Alya was still standing in front of the desk when Adrian's message came back to her.
Don't come to Blackstone tonight.
She didn't know why the man had suddenly warned her. But one thing was clear: Adrian knew something she didn't.
The next morning, Alya examined the old photograph from the warehouse again. She opened the desk drawer and froze.
The photograph was gone.
She emptied the entire drawer. Nothing.
"That's impossible..."
The photograph was the only evidence linking Adrian, Elena, and the victim.
Alya immediately checked the camera in her office. The footage showed someone entering while she was somewhere else.
The person's face was hidden beneath a hat.
Yet from the way they moved, Alya felt she'd seen them before.
She zoomed in on the footage.
The person stopped in front of her desk, took the photograph, and left.
Before Alya could note the time, Ryan walked in.
"What's wrong?"
"My evidence is gone."
Ryan was startled. "Which evidence?"
"The photograph from the warehouse."
Ryan stepped closer. "Maybe you put it somewhere else."
"I never forget where I put things."
Alya gave him a sharp look.
Ryan fell silent.
Suddenly, the office phone rang. An officer reported that the blood sample from the hotel case had also disappeared from the forensics room.
Alya rose at once.
"Who took it?"
"We don't know yet."
She headed for the storage room with Ryan. There, the evidence box stood open. The blood sample that should have been a vital clue had vanished.
Alya examined the seal.
It wasn't damaged.
That meant someone had official access.
Her thoughts returned to Adrian's message.
The person you trust most.
Alya glanced at Ryan.
He was examining the shelves with a serious expression.
"You suspect me?" he asked suddenly.
Alya fell silent.
"Why would you think that?"
Ryan looked at her.
"Because ever since you met Adrian, you don't trust me anymore."
Alya didn't answer.
Suddenly, her phone vibrated.
A new message appeared.
Don't look for the missing evidence. Find the person who made it disappear.
Alya stared at the screen.
Now she was certain.
Someone inside the police department was helping the killer.
And if she was right, the traitor might have been close to her from the very beginning.
Alya put her phone away after reading the message. She didn't want Ryan to see how uneasy she was.
"I'm going to check the forensics room," she said.
Ryan nodded. "I'm coming with you."
"You don't have to."
Ryan looked at her in surprise.
"I just want to make sure of something."
Alya left the room. But before she reached the door, she saw someone's shadow pass through the hallway.
She chased after it.
The hallway was empty.
Only a black card lay on the floor.
Alya picked it up.
Written on the back of the card were the words:
The evidence disappeared because someone is afraid the truth will be found.
Alya fell silent.
Then she noticed a small smear of blood in the corner of the card.
The stain was still fresh.
That meant the person who left the card had just been there.
Her phone vibrated again.
A message from Adrian appeared.
Don't trust anyone in that office. I'll give you the real evidence.
Alya stared at the message.
For the first time, she felt that Adrian wasn't threatening her.
He was helping her.
But accepting help from a man suspected of being a killer was still the greatest risk of all.
Alya clenched the black card in her hand.
If official evidence could disappear, then she would have to find the truth her own way.
And this time, she wouldn't tell anyone.