Arron_Alderson

In the shadow-soaked alleys of a city where memories are both currency and weapon, burned-out detective Maxwell Hartwell is known for his unique immunity to memory extraction, a trait that marks him as both an asset and an outcast. When enigmatic Elena Voss approaches him to investigate the murder of Victor Kane, a top memory trader renowned for his ruthless ambition, Max is drawn into a web of deceit that permeates the highest echelons of society.

Max's investigation leads him deep into the underbelly of the memory trade, where human experiences are bought and sold to the highest bidder, altering personalities and histories at will. As he navigates this dangerous landscape, he's forced to contend with his former partner, Detective Sarah Lim, who walks a thin line between law enforcement and moral compromise. Throughout his journey, Max is aided by the Archivist, a secretive figure who trades in illicit memories, providing Max with information that cannot be obtained by conventional means.

As Max delves deeper into the mystery, he uncovers a disturbing truth: Victor Kane's death is merely the surface of a much larger conspiracy that threatens to topple the precarious balance of power within the city. His investigation reveals a sinister plot to control the memory market, orchestrated by figures that blur the line between friend and foe.

Haunted by fragments of his own inaccessible past, Max must navigate through layers of betrayal and manipulation, confronting painful truths about himself and those he once trusted. The closer he gets to solving the murder, the more entangled he becomes in a struggle for power that will define the future of memory itself.

With the city on the brink of chaos, Max is faced with a choice that will not only determine his own fate but also the fate of a society where memories can be rewritten at will. As alliances shift and secrets are unearthed, Max must decide whether to continue protecting a world that has forsaken him or forge a new path that could lead to redemption—or ruin.

Neon Shadows - Memories of Sin

The city never really sleeps, it just trades one set of demons for another when the sun dips below the horizon. Max Hastings knew this better than most. He watched from his office window as the neon signs flickered to life, painting the streets in a gaudy, synthetic glow. The fog rolled in, thick and unrelenting, swallowing the night whole.

Elena was still recuperating, but the fire in her eyes hadn't dimmed. She sat across from Max, her leg propped up on a chair, bandaged but functional. The scars, both physical and emotional, had only deepened her resolve.

Max turned from the window, a cigarette dangling from his lips. "We need to hit them where it hurts, Elena. Bennett's arrest was just the beginning. The real power behind the curtain is still out there."

Elena nodded, her gaze steely. "Luca's intel has led us this far. But if we're going to dismantle this whole operation, we need more than just breadcrumbs."

Chapter 295: The Thin Line