Mind Manipulators
Julie Smith
© Julie Smith, 2025
ISBN 978-5-0065-8655-0
Created with Ridero smart publishing system
Chapter 1: The Missing Journalist
The rain fell steadily over Crescent Bay, drumming against the windows of Detective Ethan Cross’s car as he drove through the narrow streets of the sleepy seaside town. It was late afternoon, and the sky had darkened prematurely, cloaked in heavy storm clouds that seemed to mirror the weight settling in Ethan’s chest. He had been summoned by an urgent call from Chief Inspector Miller, who claimed there was something unusual about the disappearance of Sarah Whitmore, a well-known investigative reporter for the local newspaper.
Ethan parked his black sedan near the police station and stepped out, pulling up the collar of his trench coat against the biting wind. The air smelled of saltwater and damp earth, a reminder of how isolated this place truly was. Inside the station, Chief Miller greeted him with a grim expression.
«Cross,» Miller began without preamble, «Sarah Whitmore hasn’t been seen in three days. Her apartment is untouched, her car still in the garage. No ransom note, no witnesses – nothing.»
Ethan raised an eyebrow, leaning casually against the edge of Miller’s desk while masking his growing curiosity. «Sounds like she just walked away.»
Miller shook his head emphatically, crossing his arms over his chest. «Not Sarah. She lived and breathed journalism. If anyone could sniff out trouble, it was her. And now… she’s gone.»
A flicker of doubt sparked in Ethan’s mind. Something about this case felt off, gnawing at the edges of his instincts. He glanced around the room, noticing the tense atmosphere among the officers. Even the coffee machine seemed quieter than usual, as if sensing the gravity of the situation.
«Why me?» Ethan asked finally, breaking the silence.
Miller hesitated before answering. «Because you’re the best we can get on such short notice. Besides, you’ve dealt with cases like this before. Someone like Sarah doesn’t vanish into thin air without reason.»
Later that evening, Ethan visited Sarah’s modest apartment on the outskirts of town. It was eerily silent, save for the soft hum of appliances and the occasional drip of water from the kitchen sink. The place spoke volumes about its owner: neat stacks of notebooks lined shelves filled with books on politics, economics, and human rights. A bulletin board hung above her desk, covered in photos, clippings, and handwritten notes connected by red string.
Papers were scattered across her desk – notes scribbled hastily in her neat handwriting, photographs clipped from newspapers, and maps marked with red circles. One photo caught his eye. It showed a group of men standing outside a dilapidated warehouse on the edge of town. Their faces were partially obscured, but one man stood out – a tall figure with piercing eyes and a scar running down his left cheek. Beneath the image, Sarah had written: «Key player? Investigate further.»
Before he could delve deeper, his phone buzzed. It was a message from an unknown number: «If you dig too deep, you’ll wish you hadn’t.»
Ethan frowned, staring at the screen for a long moment. His gut told him this wasn’t random. Someone knew he was here – and they weren’t happy about it.
He pocketed his phone and continued searching. Among the papers, he found fragments of an unfinished article titled «Shadows Beneath the Surface.» The text hinted at corruption within the town council but stopped abruptly mid-sentence, leaving behind only questions.
As Ethan left the apartment, the rain had intensified, drenching the streets in a silver sheen under the streetlights. Despite the chill, his mind burned with possibilities. What secrets had Sarah uncovered? And who wanted her silenced so badly?
Chapter 2: A Glimpse Into the Past
That night, Ethan couldn’t shake the unease creeping into his mind. The anonymous threat weighed heavily on him, but so did the mystery surrounding Sarah’s disappearance. Who were these men in the photograph? What secrets had she uncovered?
Back at the station, Ethan dug deeper into Sarah’s past. He learned she had recently begun investigating rumors of illegal activities tied to Victor Kane, a wealthy businessman with ties to politics and organized crime. Her last article hinted at corruption within the town council, though it never went live.
«Why stop now?» Ethan muttered to himself, staring at the incomplete draft on his screen. «Unless someone stopped her.»
His thoughts were interrupted by another message: «You’re closer than you think.» This time, the number wasn’t masked – it belonged to Claire Bennett, a former FBI agent turned private investigator. Curious, Ethan dialed the number.
«Claire Bennett,» answered a voice laced with authority and experience.
«Detective Ethan Cross,» he replied cautiously. «We have a mutual interest.»
After a brief pause, Claire agreed to meet him at a café on the waterfront. When they met, Claire handed him a file containing information she’d gathered independently.
«Kane’s not your average businessman,» Claire warned, her sharp blue eyes meeting his. «He’s got connections that run deep – and dirty.»
Ethan flipped through the file, absorbing details about Kane’s rise to power and whispers of his involvement in shady dealings. «And Sarah found something he didn’t want exposed.»
Claire leaned forward, her tone dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. «Let me help. Together, we might stand a chance.»
Ethan studied her face, searching for any hint of deception. There was none. Instead, he saw determination – and perhaps even a flicker of personal stake in the matter.
«Why are you involved?» he asked finally.
Claire hesitated, then sighed. «I used to work cases like this back when I was with the Bureau. But after one investigation went sideways…» She trailed off, shaking her head. «Let’s just say I know what happens when people like Kane get their hands dirty.»
Ethan nodded slowly, understanding implicit in his gesture. Corruption often came hand-in-hand with danger, and those brave enough to expose it paid dearly.
«You said you have info,» Ethan prompted, gesturing toward the file.
Claire nodded, opening her laptop. On the screen appeared documents detailing Kane’s financial transactions, many of which led to offshore accounts linked to known criminal organizations. «This isn’t just about Crescent Bay,» she explained. «It’s part of something bigger.»
Ethan leaned back in his chair, piecing together fragments of the puzzle. «So, Sarah stumbled onto something big – and Kane made sure she wouldn’t finish telling the world.»
Claire nodded gravely. «Exactly. Which means whoever took her won’t be thrilled to see us poking around.»
Their conversation stretched late into the night, each revelation adding layers to the mystery. By the time they parted ways, Ethan felt both invigorated and wary. They were stepping into dangerous waters, and turning back wasn’t an option.
As he drove home, the rain continued to fall, casting shimmering reflections on the wet pavement. In the rearview mirror, Ethan caught sight of headlights following him – a fleeting glimpse before they disappeared into the darkness.
«Looks like we’re being watched,» he murmured to himself, gripping the steering wheel tighter. The game had only just begun.
Chapter 3: The Warehouse
The next morning, Ethan and Claire made their way to the warehouse depicted in the photograph Sarah had left behind. It stood on the edge of town, surrounded by overgrown weeds and rusted chain-link fences that sagged under years of neglect. Its walls were streaked with grime, and broken windows gaped like hollow eyes into the unknown.
«Stay