Mia sat at her cluttered desk, a kaleidoscope of papers, photos, and notes strewn around her like the remnants of a chaotic battle, its been 3 years now. no more new leads, no bodies. She thought to herself. Where did he go? The walls of the apartment were closing in on her, the candle lights giving the feeling of all is lost, when they burn out. The flicker of the light casting a harsh glare on her once-bright aspirations. Each notepad filled with meticulous details about Nightshade felt like a weight on her shoulders, pushing her deeper into despair. Disappointment simmered within her, mingling with the frustration of years of chasing shadows, and misleads.
Kacie leaned against Mia's desk, arms crossed, radiating a quiet strength that Mia desperately needed. "You've worked this case longer than anyone else, Mia. You can't just throw it all away," she said, her voice steady. Kacie's eyes held a mix of empathy and determination, understanding the depth of Mia's struggle.
"I've got nothing, Kacie. Months without a lead, and now the Captain wants everything wrapped up by tomorrow. He thinks this cold case division is going to solve it, but they have no idea how deep this goes." Mia glanced at the wall, where a pin-board full of evidence sat—the tattered photos, timelines, the elusive figure of Nightshade glaring back at her like a phantom.
Kacie unfolded her arms and stepped closer, her voice softening. "You can't let them take this from you. You've made connections no one else saw, and if anyone can figure out who Nightshade is, it's you. Just think about the times you got close—those moments when it almost clicked. Don't you remember the thrill? You can't give up now. Ask for a transfer!"
Mia ran a frustrated hand through her hair, exhaling sharply. "What thrill? This is just a sick game to him, Kacie! Your got shot, because of a lead I thought we had. All the misleads Dr. Graves use to give us chasing after shadows. He's slipping through my fingers, taunting me at every turn. Why can't I figure it out? Why can I not catch him?"
"Because he's smart, that's why," Kacie replied, her tone firm but kind. "But you're smarter. Don't let anger blind you! This is when we break out the big guns. We're not letting another agent walk away with your case. Pull everything you have into that report. Let the Captain see your progress, the patterns you've noticed, the connections that could lead to something bigger."
"But you heard the Captain "if he hasn't killed anyone lately, maybe his last victim killed him in an escape, or is locked up on some petty crime." Just saying it out loud made Mia want to scream even more. Looking at the pictures of her old friends, Emily and Brian on her desk. Her mothers picture on the wall. Mia's heart raced at the thought of laying bare everything she had uncovered. There was a fire within her, a flicker of hope igniting despite the fatigue that clung to her. The idea of handing off her work felt like surrendering her very soul, but fighting against the current was growing exhausting.
She glanced at Kacie, whose unwavering support fanned the flame of her determination. "You really think there's still something there?" Mia asked, her voice faltering.
"I know there is. Let's tackle this together. We'll sift through every detail one last time before morning. If there's an ounce of a lead, we'll find it tonight. One last shot, lets go through what we have on the time line."
Mia took a deep breath, the anger receding just enough to allow a flicker of resolve to take its place. "Okay, let's do it. One last push." She straightened and grabbed a stack of papers, flipping through them. "I know I've seen something that connects him to that last victim's profile..."
Kacie smiled, a wave of relief washing over her. "That's the spirit. We'll figure this out. Together."
YOU ARE READING
Shadow of the Mind
General FictionA FBI Agent, working a high Profile Serial Killer case, finds out that her own past is tied to the killers. Will she catch him in time, before he strikes again.
