The police station was in chaos. Officers moved swiftly, phones rang incessantly, and reports of the factory shootout flooded in from all directions. Ayo stood in the middle of it all, his fists clenched as he replayed the sniper's shot in his mind. They had been so close to answers, only for them to be stolen at the last second.
Bimpe approached him, her face grim. "Forensics just confirmed it. The bullet that killed our witness was custom-made. Only elite assassins use that kind of ammo."
Ayo exhaled sharply. "So, we're dealing with professionals."
Inspector Goke strode in, his face tight with frustration. "We managed to capture two of the attackers at the factory, but they're not talking."
Ayo turned to him. "Then we make them talk."
Inside the interrogation room, the air was thick with tension. The first suspect, a lean man with a jagged scar across his cheek, sat silently, arms crossed. Ayo leaned forward, his voice low and firm. "You were sent to kill that man. Who gave the order?"
The man smirked. "You think I'm afraid of you, detective?"
Bimpe slammed a file onto the table. "We know you weren't working alone. Your team was sloppy, leaving behind just enough evidence for us to trace back to someone higher up. Do you really think your boss is going to come and save you?"
The man's smirk faltered for a second before returning. "You're wasting your time."
Ayo leaned in, his voice like steel. "We have your fingerprints, your DNA, and footage from the factory. If you think silence will protect you, you're mistaken. You either help yourself now, or you take the full fall."
The man's jaw tightened, but he stayed silent.
Ayo glanced at Bimpe. "Let's try the other one."
They entered the next interrogation room where the second suspect, a younger man with nervous eyes, was already sweating under the pressure. Ayo pulled up a chair and sat across from him. "Your friend in the other room thinks he's untouchable. What about you? How much do you trust the people you work for?"
The young man swallowed hard. "I don't know anything."
Bimpe folded her arms. "We found your fingerprints on the gun. You can take the fall for the whole operation, or you can start talking."
The man hesitated, glancing between them. Ayo leaned in. "You don't want to end up like that witness, do you?"
A long silence stretched before the suspect finally muttered, "I don't know his name. We only call him The Man in the Shadows."
Ayo's stomach tightened. "Describe him."
"I've never seen his face. None of us have. Orders come through encrypted messages. Payments are delivered anonymously."
Bimpe exchanged a look with Ayo. This was bigger than they had thought.
That night, Ayo sat in his apartment, staring at his wall of evidence. Photos, crime scene reports, and news clippings were pinned up, connected by red string. The Ribbon Reaper was no longer the only monster in this story; he was just a piece of the puzzle.
His phone buzzed. A restricted number.
He hesitated, then answered. "Ayo."
A distorted voice spoke. "You're getting too close."
Ayo gripped the phone tighter. "And you're running out of places to hide."
The voice chuckled darkly. "You should know by now, Detective—shadows don't run. They consume."
The line went dead.
Ayo exhaled slowly. The game had changed. The real mastermind had just made his first move.
And Ayo was ready to play.
The next morning, Ayo and Bimpe met Goke at the crime lab. The forensics team had uncovered more from the factory shooting. One of the confiscated cell phones had received a message moments before the ambush.
Ayo read the message aloud: "Dispose of them. No loose ends."
Bimpe crossed her arms. "Who sent it?"
"The number was masked, but our tech guys traced the signal back to a satellite network used by high-level operatives."
Ayo exhaled. "So whoever's behind this has serious resources."
Goke nodded. "And they're watching us."
A tense silence filled the room. Ayo rubbed his temples. "We need to get ahead of them. If we wait, they'll make their next move before we do."
Bimpe thought for a moment. "We still have one lead to the location of the last transfer."
Ayo grabbed his coat. "Then we follow the money."
Later that night, Ayo and Bimpe arrived at an upscale hotel in the heart of the city. The transfer had been made from an account linked to a high-end suite on the 15th floor. They entered the lobby, scanning the room for anything unusual.
Bimpe whispered, "We go up, but carefully. If they know we're here"
"They already do," Ayo finished.
They took the elevator, stepping out into a dimly lit hallway. The door to the suite was slightly ajar.
Guns drawn, they entered cautiously. The suite was immaculate—pristine furniture, untouched food on the table, and the faint scent of expensive cologne in the air.
Then they saw it.
On the coffee table, a single envelope, addressed to Ayo.
He picked it up, opening it carefully. Inside was a note, typed in bold letters:
You're late.
Ayo's pulse quickened. "He was here."
Bimpe checked the room, her voice tense. "There's a security camera. If we can pull the footage—"
Ayo cut her off. "He wanted us to find this. He's playing with us."
Bimpe cursed. "Then let's change the game."
Ayo clenched his fists. The Man in the Shadows had just sent them a message.
Now, it was time to send one back.
Ayo took the envelope and stuffed it into his pocket. He moved to the desk, opening drawers and scanning for anything useful. Bimpe checked the closet, pushing aside suits and expensive jackets.
"He left in a hurry," she observed. "No luggage. No signs of packing."
Ayo nodded. "Means he wasn't staying here long."
Suddenly, his phone buzzed again. Another restricted number.
He hesitated before answering. "Who is this?"
A different voice, lower, raspier. "Detective Ayo. You're walking into a trap."
His grip on the phone tightened. "Who is this?"
The line went dead.
He exchanged a glance with Bimpe. "We need to move. Now."
Before she could respond, the lights in the suite flickered, then shut off completely. The room plunged into darkness.
Ayo pulled his gun, his voice a whisper. "We're not alone."