ANASTASIA:"Did you find anything?" David asked, sounding tired and worn out. For the past three days, he had been immersed in a perplexing case at the Boston headquarters.The Jules McLaren case.Jules's death had added another layer of mystery to the ongoing investigation of the psychopathic killer known as Devil. Her lifeless body was discovered by her pool, a red envelope nearby, marking it as potentially the Devil's doing.David, clearly fatigued, sat in his office sipping black coffee, deep purple smudges beneath his eyes. He leaned forward, desperately searching for a lead in our pursuit of the truth."Not much," I replied to his question. "There's nothing specific yet. The only common thread I've found is that the killer is clever enough to stage each murder to look like a suicide or accident.""Moreover, we found two dead bodies near the port, and it suggests that they are Preston students. Possibly another target of the Devil.""This is crazy!" I exclaimed.David agreed, "Yes, we haven't found concrete leads at the crime scenes to label them definitively as murders. The red envelope is the only consistent element, with a message included: 'The justice has been served.' It feels like the killer is playing mind games with us.""Hmm, possibly," I contemplated this revelation for a moment. "But I think maybe he is trying to unearth something from the past," I said. "Something with unresolved justice."I sighed in frustration, realizing that this psychopathic killer's influence extended beyond the Jules McLaren case, reaching major parts of the United States and England. Meanwhile, Preston University was dealing with its own psychopathic bullies.What an uncanny coincidence."What about Rohan Drivedi?" I asked, concerned. "Did you find anything on him?"David looked upset as he shared the news. "At first, after his car crash, we thought he might have died in the accident. But we couldn't find his body then. Just three days ago, we found something horrifying. Rohan's lifeless body was discovered hanging in an old warehouse in Harrington. The evidence and post-mortem indicate that he was tortured and then burned alive.""Wow," I said, my eyes wide with shock. "This Devil figure is really organized and hard to catch. In just 24 hours, two lives were taken, and there's no clue about who did it." The seriousness of the situation was becoming clear."We're doing our best to find this Devil. He's really hard to catch," David assured me."Hmm," I thought aloud. "Given his level of expertise, I can only surmise that he's a stealthy individual seeking revenge or perhaps unravelling the past for some sadistic amusement. I'm not entirely sure. But one thing is certain—every move he makes is planned and ruthless as if he has a personal vendetta." I continued, "I also suspect he might not be working alone. The timing of Jules's and Rohan's deaths suggests he had help, almost simultaneously in two different cities. So either he's like a superhuman ghost who can be everywhere, or he's working with accomplices.""He's a criminal, A," David reiterated almost in frustration. "And every criminal eventually makes a mistake. We'll just have to wait for that.""What about their phones? Anything on them?" I inquired, my curiosity growing."Untraceable," he responded. "CIA's best minds have been at it, but there's been no breakthrough. It's as if, after their deaths, the Devil is meticulously erasing any trace of his involvement from their devices. It's clear he doesn't want us to uncover any specific leads.""Why only blame the Devil for this?" I wondered out loud. "Could there be someone else playing a part?""Chances are slim, A," David replied with a heavy sigh. "The individual masquerading as the Devil is clearly a mastermind, someone who takes delight in orchestrating these intricate mind games. They're leading us on a relentless and elaborate cat-and-mouse chase. And the recurring motif of the red envelope from the Devil—there must be a deeper meaning behind it, don't you think?" The layers of this mysterious puzzle were becoming increasingly complex."Wow, it seems like these cases are getting more complicated."He nodded. "Ava has been called by the CIA for some lead for Rohan's case."My brow furrowed. "Ava? Why is she involved?""Not sure, the CIA officers are handling the case very discreetly. It's a high-profile case now."I nodded thoughtfully. "May I request all the relevant files, then?" I asked, determined to delve deeper into this unsettling puzzle. Something tells me, Ava's involvement in all this could help me find out something related to my mother's case as well. David frowned, in deep thought as I tried to do little puppy eyes so he could finally say yes. Because no matter what I know the fact that he could never say no to that face.Finally, David sighed before replying, "I'll have them sent to you by tomorrow," he said, finally agreeing with me."Thank you," I replied with a small smile. "Also, did you find out anything more about Aurora Romano?"David took a moment before answering, his thoughts all over the place. "I looked into it a bit," he replied, "but there isn't much to go on. I cross-checked what you sent me a few days ago from your research. However, many details are strangely absent from the files. Chief Hampton was the one overseeing it. That case dates back three years, which predates my time at this station. Why do you ask?""I need information on this," I