Oldest Longest Running Cold Case

Chapter 1: When Hearts Collide

The rain had begun its steady fall just as Charlie stepped into the warm glow of the city café, shaking off his soaked jacket. The streets of Liora gleamed wet beneath neon signs, but inside, the air was thick with the scent of coffee and quiet murmurs.

Charlie had always preferred the shadows - quiet places where no one demanded attention. Yet tonight, something pulled him to this small refuge. Maybe it was the ache he couldn't name, or the memory of a life he thought he'd left behind.

His eyes scanned the room, landing on a woman seated alone near the window. Her hair was dark, cascading like a midnight waterfall, framing a face both striking and guarded. Her eyes met his with a sharp, piercing gaze - the kind that saw too much.

She smiled, just the barest curve of lips, and Charlie felt a strange warmth bloom inside him. Before he could think twice, he found himself walking toward her.