January 1, 2026 – Chicago Cook County Police Department – Interrogation Room 4Time: 2:00 PM
The cold metal of the handcuffs dug into my wrists, but it didn't bother me. On the contrary, the coldness of the metal reminded me where I was and what I had to do. Natalia was sitting on the other side of the table. A single lamp facing us illuminated the tense void between us.
"Three dead, Michael," Natalia said, her voice as soulless as a grave. "Enzo and the other two men. They all entered your studio and were all professionally executed. You're a psychologist, not an executioner. How did you do this?"
I kept my composure. I looked into her eyes, deep into them. "My father taught me something, Natalia:If you can't outrun the hunter, burn down his forest.Those men came for Elara. I just closed the door."
"Who are you working for?" Natalia asked, leaning toward the table. "That 'Adrian Vane' identity, those guns... Who's behind you?"
"No one," I said. "Just me and the facts. Natalia, there are at least seven police officers on Luca D'Angelo's payroll in this building right now. If you let me out of this room, Luca will use every one of them to kill me. I didn't come here to hide. I came here to crush the snake's head in its own lair."
Natalia glanced at the door for a moment, then lowered her voice. "Luca won't leave you alive here, Michael. This is his castle."
"You're wrong, Detective," I said, a faint, dark smile on my lips. "This is my playground now. Now, call Chief Miller here. You have a question to ask him."
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Little Italy – Luca's Mansion
Luca D'Angelo threw his whiskey glass against the wall in his office. "In custody? Michael Hale turned himself in to the police?"
"Sir, he killed Enzo and the others," his new assistant said, trembling. "Reyes caught him in the studio."
Luca picked up the knife on the table and twirled it between his fingers. "Smart bastard... He realized we wouldn't find him outside, so he threw himself into the false security of the police. But he forgot one thing. The keys to that security are in my pocket."
Luca took out his phone and made a quick call. "Miller? Our guest is in Interrogation Room 4. I want a 'suicide' to happen in that room tonight. Understood?"
Luca smiled when the voice on the other end of the line confirmed. "Dead men tell no tales, Michael. Your story ends in that cell tonight."
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Police Headquarters – Cell Block
Michael leaned against the iron bars of his solitary cell. He listened to the footsteps of the guard outside. The steps were heavy, hesitant. Michael visualized in his mind that "strike point" his father had taught him years ago.
One unguarded moment, one move.
The cell door creaked open. The person entering was Chief Miller. He had no file in his hand, no handcuff key. Just a silenced pistol.
"I'm sorry, Michael," Miller said, pointing the gun at Michael's chest. "Your father was a good cop, but you made too much noise."
Michael didn't flinch. "You know what, Miller? My father always said the same thing about you: 'It's easy to buy a greedy man, but never a loyal one.' You just went cheap."
Just as Miller was about to pull the trigger, a crackling voice came over the speaker in Michael's cell.Asher Burke's voice.
"Chief Miller... If you pull that trigger, my sniper waiting outside the building right now will carve your brains into that wall. Michael Hale's death tonight is not part of my plans."
Miller looked around in panic. "Asher? But Luca... Luca wanted me to kill him!"
"Luca is a pawn, Miller. You are nothing. Drop the gun and come outside. Michael and I need some time alone."
Michael closed his eyes when he heard Asher's voice. The game was no longer just on the streets of Chicago, but in the darkest corners of the police force.
Asher whispered:"Good job, Michael. You brought Luca to your feet. But the real party is just beginning. Are you ready?"