Chapter 2

Morning came, but the city didn’t feel any lighter.

The rain had stopped, yet the sky remained heavy, covered in dull grey clouds. The crime scene was quieter now, stripped of flashing lights and loud sirens—but the tension still lingered like something unfinished.

Jason stood near the edge of the alley, hands in his coat pockets, eyes fixed on the sealed evidence area.

The teddy bear had been taken.

But the feeling it left behind hadn’t.

“Still thinking about it?”

Adam’s voice came from behind, casual as always.

Jason didn’t turn. “You’re not?”

Adam walked up beside him, holding two cups of coffee. He handed one over.

“I am,” he said. “Just trying not to let it ruin my morning.”

Jason took the coffee but didn’t drink it.

“That wasn’t a random kill.”

Adam smirked faintly. “You said that yesterday.”

“And I’m saying it again.”

This time, Adam didn’t joke.

He leaned slightly against the police barrier, eyes narrowing as he looked at the same spot Jason had been staring at.

“Okay,” he said. “Then let’s hear it. What makes this one special?”

Jason finally moved.

He turned slightly, his voice low and controlled.

“No struggle. No witnesses. No noise.”

Adam nodded. “Clean job.”

“Too clean,” Jason corrected. “And then… the display.”

Adam exhaled slowly. “Yeah. That part.”

There was a pause.

Neither of them needed to describe it.

They both saw it clearly.

Too clearly.

Jason continued, “Whoever did this didn’t just want to kill.”

Adam tilted his head. “They wanted attention?”

Jason shook his head.

“No.”

A beat.

“They wanted understanding.”

That made Adam look at him.

“…You’re saying the killer expects someone to figure it out?”

Jason met his gaze.

“Yes.”

A silence stretched between them.

Then Adam let out a quiet laugh.

“Well, that’s flattering. We’ve got a killer who believes in us.”

Jason didn’t smile.

“Or someone who chose us.”

Adam’s expression shifted slightly.

That wasn’t a joke anymore.

Before he could respond, a voice called out—

“Detectives!”

They both turned.

A young officer jogged toward them, slightly out of breath.

“Forensics report just came in.”

Jason stepped forward immediately. “What do we have?”

The officer hesitated for a second.

“Not much identification… but there’s something strange.”

Adam sighed. “Of course there is.”

The officer handed over a file.

Jason opened it.

His eyes moved quickly across the page.

Then—

They stopped.

“…What?” Adam asked.

Jason didn’t answer right away.

Instead, he handed the file to Adam.

Adam scanned it.

And then his expression changed.

“…There’s no missing persons report,” Adam said slowly.

Jason nodded once.

“Exactly.”

Adam looked back at him. “So… no one reported the victim missing?”

“No.”

“That’s impossible.”

Jason’s gaze darkened.

“Or intentional.”

Adam frowned. “You think the victim had no one?”

Jason shook his head slightly.

“No. I think someone made sure no one would look.”

The weight of that settled in.

Adam closed the file slowly.

“Okay… that’s creepy.”

Jason didn’t disagree.

“Anything else?” he asked the officer.

The officer swallowed.

“Yes, sir.”

He pointed to a section in the report.

“There was… a symbol.”

Jason’s eyes sharpened. “What kind of symbol?”

The officer hesitated again.

“It was… stitched.”

Adam let out a quiet breath. “Of course it was.”

Jason stepped closer. “Where?”

The officer’s voice dropped.

“On the inside of the teddy.”

Silence.

Jason didn’t blink.

“Describe it.”

The officer shook his head slightly. “We couldn’t fully understand it… but it looked like a pattern. Almost like… a code.”

Adam crossed his arms. “A killer who leaves codes. That’s new.”

Jason turned away slightly, already thinking.

Pattern.

Message.

Code.

This wasn’t just a crime anymore.

It was a game.

And someone had just made the first move.

Adam watched him carefully.

“I know that look,” he said. “You’re already inside it, aren’t you?”

Jason didn’t deny it.

“If it’s a code, it has meaning.”

Adam sighed. “And if it has meaning, you’re not going to sleep until you figure it out.”

Jason finally took a sip of his coffee.

Cold.

He didn’t react.

“This isn’t over,” he said.

Adam gave a small, knowing smile.

“Yeah.”

A pause.

“Something tells me… it’s just starting.”

Jason’s gaze shifted back to the alley one last time.

Empty now.

But not really.

Because whatever had started here—

Was still out there.

Watching.

Waiting.

And planning the next move.

End of Chapter 2

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***