Bruce parked his car near the old Cartwright estate, the engine humming to a halt. As he stepped out, he felt a strange silence in his head, an eerie void where thoughts usually raced. It unsettled him like a fog obscuring his clarity. He knew the silence only meant a thing - that he still had more time. Walking up the path, Bruce reached the front door and was taken by the guards. Guarded through the same old oath, and then down into a basement, Bruce came face to face with Pa Jonathan for the second time. Pa Jonathan Cartwright, a weathered old man with a stern expression, greeted him with a warm smile. "Pa Jonathan, I've been doing some digging on the site," Bruce began, his voice tinged with disappointment. "I haven't found anything concrete yet. And time is running out."Pa Jonathan's eyes flickered with a mix of concern and resignation. "Thank you, Agent Payne. I had a feeling it wouldn't be that easy. A smart mind is involved," he replied. "But there's something you should kn

The day was bright with the sun up in the sky, casting its glow into the room, however, Bruce's day was cloaked in darkness, mirroring the uncertainty that lingered in Bruce's mind. He had spent countless hours immersed in thoughts of Robert the serial killer, whose sinister words still haunted him.After some hours, he delved deep into Robert Lawson's online history, Bruce discovered the chilling truth that Robert had been masquerading as a reporter all along. It was a clever cover, one that no one would suspect.Robert Lawson, the well-respected reporter who had been relentlessly pursuing the Riptide case for years, had become the very embodiment of the serial killer he sought to apprehend. Cooking up a cat-and-mouse story while he was both. A perverse irony that only heightened Bruce's fear and suspicion. He understood that refusing to play along would lead to his demise, but he yearned to discover how far he could push the limits before Robert turned on him.Waves of anxiety washe

The following day, as Bruce had planned, he placed a call to Riptide and he was given another club as their rendezvous. The club buzzed with the murmurs of conversation and the distant sound of music. Bruce sat at a corner table, casting occasional glances towards the entrance as he waited for Riptide to arrive.Finally, Riptide joined Bruce on his table and sat before him. He appeared in his masquerading attire as a reporter with a briefcase, a camera around his neck and some sheets of paper.With a slight nod, he approached the table, taking a seat across from him. The dim lighting played upon Riptide's face, emphasizing his mysterious demeanour.Bruce cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "Good to see you, Agent Payne. Thanks for agreeing to meet."Bruce's voice carried a low, steady tone. "Likewise, Riptide. I'm always open to intriguing propositions." Bruce leaned back, his eyes locked with Riptide's. "I've been thinking about this alliance, and I believe we have the potentia

The room was cloaked in an air of anticipation, more silence hanging heavily in the dimly lit space. Bruce and Riptide, donning matching cat masks, stood as sentinels, their gaze fixed on Luke Cartwright, who was slowly regaining consciousness. The resounding click of Luke's awakening jolted him back to reality.Awareness flooded Luke's senses after a twitch and he opened his eyes. His visions were blurred and he instinctively tried to bring his hands to his face, only to be met with the resistance of tightly bound restraints.Panic gripped him, his heart pounding against his chest like a drum determined to break free. His eyes darted around the room, taking in the presence of Riptide and another unidentified figure."What! Where am I?" Luke asked. Riptide, with a sinister smile curling on his lips, spoke in a low, measured tone, betraying the simmering intensity that lay beneath his calm demeanour. "Agent Payne, Luke is awake," he declared, his eyes locked onto Luke's face. Bruce's

Riptide and Bruce stood face to face in the dimly lit garage, the hum of Bruce's car filling the background. Riptide, filled with curiosity, couldn't help but question Bruce's actions."What are you doing, Agent Payne?" Riptide inquired, his gaze locked onto Bruce's unwavering expression.Bruce met Riptide's eyes, his own filled with a mix of expectations and doubt. "Nothing," he replied, his voice steady. "There's no need to worry. We've obtained what we came for."Bruce awaited a hostile shot from Riptide. He could see that Riptide seemed hurt and was wearing a betrayed look since he got the locket from the safe. Riptide's voice carried a hint of urgency. "Why are you holding on to the locket? That was my part, I get the locket, you get the map. "But why did you have to take that risk? Bruce asked. "If we're discovered to be arguing about who's getting the locket and reported, we'll be locked up until Luke is found. It's too dangerous."Riptide kept staring. Bruce's demeanour rem