Alina Smith pushed open the bookstore's door, the crisp sound of the bell ringing out. Ethan Hess looked up from behind the counter, his gaze meeting hers with a faint smile. "Miss Smith, here for another book?"
Glancing around, Alina nodded, a playful tone in her voice. "That's right, Mr. Hess. I hope you don't mind? I'm here so often, you might start thinking I'm a permanent fixture."
Ethan chuckled softly. "Adds a bit of life to the place."
Feigning seriousness, she looked at him thoughtfully, saying, "This bookstore is quite the relaxing spot. It's even starting to feel like the perfect place to work. What do you think—maybe you could hire me?"
Ethan raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. "You want a job here?"
"Why not?" she replied lightly, her voice laced with teasing. "Or perhaps you don't want an extra pair of hands?"
Ethan shrugged, his tone calm as he replied, "I manage just fine alone. I'm not sure you'd be suited for such a quiet life."
Alina laughed, raising an eyebrow with a hint of mischief. "Are you so sure? I think this place suits me perfectly—quiet, stable, and, who knows, with one or two more visitors, you might need the help."
Ethan smiled faintly. "My business isn't exactly booming."
"Then you need me even more," Alina replied, her eyes twinkling. "I might just bring a little popularity to this place."
Ethan shook his head, amused. "I'm more than fine with things staying quiet."
Feigning annoyance, Alina gave him a playful look. "Running a bookstore so passively—aren't you worried it'll end up too quiet here?"
Ethan chuckled. "I'm used to the quiet. Besides, I don't have the spare funds to hire help."
Alina's expression grew crafty as she leaned in slightly, her voice teasing. "Who said anything about a salary? Just let me stay, give me some tea, and a quiet corner—I'll be happy."
Ethan raised an eyebrow, feigning reluctance. "That's quite a modest demand. But are you really that content to spend your time in a quiet bookstore?"
Alina spread her hands, her tone light. "Compared to other places, this one feels right. And maybe in a few days, I'll bring a little buzz to the atmosphere."
Ethan shook his head, smiling at her playful words. "Just don't disturb the peace here."
Alina smirked, raising an eyebrow. "Well, that depends on whether the boss can keep me in line."
"I never agreed to hire you," he replied with a hint of mock sternness.
Unfazed, she waved her hand dismissively. "It's okay. Call me often enough, and you might get used to it. Besides, a quiet place like this could use a little life, don't you think?"
Ethan shook his head, adopting a slightly aloof tone. "You sure know how to create your own opportunities."
Alina shrugged, looking pleased with herself. "It's a win-win. I get a safe haven, and you get free help. Seems like a good deal for you."
Ethan gave her a considering look, sighing slightly. "Alright, but don't expect any special treatment."
A triumphant smile spread across Alina's face. "No problem, I'm already liking the vibe here, boss."
Late that night, Ethan stood in the center of the bookstore, now enveloped in stillness. The streetlamp outside cast a cold, pale glow through the windows, creating an atmosphere of quiet solitude. He glanced at the books he'd just organized, but an inexplicable feeling of unrest lingered—a lingering sense brought on by his recent exchanges with Alina.
After she'd left, the bookstore returned to its usual quiet, but Ethan couldn't shake an elusive feeling of unease. A growing sense of caution had crept into his mind, hinting at some lurking threat, and he doubted it was only Alina's presence that stirred this apprehension.
As he scanned the shelves absent-mindedly, his gaze caught on a book slightly pulled out from its place. He remembered it being neatly shelved before, and now, curiosity stirred. Was this Alina's doing, or perhaps someone else's?
He picked up the book, flipping through its pages, and, as he did, a small note slipped out and fell to the floor. Startled, Ethan bent down, picking it up and reading the simple yet ominous words written in hurried script:
"Stay away from shadows in the night; they are searching for you."
He stared at the note, a cold shiver running through him. The handwriting was rough yet forceful, almost as if written in haste. Instinctively, he glanced around, the silence of the bookstore now feeling dense, a weight of unseen tension pressing down on him.
