Chapter 1

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Enigma

A person or thing which is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand

"Guilty!"

The word echoed through the silent courtroom, followed by the sound of the judge's gavel.

"Hugh Ransom Drysdale, you are hereby sentenced to life in prison for the premeditated murder of Harlan Thrombey and the family's housekeeper Fran."

Ransom was escorted out of the room by two police officers, just before he could make it out the door, his mother caught his hand, a look of repulsion in her eyes.

"If you ever make it out of jail don't bother coming home, from this day forward you're disowned. You do not belong to the Thrombey family."

Marta Cabrera looked on in relief as the police finally made it out of the courtroom door. Finally, the murderer was getting what he truly deserved. The nightmare was over but little did she know that this was just the beginning.

Marta's family wasn't as innocent they had made it out to be. The Cabreras were on the run for some very dreadful things that they had done. Marta had convinced herself that by becoming a nurse, she had her redemption. The lives that she helped save made up for the ones that were lost at the hands of her family.

~~~

On the other side of the world, Aria punched the bag rapidly, each blow came with an increase in power. The chains squeaking with every blow she landed. Aria gave her everything in the next punch and finally, the chain gave way sending the bag flying across the room.

"Wow, what did that poor bag do to you?" Veronica questioned her cousin with an amused look.

Aria didn't answer the girl with the fiery red hair instead she pulled out her metallic blue handgun and fired at the discarded punching bag. Crimson liquid oozed out, coating the canvas material of the bag.

"He wasted my time, took too long to let me know that he didn't have the information I needed, " Aria replied calmly.

"Too bad. Anyway, your skills are required. There's a new consignment. Needs to be done as soon as possible. Tio set up a meeting with them at 3 by the riverbank. He needs you to go."

Aria took a look at the timepiece on the wall behind Veronica. It was 2:30 am. Grabbing the key to her Lamborghini, she tucked her gun in her waistband.

"Come on cuz."

~~~
The two girls pulled up a little away from the riverbank. After scouting the place to make sure there was no foul play involved and once they were certain that everything was safe,  Aria and Veronica pulled on their solid half skull masks, which was a Torreto clan trademark, Aria made her way to the man that stood at the banks while her cousin kept watch.

Without a word, the well-built man handed a blue envelope and a small duffle bag to the raven-haired girl with the half-skull mask. She turned to make her way back to the car when she was interrupted by the man.

"You sure you can get the job done sweet cheeks?"

Aria grabbed the knife that was tucked into her left boot and hurled it towards the man, the blade sliced his cheek before wedging into the tree behind.

"Next time that will be your neck it wedges into, " Aria threatened slowly stalking back to retrieve the knife.

She pulled the knife out of the bark and before the man could comprehend what was happening the harsh blade sat snugly against his neck drawing a few beads of blood from its sharpest point.

"Still having doubts?" she questioned the man before punching him in the ribs, hearing a very satisfying crack.

As he screamed and double over in pain, she placed the knife back in her boot and grabbed the duffle bag and folder, taking one last look at the man.

"Never underestimate a Torreto."

~~~

Aria sat down at the table while Veronica and her fiancé John were making dinner in the kitchen. She stared at the envelope that lay on the table in front of her. The initials MC were inked on the front but every time she looked at it, a horrible feeling washed over her. Something dreadful crept up her spine as she took the blue envelope into her hands. Never before had she felt like this for any consignment. To her, it was just work like anything else. That's where she earned her nickname
'The heartless Hitman'.

Deciding that it was probably the bitterly cold weather or her hunger she brushed of the feeling and opened the envelope with her metal blue pocket knife. Out fell a note and a picture. She picked up the picture first, it was a very attractive man with icy eyes and dark hair. He looked like he was in his early to mid 30s. Turning the picture around she spotted a name:

Hugh Ransom Drysdale
County Prison
Prisoner #98212

The initials MC inked at the bottom.
Next, she picked up the neatly folded letter.

I hear you're the best hitman around. I don't care how you do it as long as the body shows up for everyone to see what happens when you try and mess with a Cabrera.

Marta Cabrera.

Rage. That's all that she felt. HOT WHITE RAGE.

Grabbing her car keys and the photograph, she stormed out of the house. Veronica and John rushed out of the kitchen to see what had happened but the black Lambo was already speeding away.

Veronica looked at the discarded envelope and the letter that was on the table. The game was on.

~~~

The next few days Aria spent researching every angle of the case.

Hugh Ransom Drysdale:
Son of Richard Drysdale and Linda Thrombey
Grandson of Harlan Thrombey
Conspired to murder his Grandfather out of anger for cutting him out of his inheritance
Murdered Fran, the housekeeper,
Rich, entitled, and spoiled.
But also shrewd, cunning, and filled with rage toward Marta Cabrera, which meant he was an asset.
He had enough motivation to want Marta dead.

Although he needed some grooming and by some, she meant a lot. It was worth it. What a lot of people didn't realize was that his original plan was smart. His Grandfather would have died and the blame would have been on Marta, the will would forfeit and he would get his inheritance even though it was a smart plan he was foolish to get caught, he didn't have a plan b. He had the brains, what he needed was finesse. Something that Aria could provide.  And in turn, he could provide her with all the information she needed to finally take down the last of the Cabreras.

The chase was now on.
~~~

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