Missing Piece
Samantha's mind was buzzing. Victor Wren's name had come up in her investigation once before, but she had dismissed it, thinking it was just another dead-end lead. Now, it was glaring at her, a missing piece that could bring everything into focus. If Wren had vanished months ago, there had to be a reason. And if The Broker was looking for him, then the stakes were even higher than they had realized.
She looked at Daniel, who was already gathering his things. "We need to find Wren, Daniel. He's the last piece of the puzzle. If we find him, we might be able to stop whatever Blackwood's planning."
Daniel nodded, his face set with determination. "I'll reach out to my contact at the federal office. They might have more intel on Wren's disappearance. But if he's been missing for months, there's a chance he's already gone underground."
"Then we find him the old-fashioned way," Samantha said, standing up. "We track down every lead, every person connected to him. Someone knows something."
---
The next few days were a blur of late-night meetings, phone calls, and countless hours sifting through old records. Wren had worked closely with Blackwood before his disappearance, and his business dealings with the criminal underworld were extensive. But after a certain point, he seemed to vanish without a trace. There were rumors, whispers about a falling out between him and Blackwood, but nothing concrete.
Samantha and Daniel made their way to the last known address for Victor Wren, a rundown apartment building on the outskirts of town. It was a far cry from the high-end offices and lavish homes they were used to investigating. This place felt different, more desperate. It was the kind of place where people went when they had nowhere else to turn.
As they stepped out of the car, Samantha felt a sense of unease wash over her. She had been here before, chasing down leads that never led to anything. But this time, something was different. They were getting closer. She could feel it.
The apartment building was old, the paint peeling from the walls, the smell of stale cigarettes and mildew hanging in the air. They made their way up the narrow staircase, each step creaking underfoot. At the top, they reached a door marked with a number, barely visible through the grime on the glass.
"This is it," Daniel said, his voice low. "Wren's last known address."
Samantha nodded, knocking twice. There was no answer. She knocked again, louder this time, her patience thinning. She wasn't sure what she was expecting, but the silence that followed only made the tension heavier.
"We don't have time for this," Samantha muttered, pulling a lock-picking kit from her bag. "We'll go in."
With a few precise movements, she had the door open, and they stepped inside, the stale air hitting them immediately. The apartment was dark, cluttered with old newspapers, empty bottles, and discarded furniture. It was clear that no one had lived here for months.
"Check the bedroom," Samantha instructed. "I'll go through the rest of the place."
They split up, methodically combing through the apartment. Samantha pulled open drawers, sifted through old files, and searched under the couch cushions. Nothing. The place was a ghost town—except for the faint trace of something that didn't belong.
As she made her way toward the bathroom, Samantha noticed a small, faded photograph tucked behind a cracked mirror. It was a picture of a man—Victor Wren—standing beside Blackwood. But the strange thing was, Blackwood's face had been scratched out, deliberately destroyed. It was a message, Samantha realized. Wren had wanted to sever all ties with Blackwood, and someone had made sure that nobody would forget that.
Daniel's voice broke through her thoughts. "Samantha, you need to see this."
She hurried into the bedroom, where Daniel had uncovered a hidden compartment in the floor. Beneath a loose floorboard, they found a thick envelope, worn from years of neglect. Samantha's fingers trembled as she pulled it free.
Inside the envelope were a series of documents—records of illegal transactions, lists of names, and... something else. A map. Samantha spread it out on the bed, her heart pounding. The map highlighted several locations within the city, marked with red X's. But one stood out above the rest—a large, empty lot just outside of town.
"This is it," Samantha said, her voice steady with certainty. "Wren knew something was coming. This location... it's where we need to be."
---
The drive to the lot was quick, the sky darkening as the sun set behind them. Samantha's thoughts raced. What was Wren trying to tell them? Why had he hidden these documents here, and why had he marked that spot?
When they arrived, the lot was just as abandoned as they had expected. It was a large, open space, overgrown with weeds and empty, save for a few rusted-out cars scattered around the edges. It seemed like a dead end—nothing more than a place for people to dump their unwanted belongings.
But Samantha wasn't convinced. There was something about this place that didn't sit right with her.
"Stay sharp," Samantha warned, as they stepped out of the car. "This could be a trap."
They moved cautiously toward the center of the lot, their eyes scanning the area. But as they got closer to the marked location, they saw it—an old, decrepit building, hidden behind a thicket of trees. It was barely visible from the street, but it was there, just like the map had indicated.
Samantha's heart raced as they approached the building. It was a warehouse, long abandoned and barely standing. The windows were boarded up, the door locked tight. But Samantha wasn't about to let that stop her. She pulled a crowbar from her bag and pried the door open.
Inside, the air was thick with dust and the scent of mildew. The space was empty, save for a few crates and boxes piled up in the far corner. Samantha's eyes narrowed as she stepped further into the building.
Then, a sound. A soft scuffle from the shadows. Samantha froze, instinctively reaching for her sidearm.
"Who's there?" she called, her voice steady but low.
There was no answer, but the rustling grew louder. And then, out of the darkness, a figure stepped forward. It was a man—disheveled, pale, and thin, but with a familiar face.
"Victor Wren?" Samantha asked, her voice sharp with disbelief.
The man's eyes were wide with fear, and he took a cautious step backward. "You don't understand," he whispered. "You have no idea what you're walking into. They'll kill you. They're already here."
-end of chapter 12