Chapter 09: The Depths of Deception
Victor’s hand tightened around his phone, his mind scrambling to process the voice on the other end. He was used to danger, used to threats. But this was different. This felt personal.
“We’ve been watching you,” the voice repeated, cold and detached. “And if you think you’ve seen the worst of this, you’re wrong. This is only the beginning.”
Victor’s heart pounded in his chest as he glanced at Greg, whose face remained an unreadable mask. The silence between them hung heavy, the weight of unspoken truths pressing down on both of them.
“I don’t know who you are, but I’m done being your pawn,” Victor said, his voice a low growl. “What do you want?”
The voice on the other end chuckled softly, almost mockingly. “What do we want? You’re asking the wrong question, detective. The real question is, what will you do when you have nothing left? When everything you thought you knew falls apart?”
Victor clenched his jaw, struggling to keep his emotions in check. “This is bigger than you’re letting on,” he said, a hard edge creeping into his voice. “Who are you working for?”
Another laugh, but this one was tinged with bitterness. “You’re too late to ask the right questions. The people behind all of this… they’re untouchable. You won’t get to them. You won’t get to us.”
Victor’s fingers tightened around the phone, the words seeping into his mind like a poison. He didn’t know who these people were, but he knew they were connected to the murders. And Greg… Greg had to know more than he was letting on.
“Enough games,” Victor snapped. “You’re trying to scare me. But you won’t win. Not this time.”
The voice on the other end was quieter now, almost thoughtful. “We don’t need to scare you, Victor. You’re already scared. You just don’t realize it yet.”
Before Victor could respond, the line went dead.
His mind raced. This was no random killer, no lone madman. This was an organized effort, a group operating in the shadows, pulling strings in ways he couldn’t even comprehend. And someone, somewhere, was controlling it all.
He shoved his phone into his pocket, his gaze never leaving Greg’s. “Who are they, Greg?” he demanded, his voice harsh. “What is this?”
Greg looked away, his jaw working as if he were considering something. The tension in the air was palpable. Then, finally, he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.
“They’re the ones who took my sister.”
Victor’s mind reeled. “Your sister?”
Greg nodded slowly, his eyes clouded with pain. “They’ve been playing me all along. They’ve had me wrapped around their finger for years. I was too blinded by guilt, too deep in the game to see it.” He paused, looking at Victor, his eyes full of regret. “I never wanted this, Victor. But I can’t get out. I can’t leave.”
Victor’s heart twisted at the rawness in Greg’s voice. He had known Greg for years, seen him at his worst, but this? This was a new level of desperation. Greg was tangled in something far darker than Victor had ever imagined.
“What do you mean?” Victor asked, his voice softer now. “How did they take your sister?”
Greg’s face twisted in agony, and for a moment, Victor saw the burden of years of torment in his eyes. “They’re not just killers. They’re not just running some criminal enterprise. They’re part of something much bigger. They want power, control. And they’ve been using me to get it.”
Victor’s mind was spinning. He had no idea where to start, no clear path forward. “You have to tell me everything, Greg. I can’t help you if you don’t.”
Greg looked away, his eyes focused on something distant, lost in thought. “I never wanted you involved in this, Victor. You’re too close. You don’t understand what they’re capable of.” His voice dropped to a near whisper. “They can destroy you with a single phone call. They’ll make sure no one believes you, no one listens.”
Victor felt a cold chill creep down his spine. He had seen the lengths to which these people would go. But hearing Greg’s confession, seeing the fear in his eyes—it made the danger feel more real. More imminent.
“Who are they, Greg?” Victor pressed, his frustration boiling over. “Who is behind this?”
Greg hesitated, looking as if he might break down at any moment. Then, finally, he spoke the words that would change everything.
“The Syndicate,” Greg said, his voice barely audible. “They control everything. And they’ve had me working for them all along.”
Victor’s stomach dropped. The Syndicate. He had heard whispers of them, rumors about a shadow organization with connections in every corner of the world. But to hear it from Greg, to know that they had been pulling the strings all this time—it was too much to process.
“The Syndicate,” Victor repeated, his voice thick with disbelief. “What do they want?”
Greg’s expression hardened, his fists clenched at his sides. “They want power, Victor. Control over everything. And they’ll stop at nothing to get it. They’ve been using me to track down their enemies, eliminate anyone who threatens them.”
Victor’s mind raced. He couldn’t fathom what Greg was saying, but he could feel the weight of it, the magnitude of what they were up against.
“I need to find them,” Victor said, his voice resolute. “I need to stop them. I won’t let them get away with this.”
Greg’s eyes locked onto his. “You don’t understand, Victor. It’s too late for that.”
Victor’s chest tightened. “What do you mean?”
“They’ve been watching you, too,” Greg said quietly. “You’re just another piece in their game.”
Victor felt the blood drain from his face. The gravity of Greg’s words hit him like a punch to the gut. He had been a pawn in their game all along, just like Greg. And now they were closing in.
“You’re not safe,” Greg continued, his voice full of regret. “None of us are.”
