Chapter 43: Imposter!!!! (Red did it)

(Hell's Kitchen - Jessica's apartment - Friday night...)

In the cosy ambience of Jessica's apartment, Grim and Jessica were preparing for the get together that was happening tonight.

The room was filled with the soft hum of conversation as they discussed the finer points of Grim's upcoming infiltration.

"Just act natural, John Doe. Mingle, but keep your eyes open," Jessica advised, passing Grim a minuscule surveillance bug, it's technology she hasn't used in a long while but it's been coming in handy as of late.

Grim pocketed the device with a nod, he wasn't worried in the slightest about the mission but it seemed Jessica was.

It had been a few days since Grim had visited that park with her, and a day after that Felicia had come back from her case to say goodbye to Grim and Jessica.

But after she had left Jessica had been acting more jittery, she felt like someone was watching her but no matter how hard he looked, even using Skia he couldn't find anyone that could be spying on Jessica.

"I'll be fine, are you sure you'll be alright at Allen's Hardware alone, I can go with you real quick before going to the meeting, John does seem like the type of guy who would be late?" he asked.

Jessica, leaning against the kitchen counter, her leather jacket contrasting sharply with Grim's suit, reassured him. "It's fine really. Dan needs my help with a lead. But I'll be back to get you as soon as I'm done. Just...be careful, Grim. You might be immortal, but I've seen too many who thought they were invincible end up not coming back."

After that conversation, they had some dinner, chicken alfredo to be more specific and it was delicious.

As they ate, the undercurrent of their upcoming endeavours lent a sombre tone to the meal.

Jessica, breaking the silence, adjusted Grim's tie and ruffled his hair into a more messy but handsome style. "If anything feels off, get out of there," she instructed with a soft intensity.

Grim's response was a light smirk, an attempt to ease the mood. "Worry about your own mission, detective. I've got this."

Their banter continued until Jessica, half-jokingly, nudged him towards the door. "Time to be a hero, John Doe. And remember, I'm just a call away."

With a final nod, Grim stepped out into the evening, he whistled for a Yellow taxi car before getting in.

.....

Jessica's journey to Allen's Hardware was quick, it wasn't too far from where Grim was so it only took 10 minutes to get there.

The crime scene, cordoned off with police tape, the area buzzed with activity. Officers moved about, their faces etched with concentration.

She found Dan among the flurry of activity, his face looked grave as he briefed her. "It looks straightforward—a suicide," he said, handing her a folder filled with notes and photographs. "But there's something that doesn't fit. The notes, the pills...it feels staged."

Jessica, her detective's instincts kicking in, scanned the photographs, her attention caught by an anomaly. "And this symbol here, under the counter," she mused, 'Why did it look so familiar...'

As she was looking over the file, Dan tapped his jacket before pulling out a packet of cheap Parliament Cigarettes.

Dan, lighting a cigarette, offered her one, an old habit...

Jessica looked at Dan, a brief look of confusion passed through her eyes before it disappeared.

Jessica declined with a shake of her head, her focus on the case. "There's more to this than meets the eye, Dan. I'll look into it but im already busy with the other case you gave me."

"Yeah, I figured, how is that case going, by the way, any news or leads... puff..." he asked puffing his cigarette.

.....

Meanwhile, Grim's arrival at Dirk's apartment was uneventful, to say the least, everyone was acting like normal people, but for one reason or another, he felt like something wasn't right with this gathering.

Dirks's demeanour quite welcoming yet watchful, greeted Grim. "John, I'm glad you decided to join us. We have a lot to discuss tonight."

As Grim mingled, the surveillance bug discreetly released, he listened and observed.

The conversations, innocuous on the surface were quite monotonous, it felt like they were talking just to talk, though it could fool any other person it couldn't get past him.

'Skia be on alert, if you sense anything or anyone trying to do anything...don't hesitate to devour them.'

Grim communicated through the link he and Skia shared, and got a quick growl in response, moving through the shadows of every person at the mixer but keeping an especially close eye on Dirk.

...

Back at Allen's Hardware, Jessica delved deeper into the investigation, looking all over the crime scene.

Jessica's sharp eyes caught the distinct pattern of Timberland boots in the dust on the floor, she looked over and around and saw that same pattern all over the floor.

"Hey Jess, come check this out real quick..."

Hearing Dan's voice calling from the back, Jessica picked up an item from the shelf, a small screwdriver, perhaps useful for what lay ahead.

She made her way to the back room, where something deeply unsettling awaited her—a casket with strange markings.

"What's the deal with the casket?" Jessica asked, her voice laced with suspicion.

Dan, turning to face her with a smirk that didn't quite reach his eyes, replied, "He wanted to pick his final resting place. Died before he could enjoy it, though."

Without hesitation, Jessica's fist connected with what she thought was Dan's face, sending him reeling back. His shocked expression quickly morphed into a chuckle as he recovered, revealing his true self.

"You're not Dan," Jessica stated coldly, her fists ready."Dan quit smoking years ago, he only ever keeps that pack of parliaments as a reminder, not to mention your footprints are all over the place, if theirs one thing Dan is good at it's keeping the crime scene clean."

Laughing, the imposter's demeanour darkened. "Clever girl. But it's too late for you, Miss Jones. You've played right into our hands."

The room had now become a battleground. Jessica, relying on her agility and strength, traded blows with the imposter, who exhibited unnaturally superhuman strength.

They moved with lethal intent, furniture and fixtures becoming casualties of their fierce combat.

Jessica punched him in the gut but he always came back with a kick, the two exchanged blows destroying the shop in the process.

The fight escalated, with Jessica using her environment to her advantage. She deftly dodged a powerful blow, countering with a series of precise strikes that forced the imposter through the window.

Breathing heavily, Jessica prepared to finish the imposter off, only to find herself facing the grim reality outside—the possessed officers, guns aimed at their own heads.

'Shit!!!!'

"What have you done with the real Dan?" Jessica demanded, her voice echoing with anger.

The imposter, wiping blood from his split lip, sneered. "He's here, all right. Sharing his body with me. And now, Miss Jones, you've got a choice—submit, or be responsible for the deaths of these officers."

Jessica's eyes darted around, assessing her limited options. With a heavy heart, she raised her hands in surrender.

'I can't call, Grim, the fucker broke my phone...think Jessica think...'

Wait...if I remember right.' A thought had suddenly crossed her mind before she relaxed, happy to surrender.

As she was pushed into the coffin, she gave the imposter one last look as the coffin door closed. "I'm gonna break your back when I get out of here."

Bang!!!

"Unfortunately Miss Jones you will never get the chance...have a good rest in there, because soon all you will be hearing for eternity is the screams of the damed."

Dan smiled before ordering the possessed officers to take her away...he then took out his phone and called someone.

"It's done Master...the final sacrifice is in our hands now."

"..."

The person on the other end praised Dan before giving him a new set of instructions.