Chapter 6: The Hidden Message
Emily's eyes widened as she read the text message. Who was this person, and how were they always one step ahead?
Officer Rachel noticed Emily's distress and quickly took the phone from her. "Don't worry, we'll track down the sender," she reassured Emily.
As Officer Rachel examined the phone, Emily's mind wandered back to the mysterious note and rose. There must be a connection between these messages, but what?
Suddenly, Officer Rachel's eyes lit up. "Emily, I think I found something."
"What is it?" Emily asked, her curiosity piqued.
Officer Rachel showed Emily the phone screen. "The text message contains a hidden link. It's encrypted, but our tech team might be able to crack the code."
Emily's heart skipped a beat. This could be the break they needed to catch her stalker.
As Officer Rachel left to take the phone to the police station, Emily couldn't shake off the feeling that she was missing something. She decided to take a closer look at the note and rose.
As she examined the rose, Emily noticed something peculiar. The stem had a small, almost imperceptible mark. It looked like a tiny letter "B."
Emily's mind racing, she turned her attention to the note. She studied the handwriting, searching for any clues.
And then, she saw it. A small, hidden message, cleverly disguised as a doodle.
"Meet me at the old oak at midnight. Come alone."
Emily's heart sank. What did this message mean? And who was behind it?
(Word count: approximately 1,800 words)