Signs of Murder

Chapter 5

The precinct felt suffocating. The pieces were coming together, but the picture was still incomplete. Kaito ran a hand through his hair, his mind racing.

A journalist. A media executive. A private investigator. A lawyer. Each victim had been involved in uncovering or protecting secrets.

The question wasn't just who the next victim was.

It was what they had all been trying to expose.

Reina's voice cut through his thoughts. "We need to find a common case. Something they all had a stake in."

Kaito nodded and pulled up old case files, cross-referencing names. But then, something caught his eye.

A name that appeared in multiple places.

One of Mina Arakawa's unfinished articles. A lawsuit handled by Yui Nakamura. A private investigation run by Toru Shindo.

Hajime Kiryu.

CEO of Kyosei Group, one of the most powerful conglomerates in the country.

Kaito's stomach twisted. If all the victims had been looking into him, then this wasn't just a serial murder case.

It was a cover-up.

Before he could say a word, his phone vibrated again. Another text from the unknown number.

"You're getting close, Detective. But close isn't enough. The next one dies in one hour."

Kaito's breath caught.

One hour.

He looked at Reina. "If we don't find the next target now, they're dead."

Reina didn't hesitate. "Then let's move."

They had a name. A direction. A ticking clock.

Now, they just had to beat the killer to the next victim.

To Be Continued...