Inside, the living room was cluttered with boxes and family memorabilia. Elise rifled through a stack of dusty photo albums, finally pulling one out and flipping through the pages.
“Here,” she said, pointing to a photo of Carla and a group of friends. “That was before everything happened.”
Pandy leaned in closer, scanning the faces. “Who are these people?”
Elise pointed to a tall figure in the background. “That’s him. I remember seeing him at the memorial after Carla’s death. He stood too close to us, watching.”
The man’s features were obscured in the shadow of the photo, but Pandy’s heart raced as she recognized the distinctive tattoo on his arm—a symbol strikingly similar to the one they had found at the crime scene.
“That’s definitely the symbol,” Pandy said, her voice taut with urgency. “Do you have any other photos of him or anything that could help us identify him?”
Elise continued to flip through the album, her hands shaking. “I think there might be more. Just give me a second…”
Pandy felt her pulse quicken as she awaited Elise’s next revelation. Whatever happened next could change the course of their investigation—and potentially save lives. She was determined to track down this man before he struck again, knowing that time was running out.
Elise finally found another photo tucked between the pages, her expression shifting from worry to determination. “Here! This one has him in it,” she said, holding it up for Pandy to see. In the image, the man stood off to the side of a group, a lopsided grin on his face. The tattoo on his arm was clearly visible, a dark inked symbol that sent a chill down Pandy's spine.
“Do you remember his name?” Pandy asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
Elise squinted at the photo, trying to recall. “I think they called him Axel. He was always hanging around with Carla’s friends back then, but I never really knew him. Just an acquaintance, I guess.”
“Do you have any idea where he might be now?” Pandy pressed, already pulling out her phone to jot down notes.
“Not really,” Elise admitted, her brow furrowing. “But he used to frequent this bar downtown. I remember a few times Carla mentioned going there with her friends. It was called The Rusty Nail.”
“Do you know if he’s still connected to those friends? Maybe someone else has seen him.”
Elise nodded slowly. “I can try asking around. A couple of Carla’s friends still live in town. Maybe they know more.”
“Do that,” Pandy urged, feeling a rush of adrenaline. “Every moment we waste is a moment he could use to vanish. We need to track him down before he disappears again.”
Elise bit her lip, her anxiety palpable. “I don’t want to get involved in this. It’s all too much. But I can’t just sit here and do nothing. If he’s dangerous, we need to do something.”
Pandy nodded, understanding the weight of Elise’s fears. “I’ll help you. Let’s both dig into this. I’ll reach out to Livvy and see if she can get some intel on Axel. If he’s connected to the Order of the Veiled, we need to act fast.”
As they gathered their things, Pandy felt the gravity of the situation press down on her. The connection between Axel and the Order could lead them to answers, but it also meant they were stepping deeper into danger.
.
.
.
After hours of pouring over information, they finally compiled a list of potential leads connected to the journalist. “This should give us a starting point,” Pandy said, glancing at the clock. It was late, but the adrenaline of the case kept her going.
“Let’s meet early in the morning and start reaching out,” Do-Hyun suggested, his tone serious again. “I can take the lead on the journalist’s contacts.”
“Perfect,” Pandy replied, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. “We’ll get to the bottom of this.”
As they wrapped up for the night, Pandy felt the familiar weight of exhaustion settling in. The day had been long, and the emotions were still swirling in her mind.
“Are you okay getting home?” Do-Hyun asked as they walked out together, his concern genuine.
“I’ll be fine,” Pandy assured him.
He nodded, but she could see the protectiveness in his eyes. “Let me know when you get in.”
Pandy smiled, her heart swelling at his thoughtfulness. “I will.”
As she stepped outside into the cool night air, she took a deep breath, letting the wind clear her thoughts. There was a fire inside her—a determination to bring justice to the victims, to face whatever dangers lay ahead.
