Dwayne stared at the photograph until the image blurred.
His fingers tightened around the phone.
The timestamp in the corner read 6:17 p.m.
Less than fifteen minutes ago.
Whoever had taken the picture had been standing outside The London Chronicle while Adeline walked out of work.
Watching.
Waiting.
His pulse thundered in his ears.
Jarvis noticed the change in his brother's expression immediately.
"Dwayne?"
No response.
"Dwayne, what is it?"
Without a word, Dwayne handed him the phone.
Jarvis's eyes widened as he studied the photograph.
"What the..."
His gaze moved to the message.
"You're too late again."
A chill ran through him.
"They're watching her."
Dwayne nodded stiffly.
"They've already found her."
Jarvis looked back at the image.
"There are dozens of people outside that building."
"Could've been anyone."
"Exactly."
Dwayne took the phone back, enlarging the photograph.
His eyes swept over every face.
A woman talking on her mobile.
A delivery cyclist adjusting his helmet.
A man carrying a briefcase.
Students crossing the street.
Nothing seemed unusual.
That was what frightened him most.
The killer had learned.
No dramatic threats.
No obvious signs.
Just a photograph.
A reminder that they could get close whenever they wanted.
Jarvis folded his arms.
"We need to tell the police."
Dwayne's jaw tightened.
"And say what?"
"That someone sent you a picture?"
"They'll ask why."
"They'll ask who would target my wife."
"And then they'll start digging."
Jarvis held his gaze.
"Maybe it's time they did."
"I mean… we need to know what we are up against!"
"I've got a gut feeling there's really more to this you know "
For a long moment, neither brother spoke.
The silence was broken by footsteps on the staircase.
Adeline.
She entered the library carrying two mugs of tea.
"You both look serious."
Her smile faltered.
"Did something happen?"
Dwayne slipped the phone into his pocket before she noticed.
"No."
"Just work."
She looked between the brothers.
"I've never seen business reports make either of you look like you've seen a ghost."
Jarvis forced a laugh.
"Your husband worries too much."
"I noticed."
She handed Dwayne his tea before sitting beside him.
"I've already survived other journalists, politicians, and football fans."
"I think I can survive one assignment."
Dwayne managed a faint smile.
"If anyone can, it's you."
"….though, I feel a bit neglected, I can't believe you abandoned our honeymoon for this"
She leaned her head against his shoulder.
"I'm so sorry darling, I promise, after this I'll go anywhere you want me to even if it's the moon"
"You'll miss me."
"I already do."
She laughed softly.
"I'm leaving tomorrow morning."
"You've got less than twenty-four hours."
"Make them count."
Adeline leaned in, totally forgetting that Jarvis was still in the room. She held Dwayne's face in her palms and caressing his soft cheeks, she kissed him. Dwayne shamelessly grabbed her thighs in response as he returned her kisses
Embarrassed, flustered, and a little jealous, Jarvis excused them shutting the door behind him
For the first time that evening...
Dwayne almost forgot the photograph.
Almost.
Nearly two hundred miles away...
Rain lashed against the stained windows of an abandoned manor house hidden deep within the North Yorkshire moors.
The building had been empty for decades.
At least...
That was what everyone believed.
A lone figure stood before a wall covered in photographs.
Every victim.
Every crime scene.
Every newspaper clipping.
Red string connected faces, locations, and dates in an intricate web only one person fully understood.
A new photograph was pinned to the centre.
Adeline Brown.
No.
Adeline Davies.
The figure traced a finger over her smiling face.
"So..."
A low voice echoed through the empty room.
"You finally married him."
Silence answered.
"But he's mine"
The figure smiled
"It doesn't matter."
"Names change."
"People don't."
A drawer slid open.
Inside lay an old leather-bound journal.
Its edges were worn with age.
The initials A.B. had been carefully carved into the cover.
The figure opened it to the final page.
A sentence had already been written in neat black ink.
The truth always returns to where it was buried.
The journal snapped shut.
The figure reached for another object resting beside it.
An old school photograph.
Seven teenagers smiled into the camera.
One face had been scratched away completely.
Another had been circled in red.
Dwayne Davies.
"You've stayed hidden for years."
"But I have finally found you "
The figure's smile widened.
"You know, secrets don't die."
"They rot."
"And eventually..."
"They smell."
The following morning dawned cool and overcast.
Adeline woke before sunrise.
She quietly dressed, careful not to wake Dwayne.
She had almost reached the bedroom door when his voice stopped her.
"You weren't going to leave without saying goodbye."
She turned.
"I thought you were asleep."
"I couldn't."
He sat up slowly.
There were dark circles beneath his eyes.
He hadn't slept.
Not really.
She walked back to the bed.
"I'm only going for a few days."
"I know."
"b..but can you not go?"
Dwayne let his worry overshadow him; but Adeline's mind was made up
He sighed
"You'll call?"
"Every day."
"And answer every time."
She smiled.
"Yes, Mr. Davies."
He reached for her hand.
His thumb brushed gently across the gold wedding band on her finger.
"If anything feels wrong..."
She squeezed his hand.
"I'll leave."
"I promise."
she kissed him passionately then hugged him
He wanted to tell her everything.
About Blackthorn.
About the messages.
About the fear that had haunted him for years.
The words rose to his lips.
Then died there.
Not yet.
He kissed her forehead instead.
"Come home safely."
"I will."
Outside the Davies estate, a black Chronicle vehicle waited by the front gates.
Emma leaned out of the passenger window.
"There she is!"
Sophia was in there too, she waved
"You've made us late already."
Adeline laughed as she placed her suitcase in the boot.
"Tell Richard that wasn't my fault."
"He already blamed traffic."
Emma grinned.
"I blamed you."
"Same here"
Sophia confessed
"Mr Davies is kindhearted, I'm too surprised he let you come with us"
"Shut up Soph! You aren't even on this team"
Emma laughed and so did Adeline
She climbed into the car.
As the vehicle pulled away, Adeline glanced back.
Dwayne stood on the front steps.
One hand tucked into his coat pocket.
The other raised in a silent farewell.
She smiled and waved until the gates disappeared from view.
Only then did Dwayne lower his hand.
The smile vanished from his face.
Behind him, Jarvis stepped onto the porch.
"She's gone."
"Yes."
"What now?"
Dwayne looked toward the empty road.
His expression hardened with quiet resolve.
"Now..."
He said.
"I stop running."
"I must protect her"
"how do you intend to?"
"I'm going with her"
"and I'm coming with you"
Somewhere beyond the estate walls...
Hidden behind a line of ancient oak trees...
The shutter of a camera clicked once.
Then again.
The black SUV carrying Adeline disappeared into the distance.
A gloved hand lowered the camera.
A message was typed onto an unregistered phone.
She's on her way.
The reply came almost instantly.
Good. Let her find the truth.
She'll wish she hadn't.