Vanessa stepped out of the car, her boots landing heavily on the concrete as she slammed the door shut. Josh got out beside her, his face composed but serious. The precinct buzzed with tension even from outside—she could feel it in the air, like static before a storm. Her gut twisted with unease.
Something was wrong.
Her heart thumped harder with every step she took toward the building. It wasn't just the case. It wasn't just the gruesome scene from earlier. This was something else—something deeper. A gnawing suspicion that clung to her like a shadow.
The moment they entered the station, the atmosphere hit them like a wall.
Officers paced the hallway nervously. Papers were being shuffled too quickly. Whispers filled the space. Everyone looked tense, and no one met Vanessa's eyes.
Josh frowned. "What the hell is going on in here?"
