Chapter 26 The Laughter

The interrogation room was a dump, reeking of sweat and blood.

Under the dim light, two gunmen slumped in their chairs, looking defeated.

I held the masks we took from the warehouse, their cold touch making me think.

No matter how much I grilled them, they stayed silent.

I paced back and forth, feeling like I was hitting a brick wall. "Who is Hades? What were you doing in the warehouse?" I demanded again.

Silence.

I slammed my hand on the table, making a loud bang. The teacup jumped, spilling a few drops of water. "Talk, and we'll go easy on you. Stay quiet, and it won't be pretty! You think those Hecate guys are gonna protect you? They'll cut you loose the second you become a liability."

One of the gunmen timidly raised his head, lips quivering, but he said nothing and looked down again. The other guy was stone-faced, like he didn't care about anything.

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my cool.

These guys were clearly trained; brute force wasn't gonna cut it. I needed to outsmart them.

I glanced at Isabella, who was standing nearby, watching the two gunmen closely, looking for any sign of weakness.

She gave me a look, telling me to chill.

"James, let me handle this," Isabella said softly as she walked up to me.

I nodded, got up, and let her take over.

Isabella walked up to the gunmen, not yelling like I did, but squatting down to look them in the eye.

"I know you're scared, but you need to understand that the people behind you won't spare you," Isabella said, her voice low but clear, hitting them hard.

"You're just tools to them. Once you're useless, they'll toss you aside. Instead of getting silenced by them, why not work with us? You might still have a chance to live."

"I... I want to live."

Isabella continued, "Then cooperate. Tell us, how this organization was started. Now."

The gunman hesitated, then finally started talking, slowly spilling the beans about a guy named Andrew Anderson and his crazy plan.

Turns out, Andrew was the founder of this organization, he used to run a big drug cartel in Lannan. After getting kicked out due to some internal drama, he held a grudge and started the "Hecate" organization to get revenge and build his own underground empire.

The live broadcast of "The Tragedy of the Red Rose" was just the beginning. His real goal was to control the entire drug trade in Silver Bay Cape and become the top dog!

The name Andrew hit me like a lightning bolt, cutting through my foggy memory.

The photo in Aiden's room, the one with Aiden standing next to a guy, that guy was Andrew!

Could Aiden's disappearance be tied to Andrew?

The thought made my heart race, unease and anger boiling inside me like lava.

Even if I caught Andrew, I still had to find Aiden ASAP!

Coming back to Shadow City from Lannan felt like waking up from a nightmare.

Lannan's damp, oppressive atmosphere was like a giant spider web, suffocating me.

Shadow City's dry, cool air was a relief, but it couldn't shake the gloom in my heart.

Aiden was still missing, and Andrew's true identity had just come to light. I felt like I was stuck in a maze, no exit in sight.

We didn't rush things; instead, we decided to play the long game and aim for a big catch.

We leaked some info, claiming we had found crucial clues about the "Hecate" organization, and subtly fed Andrew some fake intel, making him think we had dirt on him.

To sell the act, we planned a scene down to the last detail.

The setting was the top-floor banquet hall of the swankiest hotel in Shadow City—the Starlight International Hotel.

With a killer view of the city's nightscape, fancy decor, and top-notch food, it drew in all the business big shots from Shadow City, including our target—Andrew.

In the banquet hall, crystal chandeliers cast a dazzling light, illuminating the lavish space.

The air was thick with the scent of perfume and the clinking of glasses, with smooth music playing, everything looking so posh and elegant.

I stood by the huge floor-to-ceiling window, staring at the brightly lit cityscape outside. The traffic flowed like ribbons, neon lights flickering, making the city look alive.

But my heart was as cold and heavy as the dark night sky outside.

Beneath all this glitz, who knew how much filth and crime were hidden?

Soon, Andrew showed up.

He was decked out in a sharp black suit, his hair perfectly styled, a fake smile plastered on his face, blending in like a successful businessman.

He mingled with the crowd, chatting and laughing, oozing confidence and charm with every move. Hard to believe this smooth operator was a demon with blood on his hands.

This wolf in sheep's clothing had not only killed Elizabeth but also Scarlett, and even Aiden's disappearance was tied to him!

I silently vowed to bring him down and make him pay for his crimes!

Holding a glass of red wine, I walked up to Andrew. "Mr. Anderson, long time no see. How have you been?"

Andrew was momentarily stunned to see me, then quickly slapped on a fake smile. "James, what a surprise. Didn't expect to see you here."

"Quite the coincidence." I clinked glasses with him and then downed the wine in one gulp. The spicy liquid burned down my throat, but it couldn't quench the fire of anger in my heart.

Tonight was the endgame of this cat-and-mouse chase.

Andrew was like a beast caught in a trap. Despite his outward calm, the growing dilation of his pupils gave him away.

His smile became more and more forced, like it was glued on and could fall off any second.

His hand holding the wine glass trembled slightly, the wine inside rippling, reflecting his haggard and anxious face.

He kept scanning the crowd, his eyes darting around like he was looking for an escape route or wary of something.

Seeing him like this, I inwardly sneered. He had finally shown his true colors.

I walked to the corner of the banquet hall and discreetly signaled Isabella.

Isabella got my signal and immediately understood.

She put down her wine glass and walked to the microphone, gently tapping it. "Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please? I have an important announcement to make."

Her sweet voice instantly grabbed everyone's attention.

The noise in the banquet hall gradually died down. Guests put down their wine glasses and utensils, all eyes on Isabella.

Andrew stopped his conversation and turned to look at her. He instinctively tightened his grip on his wine glass, his knuckles turning white, sensing something was up.

