The Crimson Silence

Under Watchful Eyes

Back at the FBI headquarters, Katie sat quietly, the fluorescent lights casting sharp reflections on the sterile surfaces around her. Though they tried to keep her comfortable, she could feel the scrutiny-the quiet but ever-present surveillance of agents. She had learned to read people over the years, and right now, they were trying to get inside her head.

Morning arrived in a slow, oppressive wave, and by the time the clock hit 9, Angela, the FBI Director, walked into the room. Dressed immaculately, her movements were measured and deliberate, a woman who commanded respect with every step.

"Did you sleep well?" Angela asked, her tone authoritative but neutral.

"Yes..." Katie replied, though it wasn't entirely true. Her voice carried a hint of hesitation, her mind racing with unanswered questions.

"When will Sam be back? Can I have my phone?" Katie added, trying to maintain a sense of control over her situation. She felt restless, trapped without any way to connect with the outside world.

Angela gave a polite but dismissive smile as she paced slowly around the room. "Sam will be here soon with your things. As for your phone... I'm afraid that's off the table for now." Her tone remained calm but firm.

Katie could feel Angela's authority pressing down on her, the way she made it clear who was in charge. It was unsettling.

Angela pulled up a chair and sat directly across from her. "Katie, whatever Dalton was involved in, it wasn't clean. We need your help to analyze the data from the leaks."

Katie blinked, taken aback. "Analyze how? That's not even my area of expertise," she replied, feeling a wave of confusion rise within her.

Angela leaned in closer, her eyes steady and unwavering. "After Dalton's murder, some sensitive information was anonymously leaked to the press."

Katie nodded. "Yeah... I saw that on the news. But how does that involve me?"

"The information leaked wasn't complete. We believe the person who killed Dalton is holding the rest," Angela explained, her voice sharp and controlled.

Katie's pulse quickened. "So this has happened before? Is that why the NYPD is involved?" she asked, her mind racing to put the pieces together.

Angela took a deep breath and nodded, standing up as she spoke. "Yes. That's why we're also coordinating with them. We'll be giving you a temporary ID. You'll be working as a liaison between Dalton Security Inc. and us."

Katie looked bewildered but nodded. She felt trapped, as if she was being pulled into something far larger than she had ever imagined.

At that moment, one of the agents stepped into the room. "Director, Katie's brother and their friend are here."

Angela nodded, turning to Katie. "Let's go meet them."

They walked through the quiet halls of the FBI building, Katie flanked by Angela and a few agents. When they reached the waiting area, Katie saw Sam holding a bag, with Jake standing next to him. The moment she saw them, Katie's body surged with relief, and she ran forward, embracing them both.

"Are you okay?" Jake asked, his voice soft but laced with concern.

"Yeah... I am," Katie replied, though the weight of everything still pressed on her.

"Thank you, Sam. And Mr. Daniel," Angela said, addressing them with a slight nod.

Jake gave a small, awkward smile. "Please, you can call me Jake."

Angela smirked ever so slightly, a glimmer of amusement flickering in her eyes. "Alright, Jake. Here's the situation. Katie will assist us in the investigation, but she isn't being detained. There's no need for a lawyer." She kept her gaze on Jake as she spoke, clearly aware of his midnight visit to Rita Martin.

Katie caught the look Angela gave Jake and raised an eyebrow. "What's going on?" she asked, her tone both curious and sly.

Angela chuckled lightly. "Your friend here went to the District Attorney's house last night and made her call me."

Katie turned to Jake, a teasing smile spreading across her face. "Jake..."

Jake shrugged. "What? Your brother and I were worried."

The tension lightened for a moment, and they all exchanged smiles. They took seats in the room, waiting for what came next. In the meantime, FBI agents were bringing two other men into the waiting area.

"Ah, yes. Mathew... come in," Angela greeted the first man with enthusiasm.

"Hey, Ange... long time," responded Mathew, a seasoned NYPD lieutenant.

Angela turned towards Sam, Jake, and Katie. "This is Lieutenant Mathew Briggs of the NYPD," she introduced, before turning to the other man. "And you are...?"

"Detective Nathan Jones, ma'am. Director," the younger man replied, a little nervous.

"Ah, yes. Nathan." Angela nodded as recognition set in.

"Nathan and his team have been working on the series of murders we briefed you on yesterday."

As the officers discussed the investigation in hushed tones, Jake turned to Katie. "What happens now?"

"I'll be working with them to help analyze the data... to see if I can identify anything from Dalton's systems that connects the leaks to the killer," Katie replied, her voice carrying a weight she wasn't used to.

Jake frowned, sensing the gravity of the situation. "And this killer-what do we know?"

Katie hesitated before answering. "It's a pattern, Jake. Whoever killed Dalton has been doing this for years. They stalk their victims first, hack them, and then... kill them."

Katie took a breath before continuing. "The killer puts a couple of photos of the victim with the body... and these photos tie them to previously accused crimes."

Jake's face hardened as the realization hit him. "And these victims-are they all guilty of something?"

Katie sighed. "We don't know. But Dalton was the first case where the killer actually leaked information. Before that, there were only bodies and whispers."

Jake stayed silent, absorbing the information, feeling the familiar tension creeping back into his veins. But he wasn't afraid. He was used to danger-sometimes he even craved it. But this was different, deeper.

As Angela wrapped up her conversation with Mathew and Nathan, she turned back to Jake, Sam, and Katie. "Katie will be able to go home tomorrow," she said. "But she'll still be assisting us in the investigation and will have a patrol car for protection."

Sam, Jake, and Katie exchanged relieved looks. Sam, in particular, smiled brightly. "So, no more FBI detainment?" he asked.

Angela gave a short, knowing smile. "No detainment, but she'll still be working with us."

They all shared a group hug, tension dissolving in the moment. But before they left, Angela caught Jake's eye again.

"So, Jake. Photographer, writer, café owner... what other things do you do?" she asked, her voice smooth, but there was something unreadable in her tone.

Jake felt a flicker of unease, something he hadn't felt in a while. "Just regular things," he said with a careful smile.

Angela's gaze lingered on him for a moment before Sam returned, having dropped off Katie's bag. After a round of goodbyes, Sam and Jake made their way out of the FBI building. But even as the doors closed behind them, Jake could feel Angela's eyes on him, sharp and observant. Something told him this wasn't the last time their paths would cross.

Outside, Sam was already on the phone, pacing back and forth. He hung up as Jake joined him, a look of confusion on his face.

"Spoke with Lisa... she and Cynthia are taking care of things at The C Spot."

"Good, good," Jake responded, nodding in approval.