explained. "Miley mentioned Aurora in her journal, and I discovered that Preston has imposed a ban on any discussions about them."David nodded, his expression contemplative. "I know. I have a few students helping me on the case.""But what I witnessed is rather confusing," I said. "Nandini seemed genuinely frightened when she mentioned Aurora." I frowned. "And something tells me that they know what exactly happened but are scared to talk about it.""Based on Aurora Romano's file, I found out another interesting detail."I frowned, "what?""She attended LarksVille High," David replied."No way," I gasped, "Isn't that the same high school Oliver, Mia, and their gang used to attend?"David nodded to confirm it, "Yes, that's correct. Now that I think of it, out of the seven missing cases from LarksVille High, two of them date back to exactly three years ago. It might be...""The Falcon Gang," I finished his sentence, my brows furrowing in thought.He nodded. "And Aurora Romano was one of those cases."The questions continued to multiply, while the answers remained frustratingly out of reach. Who was Aurora Romano, and what had truly happened to her? Why was any mention of her forbidden on the campus, and what was the reason for all this secrecy?David sighed. "Very well, I'll attempt to retrieve some more files from the locker and send them to you. Maybe we'll find something useful there."****As we continued our afternoon with a discussion of the cases and the pages of the file David gave a few more information. "Oliver, Mia and Tony were here last evening!""What? Why?" Is this somehow related to Lorenzo's burning bike?"We finally could retrieve the video of who burned Lorenzo's bike that day!"As I waited patiently, David gave a brief explanation regarding the matter. "I had almost pressed them hard to confess, but..." His voice trailed off as he shifted uncomfortably in his chair, his expression showing signs of frustration. "Alessandro Russo appeared before I could make any headway," he admitted. "He arrived with some legal documents, planning to take them away. He also warned me to give up on Miley's case."I couldn't hide my strong dislike. "How despicable can a person be?" I muttered."The media had already closed Olivia's case, ruling it as a suicide. And honestly, I suspect that the media might have been influenced by money," David explained. "As for Miley, Russo and his lawyer argued that she may have been an overwhelmed teenager dealing with mental health issues. They claimed to have found evidence of her secret therapy and medications. I'm afraid her case won't get much traction either."The mere thought of criminals going unpunished while their victims suffered in silence ignited a surge of anger within me."But you're not giving up, are you?" I asked with a glimmer of hope. "Miley, Nandini, Olivia... I don't know how many others are out there, but they need to break free from the clutches of the Falcon Group. They deserve justice, Dave.""No," he replied with a determined look. "I won't give up this time.""Thank you, Dave," I said sincerely."But it's not going to be easy, A," he cautioned, his tone serious. "We're about to face a much bigger adversary."I nodded in agreement. "We need to find that red Mercedes," I declared, my determination palpable. Acting swiftly was crucial. "Maybe that's the key to finally bringing them to justice this time.""A, we can't act solely on some scribbled notes," David cautioned. "Moreover, the red Mercedes Miley mentioned in her journal was incorrect. I have searched all the past records and there's no car with that number, Ana," he said. "Maybe Miley...""I'll find it out, Dave.""Are you sure?" David inquired, his face etched with concern. "It's going to be risky, A."I scoffed, my determination unwavering. "We've already waded through danger, Dave," I argued. "Besides, it'll be easier for me to gather information on the campus, while you continue searching for evidence here and crafting a solid plan, right?""Fine," he conceded with a faint smile."Deal.""And that's why I have some more information for you, Mr. Barnes," a girl's voice broke our concentration. Looking to her side, I frowned."Betty? What are you doing here?" I asked, almost in shock.Looking at David, I waited for a reply. David took a long breath as he finally stood from his chair. Betty stood beside me, a smile on her face. "Well, remember I said I have a few people working under me from Preston?"I nodded with a confused face. "She is one of them!"What?"There are two more students working with me," Betty said with a grin on her face as I kept staring at both. "Lorenzo and Mark!"Thankfully, David decided to pop the bubble, and he explained how his visit from the last time had him find Betty, who was once terrorized by the Falcon group. Even though she never saw the leader's face, she claims she knows his voice. Betty has been working all this time to find the culprit, but she couldn't succeed.And when Lorenzo was targeted that time, it was a good opportunity to grab."I asked Lorenzo and Mark to help me this time," she said. "Lorenzo already has been on the radar of the group, and not to forget how Mia wants him. So, we made a plan to make Mia jealous so that this time, if she was really a part of the group, she would take me in again and try to torture me. And when she does, I will have a secret camera in my clothes, recording everything to find the