CHAPTER TWELVE

Julian was outside addressing the media. So many questions were being thrown at him. "Why do you think the president of TM Corporation was killed?" "Why was he killed?" "Is it the Shadow Killer that killed him?" Questions like that. Too many questions. And Julian stood still, wondering which one he would answer.

Julian decided to answer. He took a deep breath and said, "Yeah, I think it's the Shadow Killer again. And the police are doing whatever they can to make sure he's brought to justice."

Before he could continue, one reporter threw a question at him. "Is it true that nobody knows what the Shadow Killer looks like?"

Julian nodded. "Yes, nobody knows what the Shadow Killer looks like. So, we are just using some features and all that to check out... to check out what to check out, you know? How we can find him."

He paused, collecting his thoughts. "Besides, the Shadow Killer operates at night."

Another reporter threw a question at him. "Now that the CEO and president are dead, do you think a new CEO and president will be elected?"

Julian scratched his head a little bit. "Yeah, a new CEO and president will be elected soon."

Then another reporter asked, "What if they get killed again?"

Julian's expression turned serious. "That is why we make sure that the police have our back, you know? And the police are watching us and protecting us, so that we will not fall victim to the Shadow Killer."

Julian looked at the reporters and said firmly, "That's all for today."

But the reporters were not having any of it. They still wanted to ask more questions, shouting them out as Julian turned to walk away. The reporters followed him, relentless in their pursuit of a scoop.

Until finally, the security team stepped in, blocking the reporters and clearing a path for Julian to escape the chaos.

Julian muttered to himself, "Foolish people."

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

Ethan was on the road, waiting for Sam's call. His phone rang, and he picked up. "Sam, what's up? What's the situation?"

Sam's voice was urgent on the other end. "The recent call... she called out the number, and it was... I think the location is... " Sam hesitated, then called out the name of the street.

Ethan's eyes narrowed as he recognized the location. He knew that place all too well - it was where he had bought the tape he used to torture his victim.

After Sam finished briefing him, Ethan ended the call and sped away.

Ethan parked a few meters away from the store, wearing a face cap and mask to disguise himself. He entered the store and saw a middle aged woman. It was the same woman he had been searching for.

Ethan looked at the woman and said, "Come with me."

The woman looked back at him, confused. "What do you want? Who are you?"

Ethan tried to come up with an excuse. "Just come with me now."

The woman was hesitant, but Ethan pulled out a gun, and she became frightened. She followed him immediately.

As soon as they left the store, Ethan took her to his car. Just as they were getting in, a police car arrived. The officers quickly got out and entered the store, searching for the woman.

However, since Ethan had already taken her away, the police couldn't find her. Ava came out of the store.

Ava told some of the boys stand nearby. Maybe she went to get something because our shop is still open." The boys obeyed and went to their posts.

Meanwhile, Ethan looked at the woman and said, "Do you remember me?"

The woman laughed and said, "Remember you? I don't even know who you are."

Ethan removed his face cap and mask. The woman's eyes widened in recognition.

Ethan closed her mouth and said, "Look, I'm about to tell you something. You called the police station and told them you've seen my face before, right? So, what were you planning to tell them?"

The woman trembled slightly and said, "What do you mean?"

Ethan's voice turned menacing. "If you don't talk right now, I'm going to blow your head off, and nobody will know that I killed you."

The woman's eyes darted around in fear. "Okay, okay... because I kind of saw your face, and since I heard that the police station lost all their evidence... and I remember that I have seen your face before... I decided to give them a little information."

Ethan leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You have kids, right?"

The woman's confusion turned to alarm. "I don't understand... what do you mean?"

Ethan's eyes locked onto hers. "Answer me. You have kids."

The woman swallowed hard, her hands shaking. "Y-yes..."

Ethan's voice turned icy. "If you tell them anything again, I swear I will go after your kids, no matter where they are. I will go after them."

The woman's eyes widened in terror as Ethan's words hung in the air.

Finally, Ethan spoke again. Don't say I didn't warn you. If I discovered that you told them anything about me, I will go after your kids. Now, get out of my car."

The woman quickly scrambled out of the car, her eyes fixed on Ethan with a mix of fear and hatred.

Ava sighted the woman, although she didn't know the woman was the owner of the store, as they had never met before. Ava saw the woman entering her store and called out to her.

"Ma'am, we are here to see you. You called the police station," Ava said.

The woman turned to look at Ava and said, "I called the police station, I don't know what you are talking about. Can you please leave?"

Ava looked confused. "I don't understand, ma'am. You called the police station and told us you've seen the Shadow Killer's face before. So, we need your help. You can describe how he looks, and we can sketch out his face and finally catch him. We are running after someone we've never seen before, that's why we need your help."

The woman's expression turned cold. "I said I don't know what you are talking about, and I don't know who the person is. Get out."

Ava looked puzzled. "What do you mean? I don't understand. Weren't you the one who called us?"

The middle-aged woman sighed. "Yes, I called you, but it was a mistake. I called, but it was a mistake."

Ava pleaded with her. "Ma'am, ma'am, please. Just please, your information would go a long way for us."

The woman looked at Ava, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and desperation. "Do you have kids?" she asked.

Ava shook her head. "No."

The woman's voice dropped to a whisper. "Exactly, you don't have kids. You want me to give out information so that my kids will end up dead?"

It was at this point that Ava knew the Shadow Killer had something to do with this. The woman's fear was visible.