2 CHAPTER 1

EMILY

The buzzing of my phone snapped me awake from my slumber. Without opening my eyes, I grabbed my phone on the nightstand, answering the cal without looking at the caller's ID

"Dectective Stone?"...

"Rise and shine Stone..." my eyes snapped opened at the sound of officer Williams voice. I cheacked the time on my phone and saw that it was 2AM in the morning. I groaned loudly, cursing him for waking me up so early in the morning.

"Now...now, don't be rude..there had been a 911 call on a body that discovered we're all heading there and I thought you should know"

"Text me the address..thanks

Williams"..

He chuckled and after a minute, he texted me the address. I zipped into the bathroom brushing my teeth, grabbing black skinny jeans and a hoodie. I grabbed my badge and gun from the night stand and my anckled boots on my way out of the room. I never made any excuses when it came to my job. Waking up a call on crime scene in the early hours of morning wasn't something I wasn't used to. I was determined and focused on my work, which way why I was a dectective at this age. I left my apartment and entered my black mustang driving to the address.

There had been an increasing number of murders for the past few weeks. So far, over 6 victims had been killed in a similar way. The odd thing was that they were all young adults. Their ages ranging sp far from 21 to 29 years. All males. When I arrived there, it was a full crime scene. Police officers and forensic officers were roaming around the scene. I was the only dectective here, meaning they were on their way. The victim layed there, without any clothing. I approached the forensic team, flashing my badge along the way.

I nodded towards one of them, asking for the details on the victim.

"What have you got for me Connor?" He nodded towards the body.

"The victim is an unknown young male, around 25 years of age, has two stabb wounds on his left knee, and one on the chest. The bullet hole on his head indicate is cause of death.His hands show an indication of being bound meaning that he must've been held captive before he was killed. There are a few bruises on his back.."

"Meaning he was a prisoner tortured before he was killed."

He nodded and I approached the body laying on the cold concrete. I saw all the details Conner had mentioned but as a dectective it was my job to look for evey clue that might help solve the murder. I slipped on my latex gloves, inspecting the body for any clues. His neck had a dark pruple bruise, meaning he was also strangled with a cord. I wrote that detail down and moved to his back, turning his body for any other clues.

"Seems like the same thing has been done to this John Doe." Connor's voice made me turn my focus away from the body. I nodded, agreeing with his statement. All six previous victims had been tortured, straggled with a cord and shot in the head bofore being dumped in an abandoned area.

"I think we're dealing with the works of a serial killer here". There was no way these victims were killed by different people. They all showed signs of strangulation.

"I guess that your case is getting bigger and bigger Stone". I nodded, since this victim showed similar wounds to the previous six, his murder added to my investigation.

I groaned and nodded to Connor. There was nothing left to do but go back to my apartment and get some sleep. Today was going to be a busy day and surely Chief will assign me a new parter, he made that clear that the next time I receive a body on my case, he's gonna assign me with a partner. I groaned at that thought. I insisted on working alone. After what happened to my previous partner, I couldn't let another officer die in my hands. I couldn't stop blaming myself for what happened to him.

Tony was a nice guy, we really got along well. He had a beautiful 10 year old daughter and a lovely wife. When the news of his death hit them, his wife broke. I felt guilty for what had happened..he took a bullet that was meant for me. If only I....I felt the tears threatening to spill but I wouldn't let them. I promised myself that I wouldn't cry. Crying was not going to bring him back and I knew that. Nothing could change what happened but I still couldn't forgive myself. We had gotten a tip that Antonio Moretti was planning on taking his shipment off the coast that night. I was so focused on nailing Antonio that I never realized that it was a trap.

FLASHBACK

"Are you ready to do this rookie?" Tony asked as he entered the vehicle.

"Are you kidding? I was born ready. He's not getting away this time, I'm sure of it"

For months I've been trying to lock Antonio Moretti up for trafficking drugs and weapons in and out of the state. He was a famous businessman. Many people in the department that I was insane. The man had half of the department in his side. He was known for running also made it hard for anyone to suspect him..well I wasn't just anyone. I've had my suspicions for a while and that tip was going to be my big break. I had just became a dectective and nothing was going to stop me from cracking the case.

"Well lets hope your source is right this time."

"I know he's right Tony. He has been inside for a really long time and the information he's given me so far has led me one step towards tonight". Tony sighed and he drove us to the area where the shipment was going to leave. He had been anxious about this but I convinced him that this was the real deal. I couldn't help but feel excited as we spotted three black SUV'S, all following each other into a warehouse. I thought about calling for back up but I had to be sure if Antonio was in there.

"I'm gonna take a look inside, stay here okay? I'll text you when I need you" Tony tried to argue but I shot him a loom that shut his mouth up. I was a very stubborn and determined person, once I had made up my mind, there was no telling how far I'd go. And at that time, I was sneaking inside a warehouse filled with dangerous men who wouldn't hesitate to take my life.

