Victor_graves

Synopsis

Detective Elias Mercer, known as ‘Mercy’ for his angelic demeanor, hides a mind as sharp as a blade and a heart as cold as the cases he solves. A former journalist framed and cast out, he now walks the thin line between justice and obsession, unraveling the city’s darkest secrets one case at a time.

When Adrian Holt, a man seemingly swallowed by the shadows, vanishes without a trace, Elias is dragged into a mystery far deeper than he anticipated. His only lead? Evelyn Drake—a woman who speaks in riddles and keeps secrets like currency. As Elias peels back the layers of deception, a familiar name resurfaces from his past: Nathaniel Voss, a phantom figure lurking behind countless crimes, always just out of reach.

With each step forward, the case tightens around him, drawing him into a web of corruption, fear, and a truth far more sinister than murder. The deeper Elias digs, the more he realizes—some ghosts aren’t meant to be found, and some truths are buried for a reason.

But Elias Mercer doesn’t believe in walking away.

And this time, the darkness is watching back.

Elias mercer: mercy in the shadows

The fires raged on, consuming everything in their path. Smoke coiled into the morning sky like dark fingers reaching for something unseen. The city was waking up to a war it hadn't realized had already begun.

Elias stood at the edge of the rooftop, the heat from below licking at his face. His grip on the railing tightened. They had spent months orchestrating this night, tearing down Vale's empire brick by brick. But the most dangerous man in the city was still unaccounted for.

Collins returned, his expression grim. "No sign of him."

Elias didn't curse, didn't panic. He had always known Vale wouldn't go down that easily. But this wasn't over—not by a long shot.

Cassandra's voice crackled through his earpiece. "Mercer, we found something."

There was a pause. Then, "It's an encrypted file. Something Vale was trying to move before the fires started. We're working on breaking it."

Elias exchanged a glance with Collins. "Where did you find it?"

"Underground data vault. He had backups."

Of course he did. Vale had always been a step ahead—until now.

Elias turned away from the destruction below. "Get that file decrypted. And find me Vale."

Elias wasn't so sure. Because if there was one thing he knew about men like Vale, it was that they didn't run.

The silence stretched between them as they waited for the tech team to break the encryption. Elias paced, his mind playing through every possible move Vale could make. Collins, on the other hand, was doing what he did best—annoying him.

"You know, for someone who's got an entire city wrapped around his finger, Vale sure knows how to be a slippery little bastard." Collins leaned against the table, tossing a stress ball up and down. "I mean, I almost respect it. Almost."

Elias shot him a look. "You want to write him a fan letter while you're at it?"

"Nah. I was thinking more of a 'Congratulations on Being a Cockroach' plaque."

Cassandra snorted. "I'd chip in for that."

Elias sighed, rubbing his temples. "If you two are done playing comedians, maybe focus on—"

The tech specialist interrupted, his voice hurried. "We cracked it."

Elias was beside him in an instant, eyes scanning the screen. The file contained detailed records of shipments, bribes, and—

His breath caught. One folder was labeled with his name.

He clicked it open. Surveillance photos. Conversations transcribed. A detailed timeline of his movements over the last year. Vale had been watching him. Closely.

Collins let out a low whistle. "Well, that's not creepy at all."

Elias didn't respond. He was too focused on the last file.

Shadows in the Ashes