CHAPTER SEVEN

At the T.m Corporation, a group of middle-aged men gathered in a plush conference room, sipping coffee and engaged in a heated discussion.

"Now that the CEO is dead, who should we put in his place?" one of them asked, stroking his chin.

The men continued to talk, tossing around names and weighing the pros and cons of each candidate. The conversation went back and forth, with no clear consensus in sight.

As the discussion dragged on, one of the men leaned back in his chair and said, "We'll think about it. We can't rush into a decision like this."

The others nodded in agreement, and the meeting adjourned, leaving the fate of the t.mCorporation hanging in the balance...

As the meeting adjourned, the men filed out of the conference room, leaving only two individuals behind. One was a middle-aged man named Victor Mitradi, and the other was a young guy in his early thirties named Julian mitradi

Victor leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers together as he listened to Julian.

"I just can't believe Richard is gone," Julian said, a sly smile spreading across his face. "We wanted to kill him ourselves, but that killer...he made everything easier for us. He took care of the problem, and now everything is falling into place."

"He had to do it,since he was paid quite well"

Victor's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing as he studied Julian. "Let's not celebrate just yet," he cautioned. "We still have a lot to take care of before we can breathe easily."

Julian's smile faltered, but only for a moment. "Of course,dad" he said. "I know what's at stake here. But I have to admit...I'm excited to see what the future holds for us now that Richard is out of the way."

Victor's face broke into a wide smile as he leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "I won't let them know that you're my son," he said, his voice low and conspiratorial. " i will just uggest that you're the best man for the job, and everything will fall into place."

Julian's eyes lit up with understanding, and he nodded eagerly. "I'll take care of it, Father," he said, his voice dripping with ambition. "I'll make sure that I'm the one who takes the reins of this company."

Victor's smile grew even wider, and he reached out to pat Julian's shoulder. "That's my boy," he said, his voice full of pride. "Together, we'll make sure that the T.m corporation remains in our control."

****************

As he went about his day, Ethan's mind wandered back to his true identity - the Shadow Killer. He had built a reputation as a ruthless and efficient assassin, taking on contracts from wealthy clients who wanted someone eliminated.

The CEO he had killed, Richard Langley, was just another target. Victor Mitradi, a wealthy businessman, had paid him a handsome sum to take out Langley, and he had done so without hesitation.

Now, his new mission was to watch Detective Ava, to keep tabs on her as she investigated the murder. It was the perfect plan - he would be right under their noses, and they would never suspect a thing.

Ryan, his childhood friend, had his back. He had always been able to count on Ryan to watch his back, and this time was no exception. With Ryan's help, he would be able to stay one step ahead of the detective and the rest of the police department.

*"*****"********

Ava's eyes locked onto Ethan's, her expression serious. "Ah, that reminds me, we need to go check and investigate the crime scenes of the Shadow Killer's victims."

Ethan's heart skipped a beat, but he maintained his calm demeanor. "Of course, Detective. I'm ready when you are."

Ava nodded, gathering her things. "Let's go. We'll start with the unidentified victim."

Ethan's eyes met Ryan's for a brief moment, a flicker of tension passing between them. Then, Ethan stood up, following Ava out of the office, his mind racing with the implications of the investigation.

As they arrived at the warehouse, Ava nodded in approval. "Good, the crime scene is still secured."

Ethan's eyes scanned the area, taking in the details. The yellow tape stretched across the entrance, a clear warning to keep out.

Ryan unlocked the door, careful not to touch any surfaces that might hold evidence. "After you, Detective," he said, gesturing for Ava to enter.

Ava ducked under the tape and stepped inside, her eyes adjusting to the dim light. Ethan followed close behind, his senses on high alert as he took in the scene.

The warehouse was musty and silent, the only sound the creaking of old wooden beams. Ava's gaze swept the area, her eyes lingering on the spot where the victim's body had been found.

Ava turned to Ryan and asked, "Was the latest victim's identity identified?"

Ryan shook his head, "No, his identity has not been identified yet, so we don't really know who he is and why he was killed by the Shadow Killer."

Ryan's eyes met Ethan's, a fleeting glance that Ava didn't seem to notice. Ethan's expression remained neutral.

" I am not sure if we would find anything " Ethan said

Ava's eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze lingering on Ethan's face. "I'm sure we'll find something," she said, her voice firm. "The Shadow Killer may be meticulous, but he's not perfect. There's always a chance we'll find a lead."

Ethan's expression remained skeptical, but he said nothing further. Ryan, however, spoke up again.

"Yeah, Detective, Ethan's right. The Shadow Killer is notorious for leaving no evidence behind. It's like he vanishes into thin air after each kill."

Ava's jaw set in determination. "I understand that, but I'm not willing to give up yet. Let's take a closer look around and see if we can find anything, no matter how small."