After an entire afternoon of digging through leads, dead ends, and desperate hunches, Aaron Dawson and Adam Mercer finally figured out why the cameras had failed to capture the BMW's driver. The forensic department, after reexamining the footage, had found a small but crucial clue—a thin layer of glue residue on the BMW's windshield. Something had definitely been stuck on the inside, likely some kind of one-way glass sticker.Apparently, this special type of one-way film had been imported, usually reserved for magicians in their grand illusion acts. It allowed the driver to see out while concealing the inside to any outside observer—much more opaque than any standard tint. The whole setup had been flawlessly planned out by the culprit. But as Luke knew too well, the more a criminal tried to execute the perfect crime, the more evidence they left behind."If you ask me…" Adam Mercer muttered, lowering his voice, glancing around to make sure no one was in earshot. He lit a cigarette, the

All three victims were missing their hands. It was horrifying, and Luke could hardly believe his own notes, but it was true—their hands had been cut off and taken by the culprit. Standing in the dim light of the crime scene, his mind raced. What was the killer's purpose? To keep them as trophies?The thought crossed his mind that maybe this was a twisted form of revenge, something he'd seen before. In his line of work, revenge-driven killings always had a pattern, a motive. The people chosen were targeted intentionally, and somehow, it felt like these victims—though seemingly unconnected—had been chosen for a reason. Perhaps they had wronged the killer in some way. But what kind of hatred would lead someone to such a brutal punishment?Yet, for all his theories, Luke kept hitting dead ends. The investigations hadn't turned up a single red flag about these people. They were described as respectable by their families, friends, even neighbors. There was no sign of any enemies or feuds in

Fifty-three days. That's all they had until the mid-year exams. To be honest, Luke couldn't care less about the exams, but it seemed like a big deal to these kids and their parents. So there he was, sitting in a packed school auditorium, pretending to listen to Jenna Dalton's class teacher ramble on about strategies for exam preparation."Parents," the teacher declared, knocking the table for emphasis, "these fifty-three days are crucial for your children. Today, we're here to discuss how you can support your kids effectively and help dispel their tension." He paused, scanning the room as if his speech was life-changing.Luke glanced at the teacher on the stage—a white-haired, middle-aged man who was all too serious about his job. His mind wasn't on the lecture. It was elsewhere, consumed by the case that had been plaguing him. The Maimed Case.And then, like the universe was in sync with his restlessness, a cell phone rang loudly from somewhere in the audience."Ah, Hero, please chase

Luke didn't bother answering Bella's question. As soon as the call ended, he plunged into the crowd. His eyes darted frantically, searching for the woman playing the piano—Shaun's mother."Hey, it's you!" he called out as he spotted her. Without missing a beat, he asked, "Ma'am! Quickly, tell me, when you participated in that Grand Piano Competition years ago, did you know Mary Nelson, Yara Voss, or Lisa Mendes? Any of these three people?"Her expression froze, and she backed away, looking at him as though he were the plague itself."No? After so many years, how could you be so sure right away?" he pressed. "Think carefully—did you know any of them? Were they in that competition with you?""I… I really can't remember!" she stammered, clearly rattled by his intensity. She turned away, trying to escape.Luke grabbed her by the arms. "Ma'am, what are you so afraid of? I'm investigating a case!""Hey, you there! Parent, I've been watching you!" a white-haired teacher barked from behind a

Out of ten competitors, three had already lost their hands. The eerie pattern was chilling, and it consumed Luke's thoughts as he sat across from Bella in a cozy seafood restaurant. She was multitasking like a pro, peeling prawn shells while studying the list of names with hawk-like focus."Could the culprit be among the remaining seven people?" she asked, pointing at the list in her hand."That's possible," Luke mused, trying to piece together the puzzle. "But if we're being practical, the top three can probably be eliminated. They performed well—why would they want to chop off the hands of the losers? Doesn't make sense."Bella nodded thoughtfully, her excitement visible. "That's true. Look, Luke!" She jabbed at the list. "The first victim, Mary Nelson, came in 3rd in the Grand Piano Competition. Yara Voss was 2nd, and Lisa Mendes was first. The culprit is following a sequence—chopping off hands in order! The most likely suspects are ranked below sixth place: seventh to tenth! These