I got inside without any dictation and darted across the warehouse. I was focused in getting any proof that might link Antonio to my theory. I heard voices and slowed my movements down. There stood 6 men with their backs facing away from my view, I couldn't make out their faces so I decided to put my phone in recording.

"Is the shipment ready?" A gruff voice with a hint of an accent asked

"Si boss. It'll be leaving in ten minutes. We're just waiting for the don's signal."

The other three nodded in approval. I wasn't sure if Antonio was there so I shuffled a bit, trying to get atleast one face. I snapped a few pictures where they were going through the shipment. There were three large boxes filled with guns..heavy machinery guns. The question was why did they need to ship only three boxes when they could just fit a whole damn shipping container?Something was wrong. I quickly texted Tony, telling him to drive away because this was a trap.

I needed to get out of here before they actually bust me. I moved away from the men towards the exit. Just when I thought I was out, I froze in place as I felt a cold metal being placed on the back of my head.

"Uhh, uhh, uhh..not so fast dectective". I gasped in fear, probably seeing my life flashing before my eyes. I knew he was going to kill me so I slowly turned around, ready to face my death when a shot rang across the warehouse. The I quickly turned around and gasped as the man was now lying dead on the floor. I snapped my eyes around trying to find where the shot came from. I didn't have to look around that hard because my eyes landed on Tony, who had his gun out aiming behind me. I heard loud footsteps coming towards the exit and panicked. My heart hammered in my chest as realization hit me. We had to get out now before they killed us.

We dashed out of the warehouse, followed by men who were now shooting at us. I was behind Tony as we were making our way to the car. He slowed down his pace allowing me to catch him. It all happened too fast that I couldn't reprimand what was happening. Tony pulled out his gun, shooting a man that appeared infornt of us out of nowhere. I pulled out my own gun and started shooting the 3 men who were running at full speed towards us. I one of them and he fell dead on the ground. The second one didn't miss a chance as he shot me straight on my right shoulder. I groaned, clutching my shoulder in the process. The sounding of sirens rang through the air. The shoot out must've alarmed some of the residents which explained the sirens. Tony came next to me helping me out. He grabbed my uninjured shoulder, hoisting it up on his neck and grabbing my waist at the same time. I darted my eyes around looking for any sign of danger when the sound of shots rang in the air. Tony spinned us around, pushing me on the hard concrete with a thud. I groaned trying to get up when I noticed him unmoving on the ground.

"..shit..Tony, Tony wake up!..Wake up dammit!" I tried shaking him, trying to get him up. I quickly ducked next to the car as the man kept firing shots directly at me, my eyes darted around, landing on my gun a few feet away. I quickly grabbed it, aming it and shot the man straight in the head. He fell down instantly. I grabbed my intercom...

"Officer down. I repeat officer down. I need an ambulance ASAP, we're at  warehouse 376 on 6th Avenue..please hurry.."

The desperation on my voice was evident. Tony had took a bullet that was meant for me. I ran to Tony's body, with shaky hands, I removed my tshirt, clutching it against his chest where the bullet entered. He was losing a lot of blood and there was nothing I could do. His eyes were slightly open. I looked into his eyes. A smile was forming on his lips, which made me question his sanity because of the situation. How could he be smiling when on the verge of dying.

"..stay with me Tony..You're gonna be okay.. please..stay with me.."

"..c.calm..down Em..Listen to..me..Tell my wife I'm so..sorry...I couldn't..com.." I quickly shook my head

"Shh..don't say anything Tony..you're gonna tell her yourself..you're gonna make it Tony please just stay with me..help is on the way"..He chuckled and groaned at the same time, his face twisted in pain

"..tell Aria..I love..her" His eyes fluttered close, raising the fear that had invaded my body.

The sirens were getting louder and louder indicating that the officers were going to arrive in a few minutes. At that point I was basically sobbing. I continued pressing on his wound, moving my hand on the side of his neck, seaching for a pulse and there was nothing. I slumped down in defeat and couldn't hold back the tears that came rushing out.

The ambulance arrived a minute later. Paramedics rushed to the scene, tending to both Tony and I. The look on my face was enough to confirm their suspicions.   They took Tony's body, placing it on a stretcher. My heart broke as I thought about his family. I wished it could've been me instead of him on that stretcher.

"Ma'am?..Ma'am we need to check your shoulder..you're losing a lot of blood". I blinked a few times, taking in the female paramedic infront of me with worried look on her face. I nodded as she helped me up, placing me on another stretcher. I watched as they zipped Tony's body in a body bag.

END OF FLASHBACK

I never broke down but that day, I was never the same again. I was determined in finding out who had killed him.

Aria had lost a father and Nicole had lost her husband. She never blamed me though, kept insisting it wasn't my fault but nothing could change the fact that he died protecting me.

I entered my apartment, checking the time on phone, finding it to read 3:30am.. I signed and made my way back to my bedroom. I slipped off my shoes and jeans and got under the covers. I was out the moment my head hit my pillow.