Chapter 17 - An Ambush in the Dark
The threatening message arrived shortly after ten that night.
Stop digging into the Resolute records. You don't know what you're reopening.
Elena read it once, then saved a screenshot.
The number was unfamiliar.
She did not respond.
A second message arrived.
Some things were settled for a reason.
Her pulse quickened.
She immediately forwarded both messages to Commander Bennett and contacted local authorities for guidance about documenting the unwanted communication.
She did not assume the sender was connected to Daniel. The message could have come from anyone who knew about the incident.
But she took it seriously.
The following evening, after leaving a rehabilitation appointment, Elena noticed a dark sedan parked near the entrance to her building.
It was not unusual for cars to stop there.
She entered the building, locked the door behind her, and checked the hallway before proceeding to her apartment.
A few minutes later, her phone rang.
It was Sam Ortiz.
“Did you receive any unusual messages?” he asked.
Elena went still.
“Yes. Why?”
“Someone called me this afternoon asking about my statement from the Resolute investigation. They claimed they were preparing a historical account of the incident, but they couldn't provide any official credentials.”
“What did you tell them?”
“Nothing beyond what I could confirm publicly. I asked them to submit their questions in writing.”
Elena described the messages.
Sam fell silent.
“I don't know whether they're connected,” he said. “But we should inform the people handling the review.”
They did.
Commander Bennett advised Elena to preserve the messages and avoid meeting anyone who contacted her about the investigation without proper verification.
The following morning, a local officer contacted Elena to discuss the unwanted messages and the parked vehicle she had reported.
No immediate threat was established, but the information was documented.
Later that day, Daniel sent an email through his company's legal representative.
He denied any involvement in the messages and stated that Mercer Safety Solutions had instructed its staff not to contact Elena directly about the disputed documentation.
Elena forwarded the email to Commander Bennett.
She did not accuse Daniel of lying.
She also did not treat his denial as proof.
That evening, she moved her sensitive documents into a secure location and told a trusted friend what had happened.
For years, she had believed that remaining silent would protect her from conflict.
Now she understood that silence could also leave her isolated.
She would protect herself without allowing fear to dictate her decisions.
May you like
The inquiry would continue.
And whoever had sent the messages would not determine what she was willing to say.
