A detective

Killers Instinct

Chapter Five: Detective Joens

Detective Annabelle Joens sat in her office, the low hum of the city outside providing a backdrop to her thoughts. At six feet tall, she cut an imposing figure, her presence commanding attention wherever she went. Her long purple hair, a striking contrast to her otherwise pitch-black attire, flowed down her back like a river of ink. The dark sunglasses she perpetually wore hid her eyes, adding to the air of mystery that surrounded her.

Her black suit was immaculate, tailored to perfection, highlighting her athletic build and no-nonsense demeanor. She wore a crisp white shirt beneath the blazer, the only deviation from her otherwise monochrome appearance. Even her shoes, polished to a high shine, were black, completing the image of a woman who moved in the shadows and thrived in the dark.

Detective Joens was a seasoned investigator, known for her sharp intellect and relentless pursuit of justice. Her reputation in the precinct was legendary, built on years of solving some of the most challenging and gruesome cases the city had ever seen. She had an uncanny ability to read people, to see through their lies and facades, and this skill had earned her the respect and admiration of her colleagues.

On her desk, amidst neatly stacked files and a lone, steaming cup of coffee, lay the latest case that had caught her attention. The file was thin but unsettling, a collection of reports and statements revolving around a boy named Ethan Shaw. His photo stared up at her, a haunting image of a pale teenager with white and black hair and piercing red eyes.

Detective Joens picked up the file, her gloved fingers brushing over the cold, clinical text. The recent disappearance of a girl named Emily had led her to this unassuming boy. There was something about his eyes in the school photo that intrigued her—a darkness that seemed to hide beneath the surface, a story that was yet to be uncovered.

She leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. There was a pattern here, she could sense it, an underlying current of malevolence that she had encountered many times before. Her instincts, honed over years of dealing with humanity's darkest aspects, told her that Ethan Shaw was not what he seemed.

Her phone buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts. It was a message from one of her colleagues, a reminder of a meeting she had in an hour. She glanced at the time, then back at Ethan's file. There was no immediate action to take, no warrant to serve or suspect to apprehend, but she knew she had to keep a close eye on this one.

As she closed the file and stood up, her movements were fluid, almost feline. She slipped the file into her briefcase, a plan already forming in her mind. Detective Joens was a patient hunter, and she knew that the key to unraveling the truth lay in meticulous observation and careful strategy.

Ethan Shaw had piqued her interest, and she was determined to uncover the secrets he was hiding. The hunt had begun, and Detective Annabelle Joens was ready to dive into the darkness once more.

Detective Annabelle Joens sat back down, the leather chair creaking under her weight. She reopened Ethan Shaw's file, her curiosity piqued by the boy's enigmatic aura. As she delved deeper into the contents, a grim history began to unfold before her eyes.

The report detailed the murder of Ethan's parents, a brutal and bloody event that had occurred when he was just a child. The specifics were chilling: both parents had been found dead in their home, the apparent victims of a vicious attack. Ethan, only eight years old at the time, had been discovered nearby, dazed and covered in blood. The case had been closed with the conclusion that Ethan was the culprit, though given his age and the trauma, he had been sent to a psychiatric facility instead of juvenile detention.

Joens felt a shiver run down her spine. She had seen her share of gruesome crime scenes, but the thought of a young child committing such an act was disturbing, even for her. She continued reading, discovering that after a few years in the psychiatric facility, Ethan had been placed in foster care. The reports from his time in the foster home were varied: some noted his quiet, withdrawn nature, while others hinted at violent outbursts and troubling behavior.

What struck Joens most was the pattern of incidents that seemed to follow Ethan wherever he went. There were reports of other children in the foster home going missing, unexplained injuries, and unsettling drawings found among his belongings. Each time, Ethan managed to evade serious consequences, the incidents chalked up to his troubled past and psychological state.

As she turned to the next document in the file, a missing persons report, her interest intensified. It was a recent case, involving a girl named Emily from Ethan's school. The details were sparse, but enough to suggest that Emily was last seen with Ethan. The report included statements from friends and teachers, all describing Ethan as quiet and polite, but with an underlying sense of something sinister.

Joens leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. The connection between Ethan's troubled past and the current missing persons case was too strong to ignore. She felt a familiar sense of excitement mixed with dread; this was no ordinary case. Ethan Shaw was far more than he appeared, and she was determined to uncover the truth.

She picked up her phone and dialed her partner, Detective Marcus Hale. "Marcus, it's Joens. I need you to pull all the files on Ethan Shaw's previous foster homes and any related incidents. Also, look into any missing persons reports that could be connected to him."

"Got it," Hale replied. "What's going on?"

"I think we've got a real puzzle on our hands," Joens said, her eyes narrowing as she glanced at Ethan's photo again. "And I have a feeling we're only scratching the surface."

Hanging up, Joens turned back to the file, her mind piecing together the fragments of Ethan's life. There was a darkness in his history, a pattern of violence and disappearance that couldn't be ignored. She knew she had to approach this carefully, to unravel the truth without tipping Ethan off to her investigation.

As she gathered her things and prepared to leave her office, Joens felt a sense of determination settle over her. The game was afoot, and she was ready to dive deep into the shadows to find the answers she sought. Ethan Shaw might be a master of hiding in plain sight, but Detective Annabelle Joens was not one to back down from a challenge.

The hunt for the truth had begun, and Joens was ready to face whatever darkness lay ahead.