Chapter 4
Ghosts of a Cold Case
The investigation takes a grim turn with the discovery of a second victim, found in circumstances mirroring the judge's murder. A chilling pattern begins to emerge: both victims are connected to a twenty-five-year-old unsolved murder case. Scarlett and her team plunge into dusty archives, unearthing the details of a forgotten tragedy. They find records of a key witness who vanished without a trace shortly after the original crime, a witness whose testimony was pivotal but never heard. The present-day murders are not random; they are echoes of a past crime seeking retribution.
The sterile scent of disinfectant did little to mask the metallic tang of blood. Scarlett Hayes stood in the cramped, windowless interrogation room, the harsh fluorescent lights glinting off the polished table. Across from her, Amelia Ross’s usually serene expression was etched with a deep frown. Logan Pierce paced the perimeter, his heavy boots echoing the restless rhythm in Scarlett’s own chest. Ethan Blake sat hunched in a chair, his gaze fixed on the chipped linoleum floor, a stark contrast to his usual, sharp focus.
“Another one,” Logan stated, his voice a low rumble. “Same M.O. Locked room, no signs of forced entry, and… this.” He gestured to a photograph laid out on the table. It showed a crudely drawn symbol, a single, unblinking eye, scrawled in what appeared to be theatrical greasepaint on the victim’s palm. It was identical to the one found beside Judge Abernathy.
“And the connection?” Scarlett prompted, her voice tight.
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