Enter the captivating world of the fierce police officer Lenna Nightingale as she finds herself stuck in a web of uncertainty. Haunted by a past she longs to leave behind, Lenna craves a fresh start, but fate has other plans. Like a relentless forc...
I don't know what clicked in my dad's head, but he suddenly decided to bring back the Donovola case.
I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. My dad had never shown any interest in the case before, and now he was determined to solve it. Did Matteo say something to him?
I walked into my cabin with my anxiety at an all-time high.
Maybe my dad was just bored and needed a new challenge. Or maybe Matteo had indeed said something to him about the case. I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease, as if something bad was about to happen. Just then, my gaze landed on an envelope placed neatly at the centre of my desk.
It had no return address, but I recognized the handwriting immediately.
My name was written in bold and underlined letters, and my heart started racing as I picked it up. I tore it open and pulled out a single sheet of paper, on which a message was scrawled in the same handwriting.
"Wow, reopening the case against me, huh? That's a big mistake, Lenna, but at least now the real chase will begin. I'm looking forward to having your pretty little head in my hands by the end of it...or perhaps one of your most beloved's heads?" My hands trembled as I read the threatening message over and over again. He knows...
My eyes started to well up with tears as I thought about all the people I love and care about. I couldn't let them become targets for this psychopath. I looked around the room, wondering if anyone was watching me. The sense of unease that I had felt earlier had now turned into full-blown paranoia.
I started to rummage through all the papers on my table and through all the books like a mad woman looking for a potential hidden camera. How could he know? There must be a camera or something.
Tears streamed down my face as I thought about my family. If I didn't find the source of these cameras soon, I knew that I would have to take drastic measures to protect myself and those I cared about. My heart raced as I frantically searched every nook and cranny of my office, hoping to find some clues. With each passing moment, my fear and anxiety grew stronger until I was certain that I was on the verge of a breakdown. My breath came in short gasps, and my hands shook uncontrollably.
The door to my cabin suddenly opened, and in came Matteo.
"The chief is calling you-"He froze, seeing my frantic state. " What happened?" He immediately asked, walking closer to me.
I quickly fixed my hair and wiped my tears before putting a small smile on my face.
"Nothing, I just misplaced something important," I lied, trying to keep my voice steady. Matteo looked at me sceptically, clearly not convinced by my excuse. He knew something was wrong, and I was pretty sure he could sense the fear emanating from me.
"You're lying," he said bluntly. "What's really going on?"
"Nothing. I'm fine." I tried to convince him, but the words came out weaker than I intended. Matteo narrowed his eyes at me, studying me carefully. I could feel the weight of his gaze on me, making me squirm under the pressure.
"Your hands are shaking and there are still unshed tears in your eyes, so it's best you tell me what happened, or I'll figure it out and drag it out of you myself," he threatened, his voice firm.
A teardrop fell onto my cheek as I replied.
"I'm fine. I-I'll go meet the chief in a minute."
More tears started to fall, and I couldn't take it anymore. My silent tears soon became sobs.
His face contorted into shock as the emotions overwhelmed me, and I found myself crying uncontrollably. I tried to hold back the tears, but they kept flowing. I was ashamed of my vulnerability and felt like a failure for not being stronger. As much as I tried to hide my tears, they betrayed me, sending a clear message that I was not okay.
"Who made you cry?" He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, unable to keep his emotions in check. His face was flushed red with rage as he seethed with angry energy.
"I-I-" I broke down even more as I slid my table onto the cold floor. I couldn't bring myself to answer him. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of my own tears, unable to find a way out.
Just then, his gaze landed on the letter clutched tight in my hands. He quickly crouched down in front of me before he snatched it from my hands and read through it. There was anger in his eyes, but as soon as his gaze met my teary eyes, it dissipated. He sighed and sat down in front of me before he lifted my chin up to face him. Small sniffles escaped my mouth as he stared at me.
"Take a deep breath and listen to my voice, okay?"
I nodded and took a deep breath as he pulled something out of his pocket.
It was that damn lemon lollipop again.
"Here, take this," he said, handing it to me. I took the lollipop and unwrapped it, the familiar taste of sour lemon filling my mouth. As I sucked on it, he continued,
"Feel better?" He asked as he titled his head to the side , his eyes studying me closely. I nodded again, not trusting my voice to answer him. I knew he could see right through me and knew that the lollipop was just a distraction from the turmoil raging inside me.
" Why do you always have lollipops on you?" I mumbled.
"You never know when you need something sweet to taste." He chuckled before sitting right next to me against my desk. "And sometimes," he continued, "something sour can be just as satisfying." I looked at him, trying to decipher the hidden meaning behind his words. He seemed to notice my confusion, and his smile faded a little. I could tell he was about to say something important.
"You know," he said, "life is like a lollipop. Sometimes it's sweet, sometimes it's sour. But no matter what, you have to keep sucking on it until you reach the end." I stared at him, not sure if he was trying to be profound or just messing with me. Actually, it was none of the above. He just sucked at comforting people. I couldn't help but let out a small laugh at his analogy.
"Life is like a lollipop." I repeated it back to him. "That's a new one."
He shrugged, a small grin on his face.
"Hey, it's the best I could come up with on short notice." Despite his lack lustre attempt at comforting me, I appreciated the effort. It was nice to have someone trying to make me feel better, even if their methods were a little unconventional. I took a deep breath and tried to let go of some of the tension in my body.
"Ok, let's go now.." I said with a slight smile.
"Bored of me already?" He smirked.
"Oh no, you're the highlight of my day," I replied with heavy sarcasm. "I mean, who wouldn't want to spend their time listening to your brilliant one-liners?"
His grin grew wider as I rolled my eyes.
"But seriously, thanks for trying to cheer me up. You may not be a comedian, but at least you're not completely useless." I grinned.
"Don't get used to it. It's a one time thing." He ran his hands through his hair. I chuckled.
"Got it. So, where are we headed?" I asked.
"To the chief's cabin."
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