She was still shaking.

An hour had passed since they rescued her from the freezing compartment but she was yet to say a word.

' Come on woman. Talk to me when I need you the most. '

Dan was growing impatient. He only needed a little piece from her to solve the puzzle.

Anything to calm his anxiety.

Her lips were now trembling. 

He noticed fresh tears flowing from her eyes.

Maybe she was going to talk now.

Many people's fate depended on what she had to say.

" He'd called me out for a date " hearing her voice felt like the desert people witnessing the first few drops of rain after years of famine.

Lawd! How much he needed that.

He urged her to go on with his eyes.

" He asked me to stay in the bedroom but I decided to take a walk around the house then I saw..." She broke down again.

Time was of essence and her story did not seem about to end any time soon.

Dan decided to press for more urgent things.

" Name, address and description please "

" It was horrifying..."

" I asked for a name woman!"

She jumped back in her seat petrified.

Maybe that was a bit harsh.

He apologized and tried again, this time calmer.

The fear subsided.

" He took me to Ferolda. His name was Ba... " She began shaking again.

She shook violently. This was not the cold anymore.

He saw her eyes widen in horror.

The trembling increased.

She jerked back and forth in her seat.

Then in a final wave, he saw it move to her face and blood flowed through her nostrils.

She fell forward and hit her head on the on the table.

Then she stopped moving.

Every nerve in her body calmed down.

Dan felt for her pulse.

" Holy shit! "

The medics rushed but it was of no use.

She was no more.

For the first time in his career chasing criminals, Dan felt his eyes get watery.

He had failed terribly. This time she died right under his nose.

An his nemesis had won again; the fifth time.

They send her body to the morgue for autopsy.

His assistant detective Bridgid placed her hand on his shoulder.

She did not say a word.

This was extra difficult for her too.

Dan's phone rang. He received the call.

Silence.

Then a deep booming laughter echoed through his ear.

The caller was mocking him.

" We shall reunite soon "

The call ended.

Dan clenched his fists and his knuckles turned white.

 Bridgid saw his eyes turn crimson in rage.

She walked out of the room to let him calm down.

The deep booming laughter played through Dan's mind.

Someone was playing with fire and soon he was certainly going to get burned.