| C H A P T E R - 47 |

ANASTASIA:

As I made my way toward the scene of the incident, panic gripped my nerves. From the crowd that had gathered at a distance, I could discern that the person lying on the floor, blood pooling around him, was dead. However, I lacked the strength and energy to approach and identify the victim.

All I could do was hope for the best.

Thankfully, Lara approached me before I had to witness the gruesome scene. "Who was it?" I asked, my voice quivering.

Her face was etched with shock and terror as she replied, "Morris."

"What?" I exclaimed in surprise. I had never expected Morris to be targeted. We had been so focused on keeping an eye on Oliver and Tony.

"It was unexpected," Lara said. "We heard a gunshot, and as we all rushed here, we found Morris dead."

I glanced at the scene and noticed other police officers and David working around the body. They were trying to keep the crowd at bay while conducting their investigation. Lorenzo and Mark arrived shortly after.

"Where's Tony?" I asked.

"Tony is safe. He's with one of the officers as he was an eyewitness."

"And Oliver?"

Lara, Lorenzo, and Mark remained silent. "What's wrong?" I pressed. "Where's Oliver?"

"He's still missing, A," David replied as he approached us.

"Did we catch Miley?"

He nodded in the negative. "She was too fast and professional. We missed her," he explained. "We went after her as she entered from the front entrance, blending into the crowd, but before we could ascertain what was amiss, she ensured the dismantling of the camera."

I sighed in frustration. "She couldn't have acted alone," David informed. "It would be difficult for her to kidnap Oliver, murder Morris, and then escape so smoothly, A. I'm certain someone from the inside is assisting her."

"What did Tony say?" I inquired.

David looked a bit uncomfortable before he answered, "He was too scared to say anything. He was terrified when we found him."

My eyebrows raised at his comment. Tony, the fearless one, scared to this extent? "He's afraid of a gunshot?"

David seemed reluctant as he continued, "Well, technically, Morris wasn't shot."

"What?" I inquired.

"Yes," David confirmed. "He was brutally murdered, with his throat slashed, causing him to bleed out dry. The gunshot was directed at Tony as if to silence him."

My blood ran cold. Such a cruel murder! Could Miley really have done this?

The case had spiralled into a chaotic frenzy, a tempest that demanded resolution. But how to quell the storm was the elusive question that hung heavily in the air.

Lara, Lorenzo, Mark, and I gathered around David and his team in their temporary command center near the busy port. The light from many screens lit up our faces as we carefully looked at the CCTV footage from a hidden camera on the cruise ship, covering the entire area. The camera was officially kept secret for reasons only Oliver knew, but today, it had the potential to show the truth and reveal hidden lies.

Oliver had spent a lot of money to protect his empire, but no fortress can escape the consequences of karma. I couldn't help but wonder if he ever thought this day would come when his past would return to haunt him.

Breaking the silence, Lara spoke with frustration. "What are we looking for? Isn't it clear that Miley's the culprit?"

David kept his eyes on the screens as he replied, "I agree, Lara. However, I have a feeling she didn't act alone, and I am sure her accomplice was none other than the Devil himself. So, we must carefully examine every part of the footage to find any help that could lead us to Oliver."

Our feelings toward Oliver were filled with dislike, but our feelings toward Miley were complicated. While we understood the wrongs she had done, a part of us wanted to save her from the harsh punishment of the law. We knew about the pain she had gone through and the changes that had shaped her. However, what she's doing now is not right in the eyes of the law.

"David, we must stop Miley at any cost," I pleaded, my voice shaking with determination. "She has suffered more than her share. If we can catch her now, maybe we can prevent her from going completely mad."

David nodded, but his thoughts were mysterious. He believed that people sometimes turn to crime when life becomes too hard to bear. However, we all agreed that Miley's reasons remained mysterious, a complex web that was hard to understand.

We focused on the footage, eyes fixed on the screens, holding our breath in anticipation. Then, in the quiet room, a collective gasp escaped our lips.

Miley appeared on the screen, her face pale, her figure frail, yet a fierce fire burned in her eyes. She wore the same hoodie from the night of Miley's murder, a chilling reminder of the past. Her eyes scanned the room, finally locking onto Oliver, who was enjoying the festivities of her birthday.

Miley blended into the crowd, her gaze fixed on Oliver. Behind her stood two imposing figures, almost towering alike like Lorenzo and Mark. They looked like beasts in the form of humans. Dark-shadowed hoodies covered their face while they walked into the space closely following Miley. Our collective shock was palpable.

One of the colossal men approached Oliver with a sinister intent when he was almost in his vulnerable state. Drunk. Capturing the intoxicated Oliver was easy. They didn't even have to try, as he was so drunk that almost anyone could murder him right there, and he wouldn't know. They rendered him unconscious, then looked around one last time before escaping with their prey.