"Our police have made a significant breakthrough in the investigation of 'The Tragedy of the Red Rose.'" Isabella paused, scanning the room, then raised her voice, "We have obtained conclusive evidence and identified the suspect!"

The hall erupted in chaos.

Whispers spread like wildfire, crackling everywhere.

People speculated about who the suspect could be.

Andrew's face turned ashen, like a sheet of white paper, devoid of any color.

His wine glass slipped from his hand, shattering on the ground, the red liquid splashing onto his black leather shoes, looking like blood-red flowers, signaling doom.

He abruptly stood up, trying to make a run for it, but was stopped by two plainclothes officers waiting at the door.

"Mr. Anderson, please stay," one of the officers intercepted him.

Andrew's face turned livid as he tried to keep his cool. "You... you have the wrong person. I am innocent."

"That's not for you to decide." I stepped out from the crowd and walked up to Andrew. "Mr. Anderson, you need to come with us. There are some things you need to explain."

I signaled to the two plainclothes officers, who immediately moved forward and restrained Andrew.

Andrew tried to struggle but found it useless. He roared in despair like a trapped beast, "You have no evidence! I am being framed!"

"Whether we have evidence or not, you'll find out at the station," I said coldly.

I stared at Andrew, this once high-flying figure, now slumped in the interrogation chair like a defeated rooster.

His face was ashen, eyes sunken, the former vigor completely gone, replaced by deep fatigue and fear.

I took a deep breath, suppressing the anger boiling inside me, and spoke slowly, my voice low and grating like sandpaper on metal, harsh and unpleasant, "Do you know who 'Hecate' is? Do you think you can do whatever you want under her guise and escape the law?"

Andrew lifted his head, his eyes empty as he looked at me, a strange smile curling his lips, as if mocking himself or me.

"Hecate is the wanderer of the night, the guardian of crossroads, the queen of ghosts and magic."

He paused for a second and then continued, "She symbolizes death and rebirth, holding the key to the underworld."

His words sent a chill through me.

I suddenly recalled the strange symbols and eerie items I had seen in the cave and warehouse.

Was all of this related to the Greek myth of Hecate?

I forced myself to stay calm and continued, "You used the name of 'Hecate' to create a cult, engaging in various illegal activities. Do you think you did it flawlessly, that no one would find out?"

Andrew suddenly burst into laughter, the sharp sound echoing in the empty interrogation room, sending chills down my spine. "Flawlessly? Hahaha."

He laughed until tears streamed down his face. "You're too naive, James! Do you think what you see is the truth? You only see what I want you to see!"

He abruptly lifted his head, "Do you know? Hecate is not just the goddess of the underworld; she is also the goddess of vengeance! She will punish all who betray her! And I am her loyal servant, executing her punishment!"

His words sent a shiver down my spine.

I suddenly realized that Andrew's mental state had deteriorated. He had been completely brainwashed by the imaginary figure of "Hecate."

"Andrew, snap out of it!" I slammed the table, causing a loud bang, making the water cup on the table jump.

I leaned forward, staring into his eyes. "Hecate is just a myth! She doesn't exist! Everything you've done is to satisfy your twisted desires! You are committing crimes! Do you understand?"

Andrew wasn't fazed by my shouting. Instead, he tilted his head back and let out a chilling laugh, sharp and eerie, like the cry of a night owl, making my skin crawl.

The laughter echoed in the cramped interrogation room, bouncing off the walls, like a taunt from hell.

He laughed so hard his shoulders shook, his chest heaving, as if trying to expel all the air from his lungs!

The muscles on his face twisted and deformed, the crow's feet at the corners of his eyes deepening, like wriggling centipedes crawling on his face!

His yellowed teeth, uneven and jagged, looked like a set of saw blades, terrifying and grotesque!

That laughter was no longer human!

His laughter was like the roar of a beast, completely consumed by madness and despair!

"Crimes? Hahaha." He laughed, bending over, tears streaming down his face, wetting his disheveled hair, making him look even more deranged.

"I am executing divine punishment! Those who betray Hecate deserve to die! They all deserve to die!"

He suddenly lifted his head, his bloodshot eyes staring at me, like a venomous snake, ready to strike at any moment.

The muscles at the corners of his mouth twitched, as if tearing his skin to reveal the hideous bones beneath.

His breathing was rapid and heavy, like a wounded beast, emitting low whimpers.

A chill ran from my feet to my head, as if I were in an ice cellar.

Andrew's condition was worse than I had imagined.

He was completely insane!

He had been devoured by the imaginary figure of "Hecate," losing all reason and humanity.

I forced myself to stay calm, took a deep breath, and slowly stood up.

There was no point in saying anything now; he wouldn't listen to any advice.

I had to quickly find the other members of the "Hecate" organization and Aiden's whereabouts to completely shatter Andrew's delusions and make him face reality and the law.

As I turned to leave, Andrew suddenly jumped up from his chair, grabbing the edge of the table, leaning forward, almost pressing his face against mine.

The muscles on his face twisted and deformed, his eyes bulging, as if they would pop out of their sockets. He gritted his teeth and said to me, "James, do you think you can escape? Hecate's eyes are everywhere! She will watch you! Punish you! You can't escape!" He screamed hoarsely, spitting in my face.

He was like a beast cornered, letting out a final desperate roar.

I stood up and turned to leave the interrogation room.

At the door, I turned and looked at him. "I'll be waiting."

With that, I walked out of the interrogation room, and Isabella and Harper approached.

"How did it go? Did he confess?" Isabella asked anxiously.

I shook my head. "He didn't confess. He's been completely brainwashed by 'Hecate.'"

"What do we do now?" Harper asked.