Edge Of Innocence

Chapter 14 (The Puppeteer's Game)

It was a tough and sleepless night for Mike and Lea. Pressure was building on them as Ranger had come into the picture unexpectedly. They were definitely not expecting someone like him to play such a pivotal role, and an unsettling feeling was growing inside them.

At exactly 6 a.m., Mike sat in front of the phone, his hands fidgeting as he debated whether to call Ranger. The number lay on a piece of paper in front of him, left by Ranger the previous night at the hotel. Lea, sensing his hesitation, urged him to make the call. With a deep breath, Mike agreed and dialed the number.

Meanwhile, Ranger had just woken up. Living alone, he took his time preparing a cup of coffee, enjoying the quiet morning. As he took his first sip, the phone rang. He had been expecting this call and moved toward the receiver slowly, preparing himself to assert control over the conversation. Picking up the phone, he remained silent for a few seconds before finally answering in a calm, authoritative tone.

"Hello?" Mike’s voice came through, laced with nervousness.

Ranger remained silent for a moment longer, letting the tension build.

"Am I talking to Ranger? You left this number last night at the hotel," Mike continued, his uncertainty evident.

Ranger, in a deep and composed voice, replied, "Yes, I remember. You’ve made a wise decision by calling."

A faint, knowing smirk played on Ranger’s lips. Mike swallowed hard before asking, "What do we need to do? What do you want from us?"

Ranger recalled Lucas’s instructions—to stall them until the evening. With a tone of indifference, he replied, "You seem too anxious. Have patience. I’m busy right now. But I like that you’re cooperating. Call me again in the evening, after 5 p.m."

Mike was taken aback. He had expected demands or negotiations, not a dismissal. "Why wait until the evening?" he pressed, but Ranger had no interest in further discussion.

"Just do as I say. No more questions," Ranger cut him off and ended the call.

Mike stared at the phone in disbelief. Lea, who had been listening closely, frowned. "What do we do now?"

Mike exhaled sharply. "We wait. Until evening."

Both of them knew that waiting would be the hardest part of all.

When Ranger hung up the phone, an awkward silence filled the room. Even he wasn’t entirely sure what his next move should be. He was waiting for Lucas to call and lay out the next steps.

At the police station, Samuel and his team remained at a standstill. No new leads had surfaced, and despite their best efforts, the case had made no progress. It felt like they were running in circles. The lack of evidence was frustrating, and with multiple other investigations demanding their attention, their focus on this case was starting to wane.

Meanwhile, Lucas woke up around 9 a.m., feeling relatively at ease. He had a sense of control over the situation. After completing his morning routine, he decided it was time to make a call. He walked to a nearby phone booth and dialed Ranger’s number. The phone rang twice before Ranger picked up.

"Hey, it’s Lucas. Did they call? Did they call?" Lucas asked urgently.

Ranger, already expecting this call, leaned back and smirked. "I was waiting for you. Yes, they called this morning, just as you planned. I told them to call again after 5 p.m."

"Good job," Lucas responded. "It’s hard to explain things over the phone. Meet me at the same spot at 3 p.m."

Ranger agreed, and the call ended.