The Art Of Death

Chapter 17: Shadows of the Past

Scene 1: A New Lead

Setting: The precinct, Ethan poring over evidence.

The next morning, Ethan arrived at the precinct early, the morning light barely filtering through the blinds. He needed to focus; the thrill of capturing Cross was fleeting, and now the case had to go deeper.

"Hey, Ethan," Sarah called as she walked in, coffee in hand. "Ready for round two?"

"Always," he replied, trying to mask the weight of the last few days.

As he sat at his desk, Ethan opened a folder labeled "Cross Case." It contained photos of crime scenes, evidence, and notes he had taken over the years. There was something he had missed, something that connected all the dots but eluded him.

Scene 2: A Surprising Discovery

Setting: Ethan's desk, focusing on a key piece of evidence.

As Ethan flipped through the pages, one photo caught his eye—a blurry image of a man at a crime scene taken weeks before his father's murder. The man had an unusual tattoo on his forearm, one that seemed familiar but he couldn't place it.

"Sarah, come here!" Ethan called out.

She hurried over, curiosity piqued. "What's up?"

"Look at this guy," Ethan pointed to the photo. "I've seen him before. I just can't remember where."

Sarah squinted at the picture. "Maybe we can find out through the precinct's database. Let's run a search for similar tattoos."

"Good idea," Ethan said, feeling a spark of hope.

Scene 3: The Database Search

Setting: The precinct, the team working together.

Ethan and Sarah worked together, inputting the tattoo design into the precinct's database. As they waited, Ethan's mind raced with possibilities. Could this be the key to unraveling his father's murder?

"Got it!" Sarah exclaimed suddenly, her eyes wide. "There's a match. This guy is connected to a gang called The Iron Claws."

Ethan's heart sank. "The Iron Claws? They've been a thorn in our side for years."

"Yeah, and their leader is known for being ruthless," Sarah continued, looking at the screen. "His name is Victor Reyes."

Scene 4: A Dangerous Game

Setting: The precinct, strategizing their next move.

Ethan leaned back in his chair, a frown creasing his forehead. "If Reyes is involved, we're diving into deep waters. We need to approach this carefully."

"I agree," Sarah replied. "We can't let them know we're onto them."

Ethan nodded, strategizing their next steps. "Let's gather intel on Reyes. See if he's connected to Cross or if he's been involved in other crimes."

Scene 5: The Informant

Setting: A dimly lit diner, Ethan meeting with a source.

Later that day, Ethan sat in a booth at a local diner, waiting for an informant named Tony, a small-time crook who had information on the Iron Claws. The smell of greasy food filled the air, and Ethan's stomach growled, but he was too anxious to eat.

"Detective," Tony said as he slid into the booth, looking around nervously. "You're sure no one followed me?"

"Just talk, Tony," Ethan urged. "What do you know about Victor Reyes?"