Evil Within

CHAPTER 29

Sophia Green arrived on the scene alongside her team, the familiar green jackets marking them as the special task force. They had rushed over as soon as the distress call came through the radio, the urgency in Officer Miller’s voice leaving no room for delay.

Sophia had hoped, fleetingly, that the call meant progress in the case—that perhaps another team had stumbled upon the killer. But the moment her team stepped onto the scene, her stomach turned. The stark reality was far from what she’d wished for.

The sight of Officer Greg Harper’s lifeless body hanging grotesquely in the telephone booth sent a wave of devastation rippling through the team. Sophia clenched her jaw, fighting the nausea rising in her throat. She’d seen death before, but this was different. This was one of their own.

Andrew James stood silently beside her, his expression unreadable but his fists clenched tightly at his sides. “This isn’t just a murder,” he said finally, his voice heavy with anger. “It’s a message.”

Sophia nodded, though her mind was racing. The killer had upped the stakes, targeting law enforcement directly. This wasn’t just about terrorizing the town anymore; this was a direct assault on the very system meant to protect it.

The scene was swarming with officers and forensic specialists. Blood pooled beneath the telephone booth, the cord still taut around Greg’s neck. The silence among the team was deafening, broken only by the occasional murmurs of investigators collecting evidence.

“I don’t understand,” Andrew muttered, breaking the silence. “This doesn’t quite fit his usual pattern. The killer’s been targeting young women—why the sudden shift to a cop?”

Sophia’s eyes remained fixed on the scene. “It’s a shift, yes, but the brutality? The precision? That’s his signature. He wanted to make a statement.” She turned to Andrew, her eyes dark with determination. “We’re dealing with someone who knows how to adapt, how to keep us off balance.”

Andrew exhaled sharply. “And now the patrol teams are terrified. They’re questioning their own safety, their ability to protect this town.”

Sophia nodded grimly. “That’s exactly what he wants. To break us.”

The Community Meeting

The following morning, a community meeting was called at the town hall. The purpose was twofold: to address the growing fear among the public and to confront the apparent lapses in patrol coverage that allowed such a brutal crime to take place unnoticed.

The room was packed, tension thick in the air. Police officers, community leaders, and concerned residents filled the seats, their voices a murmur of anxiety and frustration. The mayor stood at the front, flanked by Sophia, Andrew, and the police chief.

Sophia could feel the weight of the community’s expectations pressing down on her. They wanted answers, reassurance, and results—all things that had been frustratingly elusive so far.

The mayor cleared his throat, calling the room to order. “Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve gathered here today to address the recent events that have shaken our town to its core. The murder of Officer Greg Harper is a tragedy that strikes at the very heart of our community.”

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd.

The chief stepped forward, his face lined with exhaustion and grief. “We are doing everything in our power to bring this killer to justice. We’ve increased patrols, enlisted the help of experts, and are working around the clock.”

A man in the audience stood, his voice trembling with anger. “And yet, another life was lost—this time, someone who was supposed to protect us! How can we trust you to keep us safe when you can’t even protect your own officers?”

Sophia stepped forward, her voice calm but firm. “I understand your fear and frustration. But let me assure you, we are not sitting idly by. The task force is following every lead, analyzing every clue. This killer thrives on fear, and we will not give him the satisfaction of breaking us.”

Another hand shot up. “What about the curfew? It’s clearly not working. People are still disappearing. What’s next?”

Andrew took the microphone. “The curfew is part of a larger strategy to minimize risk. It’s not a perfect solution, but it buys us time to act. We ask for your patience and cooperation while we work to stop this.”

Despite their reassurances, the mood in the room remained grim. The tension was palpable, the community’s faith in their protectors hanging by a thread.

As the meeting concluded, Sophia caught the police chief’s eye. “We need to regroup,” she said quietly. “This killer isn’t just targeting victims—he’s targeting us. We need to think like him, predict his next move.”

The chief nodded solemnly. “Do whatever it takes, Green. This town can’t take much more.”

Sophia left the meeting with renewed determination. The killer had made it personal, and she intended to make him regret it.

Sophia stormed out of the conference room, her face a mask of frustration and exhaustion. The weight of Officer Greg Harper’s death bore down on her like a storm cloud. The images of his young children flashed in her mind—two innocent faces now fatherless—and his ailing wife, left without the strength or means to cope.

She leaned against the cool wall of the hallway, clenching her fists tightly. This wasn’t just a case anymore; it was a war, and the killer had drawn first blood on their side.

Andrew followed her out, his steps measured but his expression betraying his concern. “Sophia,” he started gently, “you need to take a minute. This isn’t your fault.”

Sophia whipped her head around, her voice sharp and low. “It is my fault, Andrew. We’re supposed to be protecting this town, but we can’t even protect ourselves. Greg was one of us—he trusted us to keep him safe, and now his family…” Her voice cracked slightly before she regained her composure. “They’re left with nothing.”

Andrew sighed, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “This isn’t the time to blame yourself. The killer wants us to spiral, to lose focus. We can’t let him win.”

Sophia shook her head, her jaw tightening. “This isn’t just about focus. He’s mocking us, Andrew. He’s showing us how powerless we are, killing one of our own right under our noses. If we don’t do something drastic, this town won’t just lose faith in us—they’ll lose everything.”

Andrew tilted his head, sensing where this was going. “What are you thinking?”

Sophia straightened up, her eyes cold and resolute. “I’m going to get Luna Bancroft.”

Andrew raised an eyebrow, his voice dropping in concern. “Sophia, are you sure about this? She’s a civilian. Bringing her deeper into this—”

“She’s not just a civilian,” Sophia interrupted. “She’s our only lead. The killer’s pattern is meticulous, but he’s made mistakes. Luna’s insights—her instincts—they’re unique. I can’t explain it, but she can help us. She will help us.”

Andrew hesitated, his lips pressing into a thin line. “You know what you’re asking of her, right? She’s already putting herself at risk just by talking to you. If we bring her closer to this case, closer to the killer…”

Sophia exhaled deeply, her determination unwavering. “I know. I’ll make sure she understands the risks. But right now, we have no choice. If we don’t act now, this killer will keep escalating, and the body count will only rise.”

Andrew nodded slowly, though his worry was evident. “If this is the plan, then we need to keep her as safe as possible. No slip-ups. No risks we can’t control.”

Sophia managed a faint smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “Agreed. I’ll talk to her. You focus on damage control here—Greg’s family, the media, the department. We can’t afford any more cracks in the system.”

Andrew gave her shoulder a firm squeeze. “Be careful, Sophia. We’re walking a fine line here.”

As Sophia stepped out of the station and into the biting evening air, her thoughts swirled with equal parts hope and fear. Luna Bancroft was their best chance at catching the killer—but involving her further could also make her the next target.

For Sophia, the stakes had never been higher.