Frowning, he held the note tightly, scanning his surroundings. He'd spent so much time in this bookstore that he noticed even the smallest changes, yet he couldn't trace the origin of this note. Was it Alina? Or perhaps…someone else?
"No…not Alina," he murmured, his brow furrowing as his fingers trembled slightly. There was a faint magical resonance emanating from the note's text—a trace of hidden energy embedded in the ink. It was so faint that few would notice, but he knew this sensation well.
This kind of resonance was something Alina didn't possess. While perceptive and intriguing, she bore no hint of magical influence, making her an unlikely culprit. Ethan's mind raced as he tightened his grip on the note, recognizing the unique nature of this energy—a remnant that only someone familiar with certain arcane scripts could leave behind.
"Who could this be…?" he muttered, steadying his breath as his initial shock began to subside, replaced by cold calculation. This could be a warning…or a trap. But regardless, this power was unlikely to be benign.
Carefully stowing the note in a hidden compartment behind the counter, he gazed around at the dimly lit bookstore, a feeling of vulnerability seeping in, making this once peaceful sanctuary seem less safe.
"Since they've come for me…let them come," he murmured, his gaze hardening as he locked the bookstore's door, steeling himself for the possible storm ahead.
Elsewhere, Detective Jason Wang sat at his desk, his brow furrowed as he sifted through case files, an inexplicable frustration growing within him. His initial investigation had focused on Ray Quinn, yet as he scanned through the data, he found surprisingly little to implicate him—barely a hint of a trail.
Instead, an unexpected name had surfaced in the reports: the Stellar Foundation.
Jason's eyes narrowed in surprise as he pulled up the file on the foundation. The organization's surface profile appeared harmless, with an abundance of documented charitable activities, from rural assistance programs to medical supply donations—a seemingly crime-free record. However, as Jason delved deeper into the finer details, he sensed something amiss.
Opening a drawer, he pulled out older case files, cross-referencing them with the Stellar Foundation's activities. He noticed that the foundation's presence seemed to correlate with past unresolved cases. While it had never been directly implicated, a faint shadow of its influence lingered around several crime scenes. A gnawing question took hold in Jason's mind: could these overlaps be more than just coincidence?
Straightening, he spread several investigation reports across his desk, examining them side by side. His gaze swept over the records, his hands clasped beneath his chin as he connected these seemingly disparate dots.
The documents revealed that the foundation operated across multiple regions, ostensibly under the guise of charitable endeavors. To the untrained eye, it appeared flawless, but Jason noticed the faint marks of an unusual scale and frequency.
"Where does all the funding for these charitable activities come from?" he muttered, flipping to a report on the foundation's finances.
To his surprise, the report listed its primary source of funding as "private donations," with suspiciously sparse details. The donor list consisted mainly of companies and individuals with no direct connection to any crimes, yet Jason's unease only grew. These funds seemed to originate from more complex sources than he had anticipated, possibly hinting at clandestine deals or hidden connections.
One name, in particular, drew his attention—Alex Lin. Jason recalled that Alex was Alina's boyfriend, and the records showed that he had only recently joined the Stellar Foundation as a volunteer. However, the foundation's public archives revealed an unusually high level of involvement for a newcomer, with Alex frequently participating in activities spanning a broad geographical area—far more than a typical volunteer.
Jason frowned, suspicion gnawing at him. Alex was supposedly just an ordinary volunteer, but his fervor for the foundation's work seemed excessive and uncharacteristic.
Picking up the phone, Jason dialed Edward Wilson, explaining the situation briefly. "Edward, I need you to look into the recent recruits in the Stellar Foundation, particularly tracking their whereabouts for any unusual patterns."
On the other end, Edward chuckled. "Now that you mention it, this foundation does sound a bit interesting. I'll dig around, but these charitable organizations tend to hide their secrets well. It'll take some time."
Jason nodded, ending the call, his resolve hardening. If the Stellar Foundation truly harbored secrets beneath its benevolent facade, he was determined to expose them, no matter the risks.