"She really had help!" Lara exclaimed, her voice filled with dread beside Mark, who watched the scene in somber silence.

As the camera's focus shifted, our hearts pounded with dread. The other mysterious figure seized Tony and Morris amid their argument. Unfortunately, his face remained hidden from view as his broad back faced the camera. However, Tony's face drained of colour, shocked at the perilous situation. Morris, drunk and unaware, was helpless against the looming threat.

The unseen figure whispered something to Morris, an exchange that remained a mystery, before ruthlessly slitting his throat. Morris's body convulsed in agony as lifeblood gushed forth, all witnessed by a terror-stricken Tony, who eventually succumbed to overwhelming fear, a clear sign of his trauma.

The assailant brandished a firearm, pointing it dangerously close to Tony's head before firing a deafening shot, narrowly missing its mark. Tony collapsed, unconscious and defenceless.

The room was filled with haunting silence, shattered only by the sounds of our racing hearts.

DAVID:

"We need to find him!" I exclaimed, frustration mounting with every passing moment. Russo's persistent calls only served to amplify my unease, his queries about Oliver's whereabouts met with promises of a comprehensive report. "He's in grave danger, and we can't afford any more delays!"

Chief Hampton was already en route to our base, and I knew all too well that his presence would complicate matters. He had a knack for undermining my efforts, a tendency to hijack cases and twist them to suit his interests. But I was resolute. This case was mine to solve, and I would see it through.

A promise to Ana had sealed my commitment to this cause.

With unwavering determination, I issued orders to my team to launch a sweeping search across the entire town, focusing on the ports and scrutinizing every corner. Miley might have collaborators, but they wouldn't escape the relentless gaze of the law. They would attempt to flee via the port or go into hiding within the town, but I was prepared to turn this place upside down to capture them all.

"Dave, I need to tell you something," Ana interjected as I juggled multiple phone calls, directing my team and authorizing raids on all possible escape routes.

"Give me a moment, A," I replied, briefly muting the frantic voices on the other end of the line. I issued more instructions, mobilizing teams to monitor airports, and docks, and seal off potential escape routes. Images of Miley and the unidentified assailants had been distributed, and I knew we couldn't afford any slip-ups.

Most likely, the two hulking figures were professional assassins, hired for a sinister purpose. The looming question remained: How had Miley acquired their services? Did her family harbor secrets, and were they complicit in her actions?

My thoughts drifted back to the day when two bodies had been discovered near the port; her family falsely claimed them to be Miley. DNA analysis shattered that illusion. Could it be that her family may be entangled in this web of darkness too?

"Dave!" Ana's voice persisted, interrupting my mental musings.

"What is it?"

"I really need to talk to you," she pleaded.

My frustration swelled, torn between the urgency of the manhunt and my desire to give Ana a voice. I had no intention of sidelining her; she had a role to play in this search. However, now was not the moment to indulge in explanations and attempts to save Miley. This was a murder investigation, and the evidence needed to lead to justice.

Ana was a promising individual, tarnished by her connection to this sinister affair. Perhaps she was entangled in some macabre cult, or perhaps she had spiraled into darkness for other reasons. It was an enigma I was determined to unravel.

"Fine," I said, yielding to her plea. She handed me a phone from her pocket. "What's this?"

"It's Ben's phone," she explained. "I found it in Oliver's room. I think we should—"

"Now's not the time to gather evidence against Oliver, Ana. We need to locate him before we can bring him to justice."

"Sir, this is Alpha speaking from the West Coast. We've detected some movement. Over," one of my team members reported through the walkie-talkie, breaking the stillness.

"Get the team ready and follow them. Over," I replied.

Perhaps this was our chance to find Miley. Maybe Ana's instincts were right, and there was still hope for her.

"Dave, I understand your urgency, but please just hear me out," Ana implored, her voice gaining intensity. "I'm suggesting that we investigate this phone, just in case. It might lead to crucial information about him. Maybe Ben stumbled upon something, and that's why Oliver took the phone, and that might give us a clue in all this."

"But I don't have a computer genius right now to crack this," I tried to resonate.

"I could help," a voice breaks our attention. Looking aside, I noticed Mark standing at our base. "I am a computer major and I know how to hack!"

I don't have much choice other than agreeing with him.

As Mark connected the phone to the laptop and began running the necessary code, the tension in the room was palpable. He was a whiz with computers, his fingers dancing across the keyboard, revealing the hidden and locked files within the phone. The phone's contents unfurled before us, and what we discovered left us all in shock.

A/N: We have reached the climax now. Are you all ready?