The late afternoon sun was already fading, casting long, golden bars across the precinct's linoleum floors. Adrian Cross sat at his desk, hunched over a mess of files and coffee-stained notes, the city's distant hum barely audible through the closed window. The digital timer hovered in the corner of his vision: 24:12:00. Just over a day left. The numbers pulsed with a cold urgency, a reminder that the Clockwork Murderer was still out there, and another life was on the line.
He rubbed his eyes, feeling the fatigue settle into his bones. The Eleanor Voss case had barely faded from the headlines, and already the city demanded another miracle. He wondered, not for the first time, if he was in over his head. But the system's presence was a constant, silent companion—sometimes a comfort, sometimes a curse.
He pulled up the Forensic Data Tool, the system's latest upgrade. The 3D model of Andrew Smiles' body hovered before him, so realistic it made his skin crawl. Adrian reached out, his hand passing through the shimmering projection, and marveled at the uncanny sensation—real, yet not. He zoomed in, examining every detail, searching for anything the initial sweep might have missed.
He'd spent the last hour combing through the virtual body, replaying the crime scene in his mind. The clockwork heart was a grotesque marvel, its gears and springs glinting in the artificial light. But it was the victim's hands that caught his attention now. There, on the pale skin, were faint fingerprints—barely visible, but unmistakable.
He leaned in, heart quickening. "System, can you analyze these prints?"
System: To analyze the print, you need to connect me to your police database. Don't worry, I will only collect data that is needed, nothing illegal.
Adrian grimaced. He knew it was a gray area—maybe even outright illegal—but he was out of options. If he waited for the official autopsy and forensic reports, it could take days. By then, the killer would have struck again. He couldn't let that happen.
He stood, stretching the stiffness from his limbs, and made his way to the intelligence department. The hum of computers and low chatter filled the air. Adrian offered a casual wave to a colleague. "Just need to check some notes from the previous victim," he said, forcing a smile.
At the main terminal, he glanced around, then whispered, "What do I need to do?"
System: Just touch the CPU.
Adrian placed his hand on the side of the computer tower. The system's interface flickered in his mind.
Loading… Scanning… Retrieving… Saving…
He held his breath, heart pounding. After a tense moment, the system chimed.
System: Fingerprint analyzed.
Name: Ralph Summers
Occupation: Roland Technology Enterprises
Relation: Boss of Andrew Smiles
Adrian exhaled. Ralph Summers—Andrew's boss. He doubted Ralph was the killer, but it was a lead. He needed to check it out, just in case.
He returned to his office, updating the system's case board with the new information. The board now displayed the victims and their details:
First Victim: Samantha Cortez, waitress at Dane Diner
Second Victim: Thomas Swiss, construction worker at Lenard Construction and Development Company
Third Victim: Andrew Smiles, corporate worker at Roland Technology EnterprisesHe stared at the list, frustration gnawing at him. All victims were just regular employees, and nothing in common except their hearts now are made of clockwork mechanism. No shared hobbies, no overlapping social circles, no obvious enemies. Just ordinary people, plucked from their routines and transformed into gruesome puzzles.
He sat back, letting the silence of the office settle around him. The system's timer ticked down, relentless. He knew he couldn't afford to waste time, but he also couldn't afford to miss anything.
He grabbed his coat and headed out. The drive to Roland Technology Enterprises took nearly an hour, the timer ticking down in his vision: 22:47:35.
On the way, he called Officer Lin. "Any updates?"
Lin's voice crackled through the speaker. "A few meters from the victim's body, we found some footprints. We're trying to track them, but the rain's making it tough."
"Good work. Keep me posted," Adrian said, ending the call.
He arrived at the sleek glass building, checked in at the front desk, and was directed to the top floor. Ralph Summers' office was spacious, with a panoramic view of the city. Ralph, a tall man with thinning hair and a nervous smile, greeted him.
"Detective Cross, right?" Ralph said, shaking his hand. "Is this about Andrew?"
Adrian nodded, flashing his badge. "I need to ask you a few questions. How well did you know Andrew Smiles?"
Ralph's expression softened. "Andrew was one of our best. Always on the clock, always ahead of deadlines. We even published an article about him in the company newsletter last week. He was… reliable. The kind of employee every boss wants."
"Where were you yesterday?" Adrian asked.
"In the office all day. Meetings, mostly. I congratulated Andrew in the morning—he'd just finished a big project. Shook his hand, patted him on the back. I can't believe he's gone."
Adrian nodded, logging every detail. The fingerprint made sense now—just a handshake, a moment of praise. Nothing suspicious, but every piece mattered.
"Did Andrew mention anything unusual? Anyone bothering him?"
Ralph shook his head. "No. He was quiet, kept to himself. If something was wrong, he didn't show it."
Adrian stood. "Thank you for your time, Mr. Summers. If you remember anything else, call me."
As he left, the system chimed in his mind.
System: I advise that you check the bosses of the other victims as well. We could get a better picture this way.
Adrian nodded to himself. Dane Diner was next—the workplace of the first victim, Samantha Cortez.
He stepped out into the evening, the timer still ticking down in his vision. The gears of the case were in motion, and Adrian knew he couldn't afford to waste a single second.