proof.""Also, the camera has a chip so that I can track her. Once she successfully gets in, we will take the force to get them!"Wow. That is kind of a plan!"Here," Betty hands him over a pen drive. "This has all the information about the missing students you have been looking for. I and Mark have been working on it for a long time."Taking the pen drive, David examines it closely. "Thank you," he muttered as he went to keep the little important thing safely in his drawer."And just so you know..." Betty's voice trailed off as she looked at me. Her eyes were a little guilty. "I and Lorenzo never kissed!""What?" I frowned.She shrugged with a pout. "It was... all an act. Just to make sure we grab their attention. Lorenzo never touched me.""But I saw...""I know," she said. With a little uncomfortable smile, she began, "I requested Lorenzo for this. He had denied it, and I know why." She looked at me as if Lorenzo had confessed to him something that I didn't know. "I had to touch him, in order to make it real. But I promise, his lips never touched mine."This new information has left me feeling something in between loathing him and feeling guilty at the same time. I hate him because he could have told me this, and feeling guilty about how bad I had thought about him.That means this is what he tried to tell me that day. I sighed in frustration. And stupid me actually thought it was all a lie.His lips never touched mine.Involuntarily, my hands reached to my lips, and my mind replayed our kiss from that night. I was smiling!****After our conversation, we indulged in our favourite noodles from the local restaurant. We opted for takeout since Dave knew that I often forgot to eat when I was deeply engrossed in my work."What about San and Diana? Any updates on them?" I inquired between bites.He shook his head. "The most recent information we have tracked indicates that they've relocated somewhere in London," he informed me. "I'm doing my best to reach out to them, but with the Devil cases and the situation in Preston, it's been challenging to dedicate more time to their search, A.""I understand," I said reassuringly. "Perhaps I was just...""No, A," he interjected. "You're not wrong to seek information about your mother. Just give me a few more days, and I'll do my best to find out.""I trust you," I whispered.We returned to savouring our meal. It had been ages since I had enjoyed noodles like this. At Brown's mansion, we were accustomed to the best dishes prepared by a top-tier chef. However, perfection isn't always the key to happiness.The taste and charm of this local restaurant could never be matched by even the most renowned five-star chefs."Oh, wow, that's spicy!" David exclaimed, his face reddening as he slurped down a particularly fiery mouthful. He had always been intolerant to spicy food, but I knew he wouldn't give up because the noodles were simply too delicious."But don't tell me you don't like it!""Oh, I do," I replied with a smile, taking another bite. "I love the fact that I can make you smile, even if it's because my face looks funny when I eat spicy!""Oh, come on! As if you don't like the noodles!" I countered with a playful tease."Sir, sorry to interrupt, but I think we found something!" Brandon, his colleague, interjected, catching our attention. We both turned to him, puzzled by the interruption."What's wrong this time?" David asked."We found footage from Juliana Cruiz's backyard," Brandon informed us.****The room got really tense as we watched the creepy footage from Juliana's backyard CCTV camera. Brandon played the video, and the strange scene unfolded.On the screen, a mysterious figure appeared, wearing a mask that hid who he was. The mask looked like the face of death, covering his face from his intense eyes down to just half of his mouth. He held a shiny, menacing axe in his hands, a tool that could be used for violence.Even though he was mostly hidden, there was an undeniable sense of attractiveness about him, giving an unsettling fascination to those watching.Tall and powerful, his silhouette had a sinister charm, marked by sharp, well-defined lines that hinted at strength and athleticism. His dark clothes clung to his slim body, adding to the mysterious and dangerous vibe that surrounded him.The death himself.He stopped in front of the door, standing right under the CCTV camera as if he somehow knew he was being watched. Slowly lowering his axe, he looked up. When his dark, evil eyes briefly met the lens, a wicked grin appeared on his lips, revealing a jagged scar on his jawline, perhaps a gruesome mark of a ruthless past.In those deep eyes, a malicious spark glowed like flames in the darkness, giving off a wild intensity that suggested an unimaginable darkness hidden behind his captivating exterior.My heart raced as the video played, each moment increasing my shock and fear. It felt like witnessing a real-life nightmare, an evil intrusion into the safety of a home. A disturbing realization hit me.I know those eyes."Pause it right there," I requested with a quivering voice, a trembling finger pointing at the screen. I wanted to scrutinize the details, a glimpse into the identity of this ominous figure. "This might be... It could be the same man," I stammered. Looking up and meeting a puzzled David I whispered, "My stalker."A/N: Damn, she finally finds out a clue about her stalker? What's more? Will David and Ana be successful in catching him?