Daniel spent the rest of the night in a small hotel on the other side of the city.

He didn’t sleep.

He watched the rain through the window while his laptop sat on the table.

At sunrise, he opened the video again.

There was something he hadn’t noticed before.

Behind Tom was a clock.

Daniel paused the video.

The clock showed 11:43.

He remembered something.

Tom had died at 11:43 p.m.

According to the official report.

Daniel watched the video again.

Then he noticed something else.

A small reflection appeared in the glass behind Tom.

Someone was standing there.

Daniel zoomed in.

The image became blurry.

But he could see the outline of a woman.

Daniel immediately thought of someone.

Maya Reed.

Tom’s former investigative partner.

Maya had disappeared after Tom’s death.

Daniel searched for her name.

Nothing.

Then he remembered Tom’s old notebook.

It was still stored in his mother’s house.

Daniel drove there.

His mother had died three years earlier, and the house had remained empty.

Inside, everything smelled of dust.

Daniel went to the basement.

Tom’s old belongings were packed into boxes.

He searched for the notebook.

After twenty minutes, he found it.

The cover was black.

Inside were pages filled with names.

Three names were crossed out.

Daniel recognized them.

They were the three people who had disappeared.

Below them was another name.

MAYA REED.

Daniel’s heart raced.

He turned the page.

A sentence was written in Tom’s handwriting.

The fourth disappearance hasn’t happened yet.

Daniel stared at the words.

Then he heard a noise upstairs.

Footsteps.

Someone was inside the house.

Daniel switched off his flashlight.

He remained completely still.

The footsteps moved closer.

Daniel grabbed a metal pipe.

A shadow appeared at the basement door.

A man stepped inside.

Daniel attacked.

The man blocked the pipe and pushed Daniel against the wall.

Daniel fought desperately.

The stranger was stronger.

Then Daniel noticed something.

The man’s wrist had a tattoo.

A black circle with a vertical line through it.

Daniel had seen that symbol before.

It was in Tom’s notebook.

The stranger suddenly released him and ran.

Daniel chased him upstairs.

By the time he reached the front door, the man was gone.

Outside, a black car disappeared down the street.

Daniel returned to the basement.

He searched the notebook again.

The symbol appeared beside every missing person’s name.

Then his phone rang.

Unknown caller.

Daniel answered.

“Who are you?”

A woman’s voice replied.

“Someone who wants you alive.”

“Who?”

“Maya.”

Daniel froze.

“You’re alive?”

“For now.”

“Where are you?”

“Don’t ask questions over the phone.”

Daniel tightened his grip on the phone.

“Was that you in the video?”

Silence.

“Daniel,” Maya whispered, “your brother discovered something six years ago.”

“What?”

“A secret organization.”

Daniel’s heart stopped.

“They control people inside the police department. They control judges. Politicians. Businesses.”

“Why did Tom die?”

“He didn’t.”

Daniel couldn’t breathe.

“What?”

“Tom’s death was staged.”

Daniel felt the room spin.

“That’s impossible.”

“I know what you were told.”

“Where is he?”

“I don’t know.”

Maya’s voice became quieter.

“But someone is pretending to be him.”

Daniel looked at the notebook.

“Who?”

Before Maya could answer, the call ended.

A new message appeared.

COME TO THE OLD CENTRAL STATION. MIDNIGHT. COME ALONE.

Daniel knew it was a trap.

But he also knew he had no choice.

At midnight, Daniel entered the abandoned station.

The building was dark.

His footsteps echoed through empty corridors.

“Maya?”

No answer.

Then a light turned on.

Maya Reed stood at the end of the platform.

She looked older than Daniel remembered.

Tired.

Afraid.

“You came.”

Daniel approached.

“Where is my brother?”

Maya stared at him.

“I told you. I don’t know.”

“Then why contact me?”

“Because they found you.”

“Who are they?”

Maya looked around.

“The organization is called The Circle.”

Daniel remembered the tattoo.

“The Circle.”

Maya nodded.

“Your brother discovered their biggest secret.”

“What secret?”

Before Maya could answer, a gunshot exploded through the station.

Maya fell.

Daniel screamed.

“Maya!”

He ran toward her.

She was alive.

Blood covered her shoulder.

Another shot hit the wall.

Daniel pulled her behind a concrete pillar.

“Who is shooting?”

Maya pointed toward the darkness.

“Run.”

They escaped through an underground tunnel.

But before they separated, Maya grabbed Daniel’s arm.

“Your brother left something for you.”

“What?”

She handed him a key.

“Locker 317.”

Then she disappeared into the darkness.

Daniel looked at the key.

Stamped on it were three words.

TRUST NO ONE.