Alya slipped the flash drive from Hotel Blackstone into her coat pocket. She still didn't dare open it. Adrian's message kept echoing in her mind.
Don't open that flash drive at the office. They're waiting for you.
When she reached her apartment, Alya locked the door and checked the entire place. There was no sign that anyone had broken in. She then set the flash drive on the table.
The moment her hand touched her laptop, her phone rang.
An unknown number.
Alya answered.
“Detective Alya Laurent.”
A man's voice came through, cold and flat.
“Who are you?”
“You took something that doesn't belong to you.”
“If you want it back, come alone.”
A quiet laugh sounded on the other end.
“You still think this is a game?”
The call ended.
Alya hadn't even had time to move when a message came in.
It was a photo of her standing in front of Hotel Blackstone.
The photo had been taken from close range.
Beneath it were the words:
WE KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE.
Alya immediately checked the windows.
There was no one there.
Suddenly, a knock sounded.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Alya grabbed her gun and approached the door.
“Who is it?”
There was no answer.
The knocking came again.
Alya opened the door a crack.
The hallway was empty.
A small black box sat in front of the door.
She opened it carefully.
Inside was a photo of her family and a bullet.
Alya froze.
The last message was written beneath the photo:
Stop investigating this case, or the next victim won't be someone you don't know.
Alya gripped the photo tightly.
The threat was no longer aimed at her.
They had started targeting the people she loved.
And Alya knew that, starting that night, no one around her was truly safe.
Alya was still holding the photo of her family. Her expression grew tense. Until now, the killer had always threatened her directly, but that line had just been crossed.
Her phone vibrated.
A new message came in.
Come to the old warehouse before midnight. Come alone.
Alya knew it was a trap. But if she ignored it, someone might become a victim.
She immediately called Ryan.
“Ryan, I need your help.”
“What happened?”
“There’s a new threat.”
“Where are you?”
Alya hesitated. Adrian's earlier message came back to her. Don't trust anyone.
“I’ll contact you again.”
She ended the call.
Before leaving, Alya hid the flash drive somewhere safe. She took only her gun and phone.
The old warehouse was dark when Alya arrived. The night wind blew through the shattered windows.
“Come out!” Alya shouted.
There was no answer.
Then the warehouse lights came on.
A large screen displayed the photo she had just received.
A man's voice came through the speakers.
“Why did you come, Detective?”
“Because I want to see your face.”
Laughter rang out.
“You’ll see it when the time comes.”
Suddenly, footsteps sounded behind her.
Alya spun around and raised her gun.
Adrian stood there.
“Lower your weapon.”
“Why are you here?”
“Because they want to kill you.”
Alya didn't lower her gun.
“How can I trust you?”
Adrian stared deeply into her eyes.
“You don't have to trust me. Just listen to me.”
A small explosion sounded from one side of the warehouse.
Adrian immediately pulled Alya behind a wall.
A bullet struck the spot where they had been standing moments earlier.
“They’re here,” Adrian whispered.
Alya looked at him.
For the first time, she realized that this threat was far more serious.
And perhaps Adrian was the only person who knew how to save her.