Olivia reached the park right on time, her boots crunching against the gravel path as she muttered under her breath, "Hope this isn't some stupid teenage girl's prank."
The words were a quiet shield against the flicker of doubt gnawing at her.
Before stepping out of the vehicle, she checked her gun, the weight of it familiar yet heavy in her hand. Unused, it waited for the right moment, the right person—a silent promise of protection in a case that had left her grasping at shadows.
She slid out of the car, the cool evening air brushing against her skin, and her sharp eyes traced the park's layout. It was nearly deserted, save for a few elderly figures shuffling along the paths, their slow steps a stark contrast to her urgency.
