Shadows in the Savannah

om apartment. No return address, no stamp, just a hastily scrawled "Urgent" across the front. Ayo bent down to pick it up, his instincts prickl

he oppressive heat. Ayo dropped the envelope on the kitchen counter and stared at it, his brow furrow

of tea before sitting down to address the mystery. With deliberate precision, he slit open the envelope using a knife fro

IDGE AT MIDNIGHT. COME

of unsolved murders plaguing the city. Four bodies in as many weeks, each victim left with a single red ribbon tied to their wrist. The

e alone. Was it a trap? Almost certainly. But ignoring it wasn't an option. I

coat and slid his service pistol into its holster, checking the chamber with practiced ease. His badge and a flashlight followed, tucked

ing with life even at this hour, seemed eerily quiet. He navigated through narrow lanes and wide highways, the city's

his movements deliberate and quiet. The bridge loomed ahead, its iron beams casting eerie shadows under the f

ut Ayo knew better than to trust appearances. His right hand hovered near his holster as he

a," a voice called

t conversational, but it carried an edge that set his nerves on hi

ght," he demanded

he man was dressed in dark clothing, his face obscured by a hood.

taking a cautious step forward. "Who are y

across the bridge. "I know you're chasing a ghost, Det

feet with a soft thud. Ayo crouched to pick it up, his eyes never leaving the

ned at what he saw. A terrified woman sat bound to a chair in a dimly lit room, her muffled cries fil

r. It read 11:57 PM. Ayo's pulse quickened as he did the math. If

the dim lighting cast harsh shadows that obscured the details. But in the corner of the frame, he noticed something faint, a flic

Ayo slammed the car into gear and sped off, his tires screeching against the pavement. His hands gripped the s

e sentinels in the night. Ayo killed his headlights as he approached the bar, parking a block a

he cracks. He tried the door; it creaked open with a groan. Inside, the air was thick with the stench of alcohol and d

ly ajar, revealing a makeshift recording setup. The woman from the video sat bound to the chair, her e

m for the captor. But it was empty, save for the woman

his voice firm but reassuring. The woman sobbed, collapsing into his arms o

e corner of the room, where a small device blinked ominously. His b

d through the bar and out into the night, barely making it across the street when the explosion ripp

is ears rang, and his vision blurred, but he forced himself

had only