~RAVEN~ I never liked coffee, not really. But that night, sitting at the corner of that dimly lit café, I must’ve had three cups. Bitter, black, and too strong. The waitress kept looking at me funny, like she could smell the chaos brewing beneath my perfume. Maybe she could. It was almost midnight. The place was nearly empty, save for a few college kids hunched over laptops and a couple whispering like they were having an affair. The hum of the old refrigerator behind the counter was the only sound cutting through the silence. Detective Vance was late. Typical. When she finally walked in, every head turned. She had that kind of presence that didn’t need announcing — sharp heels, sharper stare. Her trench coat was dark, her lipstick darker. She didn’t sit immediately, just scanned the room like a wolf sniffing for traps, then slid into the booth across from me. “You picked a nice little hole,” she said, voice flat. “I assume this isn’t a book club meeting.” I smirked, cross
Last Updated : 2025-10-25 Read more