squeezing it softly for comfort. “Amanda, I’m so sorry you had to go through that,” Anita whispered, and her voice was filled with worry.Tony’s face twisted in outrage. “Those cowards. How did they know about the keys?”Amanda shook her head. “I don’t know. It’s like they had inside information.”Anita’s eyes widened. “Did they…harm anyone?”Amanda faced down, like she was looking for something she couldn’t found and her voice was barely audib

Sylvania woke up with a smile, feeling relaxed and happy knowing Russell was peacefully sleeping beside her. It felt special to have him there. Carefully, she lifted the covers, not wanting to wake him. He looked so comfortable, and she wanted him to rest a little longer.She quietly got out of bed, put on a soft pink sweater and faded jeans, then tiptoed to the bathroom. After brushing her teeth and washing her face, she felt refreshed and ready to start the day. She headed to the kitchen, deciding to make breakfast for both of them.New Haven was starting to wake up. The streets were getting busier, and businesses were opening, including Capital Bank, where Lucas, a trusted employee, was about to betray it. Today was the day the Mafia would strike, and Lucas was their inside man.At exactly half past eight, the bank opened its doors. Lucas greeted customers with his usual friendly smile, helping a young woman open a savings account. No one at the bank knew that Lucas had been secret

The next morning, Detective James Willard woke up to the sound of his wife, Anna, getting their daughter Alice ready for school. He could hear Anna’s voice from the kitchen. "Alice, hurry up or you’ll be late!"Alice, sitting at the table, grinned while finishing her toast. "I’m almost ready, Mom!" she said, grabbing her backpack.James stretched and got out of bed, feeling more refreshed after finally getting some sleep. Walking into the kitchen, he smiled at Anna and Alice. "Morning," he greeted them, trying to push away the weight of yesterday’s stress."Morning, Dad!" Alice replied.Anna glanced at him with worried looks. "Did you sleep better?" she asked softly."Much better, thanks," he replied. He glanced at the clock. "I’ll take a quick shower before I head out."After a quick wash and dressing in his dark suit, badge clipped to his belt, James returned to the kitchen. By then, Alice had already left for school, and Anna was about to leave for her shift at the hospital."Take