The rooftop of the derelict building loomed under a starless sky.
Rebecca sat bound to a chair, her body quaking, a rag stuffed in her mouth to stifle her whimpers.
Across from her stood a man cloaked in a black trench coat, his face hidden behind a gleaming silver mask.
In his hand, a scalpel glinted as he leisurely polished its razor–sharp edge.
“Shh…”
He pressed a finger to his lips, silencing her with a chilling gesture.
“No need to be scared. It’ll all be over… soon.”
His voice was deceptively melodic, deep, and smooth, like a cello’s mournful hum. But to Rebecca, it was more terri- fying than a demon’s snarl.
“Who… who are you?” she mumbled through the gag, her words barely coherent.
“Who am I?” The man chuckled softly, his fingers slowly peeling the mask from his face.
When Rebecca saw his features, her breath caught, her mind reeling.
It’s him! How could it be him?
“Surprised, aren’t you?”
He stepped closer, the scalpel’s cold edge brushing against her quivering cheek.
“I’ve waited for this moment for a long time.
“I want you to confess, Rebecca. Tell me the truth about what happened three years ago.
“I want you to give her back what you stole.”
At that moment, the rooftop door exploded open with a deafening crash.
“Freeze! Police!”
Franco stormed in with his team, weapons drawn. When he saw the man’s face, he froze.
“Judson?”
The masked man was none other than his deputy, Judson–his trusted friend, his right–hand man for
“Well, Captain Alvarez, you made it.”
years.
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Judson flashed a dazzling, almost manic grin, pressing the scalpel against Rebecca’s throat
“Stay back.
“Or I can’t promise what I might do.”
Franco forced himself to stay calm, his voice steady despite the chaos in his chest.
“Judson, have you lost your mind? Do you even realize what you’re doing?”
“Oh, I know exactly what I’m doing,” Judson replied, his eyes blazing with a feverish intensity. “I’m delivering justice for her.”
Everyone knew who he meant.
“Three years ago, I saw Rebecca, this vile snake, plant forged evidence in Adelina’s office!
“I overheard her gloating to someone on the phone, claiming credit for her scheme!
“I wanted to tell you, Franco, but I was too afraid.
“I discovered who that man was… his power was far too great. We couldn’t possibly stand against him.
“So I bided my time, waiting for the right moment.
“And now, that moment’s here.”
Judson turned to Rebecca, who was teetering on the edge of fainting, his voice softening to a terrifying croon.
“Speak.
“Tell us everything you know.
“Or this blade will end you.”
“I’ll talk! I’ll talk!” Rebecca sobbed, her resolve crumbling as she spilled the truth about three years ago.
She had burned with jealousy over Adelina’s brilliance and her marriage to Franco.
So she struck a deal with a shadowy figure known only as “Mr. X.” Together, they orchestrated the frame–up.
Rebecca fabricated evidence to incriminate Adelina, while Mr. X engineered the serial murders, weaving a web of clues that all pointed to her.
Their goal was to utterly destroy Adelina.
“Who’s Mr. X?” Franco’s voice was hoarse, barely more than a rasp.
Rebecca shook her head frantically.
“I don’t know… I swear I don’t! We only communicated one–way. I never even knew if they were a man or a woman!”
Franco’s heart sank, the trail going cold once again.
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Chapter 5
He turned to Judson, his gaze heavy with conflicted emotions.
“Judson, put the knife down. It’s not too late to stop this.”
“Not too late?”
Judson’s laugh was laced with bitter sorrow.
“You think I only want her confession?
“No.
“I want her to pay in blood!”
With that, he raised the scalpel, aiming for Rebecca’s heart with lethal intent.
“No!”
Franco’s eyes widened in a furious roar.
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