CHAPTER THREE — THE SYMBOL IN THE DARK
The symbol glowed faintly under the flashlight's beam, a dark brand burned into the wooden crate. The lines were charred deep, precise, deliberate—done by someone who wanted their message to last.
Mara crossed her arms, watching Aiden closely. "You recognize it. Don't lie."
Aiden kept his eyes on the symbol. "I recognize it," he finally said, "but I hoped I'd never see it again."
Mara stepped closer. "So what is it? A gang? A cult? Some underground organization we don't know about?"
"No," Aiden said softly. "You don't know about it because they make sure no one knows."
Mara raised an eyebrow. "Meaning?"
Aiden inhaled sharply. "It belongs to a group called The Meridian Circle."
The officers exchanged glances. Mara frowned. "Never heard of them."
"You're not supposed to," Aiden replied. "They operate in the shadows. Quiet. Clean. They don't make mistakes. They don't get caught."
"So why leave this symbol now?" Mara asked. "Why leave your name on a body? Why taunt you?"
Aiden didn't answer immediately. His mind was spinning too fast.
He remembered nights years ago when he first saw the symbol.
When he worked a case involving a missing girl.
When everything went wrong.
Mara noticed the shift in his expression. "Aiden. Talk to me."
He shook his head. "It's complicated."
"It always is with you."
He didn't deny it.
Before they could continue, a rookie officer jogged up to them, holding something wrapped in a plastic sheet. "Detective Voss, we found this down by the water. Looks important."
Mara took it and unfolded the plastic carefully. Inside was a small, metal object.
Aiden's heart dropped.
It was a key.
Old. Rusted around the edges.
A tiny number engraved on it:
17-B
Mara looked confused. "A storage unit key?"
Aiden's face had gone pale. "No. Not a storage unit."
"Then what is it?"
He took the key gently, feeling the cold metal against his fingertips.
He knew exactly what it was.
"It's a room key," Aiden said. "From the old Eastline Motel." He swallowed. "That place closed down six years ago."
Mara blinked. "Why would a killer carry a key to an abandoned motel?"
Aiden's hands tightened around the key.
"Because," he whispered, "it's where they took the girl I couldn't save."
Mara stared at him. "Aiden… that case? The one that made you leave the force?"
He didn't answer.
He didn't have to.
The silence said everything.
Aiden started walking toward the water, needing space, needing air. The fog pressed against him, thick and cold. He stared at the dark river, its surface rippling like it was hiding something underneath.
Mara joined him. "You still think this is random?"
Aiden shook his head slowly. "This is personal. Someone wants me to revisit that case."
"Why now?"
"I don't know." His voice cracked. "But the Meridian Circle… they never do anything without a reason."
Mara placed a hand on his shoulder—something she rarely did. "Then we find the reason."
Before Aiden could respond, a loud shout broke through the fog:
"Detective Voss! Cole! You need to see this!"
They turned quickly and followed the officer behind the loading crates to a smaller alley. The flashlight beams bounced off the walls as they approached what the officer pointed at.
A small message, written in black marker, on the concrete wall.
Four words.
Four words that froze Aiden completely.
WE AREN'T DONE YET
Mara exhaled sharply. "Damn."
Aiden stepped closer, staring at the words.
His voice was barely a whisper.
"This isn't a threat," he said.
Mara glanced at him. "Then what is it?"
"It's an invitation."
"To what?"
Aiden slowly turned to her, eyes dark.
"To the beginning of the end."