The moon hung low in the sky, its pale light casting an eerie glow over the small coastal town of Windmere. Inside his dimly lit apartment, Detective James Crawford sat at his desk, his fingers tracing the edge of an old photograph. The image, worn from years of handling, showed a smiling young couple standing in front of a white picket fence. James' parents. The photo was one of the few remnants of a life he had long since left behind.
The sound of the wind howling outside matched the turmoil in his mind. It had been a year since he left the force, and though he told himself he didn't miss it, the itch to solve puzzles still lingered. But this wasn't just any puzzle it was personal.
A knock at the door broke the silence, startling James. He hesitated for a moment, then rose to answer. Standing on the other side was his former partner, Detective Sarah Collins. Her face was a mask of calm, but James knew her well enough to see the tension in her eyes.
"Sarah," he said, his voice tinged with surprise. "What brings you here?"
"James," she replied, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. "We need to talk."
He closed the door and motioned for her to sit. "I thought I made it clear I was done with all this."
Sarah's gaze didn't waver. "I know you're done. But this… this is different. It's about Emily."
The mention of her name sent a chill down James' spine. Emily Foster had been more than just a friend; she was the one who had stood by him when his life fell apart. The one person he thought he could protect, even when he couldn't save himself.
"What happened?" he asked, his voice low and steady.
"She's missing," Sarah said. "Disappeared three days ago. No sign of a struggle, no leads, nothing. It's like she vanished into thin air."
James felt the room spin for a moment. Emily. The thought of her in danger ignited something deep within him.
"Why come to me?" he asked. "You've got an entire department at your disposal."
Sarah hesitated, then pulled a small envelope from her pocket. She handed it to James, who immediately recognized Emily's handwriting on the front. James was scrawled across it in shaky letters.
"I found this in her apartment," Sarah said. "It was hidden under a floorboard. I think she wanted you to see it."
James opened the envelope with trembling hands. Inside was a single sheet of paper with a short message:
James, if you're reading this, I'm in trouble. I can't trust anyone else. Find me before it's too late.
His chest tightened as he read the words. The note was dated three weeks ago.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" he demanded, his voice rising.
"I only found it yesterday," Sarah said. "And honestly, I didn't know if you'd even want to get involved. But I had to try."
James clenched his fists, his mind racing. He had promised himself he would never go back to that life, but this wasn't just any case. This was Emily. And if she believed he was the only one who could help her, then he couldn't turn his back on her.
"I'm in," he said finally. "But if we're doing this, we do it my way."
Sarah nodded, relief washing over her face. "I wouldn't expect anything less."
As James began gathering his things, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The shadows of his past were stirring, and the answers he sought would come at a cost.
The wind outside picked up, rattling the windows as if to warn him of the storm ahead. But James Crawford had already made his choice. For Emily, he would face whatever darkness awaited.
Little did he know, the truth was far more sinister than he could have imagined.