With her mind focused, she set off down the street, ready to tackle whatever the next day would bring. The threads of fate were weaving together, and she knew that whatever happened, she would face it together.
But lurking in the shadows, danger was closer than they realized. The Holy Murderer was watching, and the game was far from over.
The next few days felt like a whirlwind for Pandy. The tension surrounding the recent murder and the mysterious symbol weighed heavily on her mind. Despite the urgency of the case, she found herself distracted, especially around Do-Hyun. There was an unspoken bond forming between them, and while Pandy had always admired him, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was changing in the air.
Do-Hyun, on the other hand, found himself increasingly drawn to Pandy. He had always respected her professionalism, but now, as they worked side by side, he noticed the small things that made her unique—the way she furrowed her brow when deep in thought, the passion in her voice when she discussed the case, and the kindness she showed to everyone around her. He admired her dedication and strength, but it was the glimpses of vulnerability that made his heart ache.
One evening, as they sat in Pandy’s office pouring over case files, Do-Hyun caught himself stealing glances at her. She was so focused, her hair slightly messy from running her hands through it in frustration. The overhead light cast a warm glow on her features, and he felt an overwhelming urge to reach out and comfort her.
“Hey,” he said, breaking the silence, “you should take a break. You’ve been at this for hours.”
Pandy looked up, her blue eyes meeting his. “I can’t. There’s something about this case that just doesn’t sit right with me. We need to figure out what the symbol means and if it’s connected to the Order of the Veiled.”
Do-Hyun leaned back in his chair, studying her. “I get that, but you also need to take care of yourself. You can’t help anyone if you burn out.”
She smiled softly, appreciating his concern. “You’re right, but I feel like we’re so close to something big. I can’t just let it go.”
His heart raced at her determination. “Then let me help you. Let’s tackle this together. Maybe we can crack it if we take a fresh look.”
Pandy nodded, grateful for his support. They returned to the files, but the tension in the air was palpable. Do-Hyun could feel his heart beating faster each time their hands brushed against each other as they reached for the same file. He knew he had to tread carefully. The last thing he wanted to do was complicate their partnership.
As the night wore on, they found themselves laughing over small jokes and sharing stories from their pasts. Do-Hyun shared a memory from his childhood, a humorous story about his first experience with a dog, and Pandy laughed genuinely, the sound echoing in the quiet room.
“I can’t believe you were scared of a dog!” she teased.
“Hey, it was a big dog!” he defended, a grin on his face. “I was just a kid!”
Pandy shook her head, still chuckling. “You should’ve been the brave detective you are now!”
He felt a warmth spreading through him at her laughter. “Well, I guess some things take time,” he said, his tone turning serious. “Like feelings.”
Pandy looked at him, her expression shifting. “Feelings?” she echoed.
Do-Hyun took a deep breath, feeling exposed but needing to be honest. “Yeah. I’ve been thinking a lot about this... about us. I know this is a tough time, and our focus should be on the case, but I can’t help but feel there’s something more between us.”
Her heart raced at his confession. “Do-Hyun, I—”
“Let me finish,” he interrupted gently. “I just want you to know that I care about you, not just as a partner but as someone who means a lot to me. I know we’re in the middle of a chaotic investigation, but I want you to think about what that might mean when all this is over.”
Pandy was taken aback, her mind racing. She hadn’t expected him to voice his feelings first. She thought about the moments they had shared, the way he always looked out for her, and how he made her feel safe amidst the chaos. But now was not the time for distractions. She couldn’t let emotions cloud their judgment, not when they were so close to uncovering the truth.
“Do-Hyun, I appreciate you saying that, but right now, we need to focus on the case. Let’s not complicate things—”
He nodded, his expression a mixture of understanding and disappointment. “I get it. I just wanted to be honest with you.”
They returned to the case files, but the air was thick with unspoken tension. Pandy could feel her heart tugging in two directions—her instinct to protect their partnership and the undeniable connection that was forming between them.