Page 235 of Fatality

Ren is digging into the accident case.

“Boss,” Ren calls. “Got the pictures. Just a few. I can't access the file. It's encrypted like hell.” He pauses. “The case was reopened, yes. New evidence came to light.”

I walk around my desk and look at his Smart Panel’s floating screen.

“What is the evidence?” I put my hand on the back of his chair.

“A letter. An actual letter, no comms, no calls, making sure they can’t leave a trace. Smart.” Ren leans back in his chair, his shoulder tense “I can’t access it either.”

A beat passes. The silence stretches.

“So...” I pause. “You're telling me the guy who did that basically wrote a love letter to the Enforcers—or the government—with his own hands in our world?”

“Yup.” Ren says, emphasizing the p.

I reach up and swipe left. The first picture is just the aftermath.

When the second picture appears, I glance at it quickly and swipe again before freezing and going back to it.

In the picture, probably taken by medics or drones, is Riven, twelve years old, covered in blood, staring blankly at her hands.

Tears carve clean paths through the dirt on her face.

My grip on Ren's chair tightens so much that I break it.

“Swipe again.” I order, my voice tight and coiled.

Ren obeys.

The third picture shows Kyle's body being covered.

His dark brown hair is plastered to his forehead, matted with his own blood.

My eyes narrow.

“Zoom in, on the car covered in blood.”

The zoom gives us a serial number, all cars have one.

“Bingo, he can find the driver, or the one who owns the car.” I turn on my heels “Find me that car Ren. Now.”

Ren nods.

I walk back to my desk and drum my fingers against it, trying to answer the questions.

No one is going to use her as bait, over my dead fucking body.

I'll dismember anyone who tries.

Less than an hour later, Ren walks over to my desk with his results.

“Got the owner of the car,” he says, pulling up a picture. “He died three years ago, but—”

“How convenient that he's dead.”

I lean back in my chair, waiting for him to continue.

“I couldn't find shit. It's like everything surrounding Riven's brother's death is sealed.” He sighs, rubbing his temple. “I don't know, man. The system is even more encrypted than the Central Authority’s.”