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Million Shades of Blood

In the dark underbelly of Lake City, where power and secrets intertwine, a chilling murder sets the stage for a relentless pursuit of truth. Evelyn Dawson, the enigmatic heiress to the sprawling empire left by her deceased parents, finds herself plunged into a web of deceit and betrayal when her best friend, William Adler, is brutally slain. Haunted by a family plagued with dark intentions and burdened by her own extraordinary ability to hear the whispers of hidden truths, Evelyn stands at the center of a treacherous storm. As her family vies for control of the empire, their motives shrouded in secrecy, she must untangle the threads that connect her loved ones to the heinous crime. Enter Ethan Ashford, a seasoned detective with an unyielding determination to bring justice to Lake City. Initially suspecting the Dawson family, including Evelyn, as the perpetrators, Ethan embarks on a perilous journey. Reluctantly, Evelyn aligns herself with the detective, drawn to his unique ability to discern lies. Together, they navigate a labyrinth of long-held grudges, unspoken truths, and hidden pasts, realizing that William's murder is only the tip of the iceberg. As they dig deeper, Evelyn and Ethan unearth a far-reaching conspiracy that threatens not only their lives but the very foundation of Lake City itself. Each revelation uncovers another million shades of blood, leading them closer to the devastating truth. But with danger lurking in every shadow and the killer watching their every move, they must stay one step ahead, deciphering the tangled web of family secrets before it's too late. In "Million Shades of Blood," a gripping tale of loyalty, deception, and the pursuit of justice, Evelyn and Ethan find themselves entangled in a battle against time and the darkness that resides within the hearts of those closest to them. Will they unravel the sinister plot and expose the true face of evil, or will they become mere casualties in a game of power and revenge?

zehrashf · Urban
Not enough ratings
12 Chs

Revelations

"The test results of the bullets returned" his expressions straightened turning all serious, his brow creased studying the reports, the earlier playfulness vanishing. "The bullets that were fired were two different bullets"

"That means there really are two killers" She improvised taking a spot on the chair in front of his desk remembering their conversation in the cafe. "But we guessed that much I doubt that's just it" She was highly aware of the eyes staring at her but she paid no attention to their looks.

Ethan nodded at her statement pulling out two printed papers from the file placing it in front of her to examine, both were pictures of bullets. "This is the bullet that got your friend" he pointed to one of the similar looking bullets and she patiently waited for him to explain further, not able to distinguish the two. "It's a simple bullet of a pistol, that means whoever fired the bullet wasn't very far from the scene but this…" he turned his attention to the other one "...do you see anything unique about it?" he looked up at her concentrated face, brows joined together, eyes judging the images. She looked closely and then shook her head waiting for him to continue. "This isn't some normal bullet. It's a specially made bullet of one of the most expensive firearms. It's rarely made and only for specific occasions for higher license, it's not locally distributed because the firearm is too expensive to be owned by just anyone"

It took a moment for Evelyn to really catch onto what he was saying. The second bullet was one of a kind, expensive, it was "so you're saying the second shooter was definitely someone from my family" he decoded his words looking back at him with arms folded around her chest.

"Tell me miss princess" he was back to the mocking nickname. "Which family in this entire city owns the most expensive things and has all sorts of unique and one of a kind items, which family in this entire city has no issue affording anything because they basically own this city"

"I think you need to get your facts straight" she stared back into his eyes as the never ending competition began. "Owning an expensive firearm isn't that big of a deal and there are more groups in this city that share the monopoly of the city with us maybe not as much as us but they do, so instead of continuously targeting my family you should focus on who was the one that got the perfect hit" she stabbed at the the picture of the first bullet with her finger proving her point. "Because even if the second bullet was shot by someone from my family they weren't the ones who …. They weren't the real culprit" It annoyed her, his obsession with ruining her family. It was as if he would do everything to bring them down and this was the perfect reason to do so. "Now if you'll excuse me" she stood up from her chair ready to leave already in a terrible mood.

"Your father was the first one in this city to have that license" She faltered in her steps turning around to look back at him. "This isn't a newly developed bullet, these bullets haven't been sold in this city for at least the past three years. We are looking for the buyer as of now. Since you wanted this partnership so much I believe you do your part. Whoever it was may not be the killer but he would definitely know something" She knew he had a perfect point and he was right but oh to admit it it. She opened her mouth to respond back to it when her phone call broke the silence, the ringtone filling the station.

"Did you find him, Kris?" It was her secretary. Hers was the second text last night aside from Ethan's. She turned around her phone, turning it up on speaker mode, feeling his eyes bore holes into her head.

"Are you sure Samwise Nuffen was his name?" the soft feminine voice spoke from the other side. Evelyn looked over at Ethan for confirmation questioning him with his eyes and he nodded in response. "Yes, he introduced himself as…" she looked over again at Ethan waiting for his answer as he mouthed the words one at a time to her. "Sam….. lake… city… Legal…. consult"

"I told you last night he wasn't someone from our firm, I got it checked from the head office today but there is no employee with such name" at Kris's words they both once again turned to look at each other in confusion with questions loud in their eyes. "But…" Evelyn increased the volume as Ethan leaned in to hear closer to what the secretary said further. "He was at the New year's ball, just not in the glasses like in the picture you sent to me." their eyes remained connected looking at each other continuously as the secretary spoke, different schemes and theories running in their heads. "I will look into it more if you want"

"You do that Kris" with that the call ended.

"Do you think he could be the first shooter?" She questioned him, guessing the reasons.

"Why would he expose himself in the front and then at your ball? I think he is working for someone else" Ethan proposed his own theory thinking about it.

"Someone from my family," she added , unable to contradict this time, clearly remembering the phone call she had heard from her uncle.

Lost in her thoughts she was trying to remember the ball, it was as if the entirety of those three days were blurred into nothingness. That's when she heard another voice mingled with the pitter patter of the rain that reigned over the city.

"Sam.. from lake city…Ethan" she whipped her head towards the voice, her eyes widening.

"He's here" she said to no one in particular, without clarifying she walked towards the entrance of the station followed by the guard and Ethan, both hot on her tail.

A short heighted man in his early thirties or late twenties with round rimmed glasses on his nose and a card around his neck, who she guessed was Samwise stood with the older man she had met at the entrance the other day.

"Ethan is busy right…" the older man was saying but he was soon cut off by Evelyn.

"Can I see that card?" Evelyn directed the question to Samwise and the man looked up at her baffled, realization dawning upon him as he looked at her and then the card hanging around his neck. "Yes exactly that card,I want to see which sector are you from" She walked in his direction ready to snatch the card from him but before she could reach the card the man had pushed her hard on the floor and sprinted in the other direction with full force.

Evelyn tumbled backwards, disbalancing, the two men behind reached out ready to catch her, Ethan reached her first balancing her with her shoulders and without waiting for any response he was out in the thundering rain running after the said man.