Chapter 4: The Beginning

Detective Maria

The next day, I stepped into the chief's office while carrying the white piece of notice in a white bag. I had broken the 'glass' shield to get it. Asmara had welcomed me at the entrance, saying that she had left my coffee cup on my desk. I had smiled in gratitude. 

Now knocking on the door, I breathed in as Chief Nadia allowed me in. She was talking on her phone, with a load of files placed on her desk. Upon seeing me, a pleasant smile appeared on her face. 

"Detective Maria," She shook my head, while still holding the phone next to her ear, as I reached her.

"Please sit." I nodded with acceptance, watching as she gestures me to wait for a minute.

Silently, trying to keep my nerves at bay, I looked around and observed the chief's office while holding the white bag close. It was an ordinary office, illuminated by yellow ceiling lits. There was a grey couch pushed in one corner, with a brown door next to it. 

The chief's desk was covered in files and had a world globe placed in one corner. Chief Nadia was leaning back against her red armchair, looking towards her right and giving some orders on the phone. 

"I apologize..." She finally ended the call, turning back towards me and folding her hands on the desk. 

"It's okay." I accepted, nodding. 

"I just wanted to inform you that Black Fist showed up at my place, yesterday," I informed nonchalantly, meeting her gaze, eyeing her expressions. 

Her eyes widened in extreme shock and bewilderment. "What? Are you serious? What do you mean he showed up at your place? Did you see him? What did he want?" She almost stood up, grabbing her phone again. There were officers walking outside the office, so much mayhem echoing from outside. I felt uncomfortable with Chief Nadia's reaction.

"I didn't get to see him because he was keeping himself hidden in the shadows, but he showed up because he was intrigued by the fact that I had managed to pick up some hints," I explained, working my best to explain my position. 

I had been working for the police for so long. Chief Nadia had received my profile, so there wasn't any point of doubting me. The 2000's infamous burglary case had proven my trustworthy nature to the police. 

"But why didn't you call the police...call us? Do you have security cameras at the place? We have to send people to your home now." She seemed so excited, so eager and in disbelief. I felt like I should clear my place before continuing with informing her about Black Fist's notes. It was necessary now. 

"Chief Nadia, relax..." I tried to pacify her. "I knew that this would happen. It is clear that Black Fist has been mocking the police for so long, so obviously, he would be intrigued if someone started understanding his game. I didn't call the police because I knew that I was just part of his plot. He would never show up before the police. This has been his game for a long time. I have been observing. 

Black Fist enjoys this game. Ma'am, him showing up at my place shouldn't be surprising because we all know how he has been boldly asking us to catch him. Now, he had challenged me to catch him. He left this note." I spoke, pushing the white bag towards her. She eyed it with so much disbelief and amazement. 

This had been a real step forward for this case. 

She was almost impressed by this sudden development in this case. Black Fist had never paid anyone a visit before. He was always leaving notes, mocking the police, but for him to be intrigued and place a challenge was a step ahead. 

"What is this?" She grabbed the white bag. 

"This left his note for me," I explained, pulling my chair closer towards the desk. She unzipped the bag and then pulled out the note.

"What does it mean?" She asked, reading the note. She honestly looked so lost. It was clear she had been caught her off guard by all of this. 

However, before I could speak, her office door opened and one lady officer barged into our room. 

"Ma'am, you have to see this..." The woman spoke urgently. Chief Nadia stared at me for a second and then got up.

Nodding, we rushed to the main hall. All the officers were now gathered near the entrance. I saw Asmara standing at the back of this crowd, her eyes looking at me with a nervous expression. 

What was going on?

"Ladies, what is happening?" Chief Nadia called out to her staff, causing them all to, at once, turn towards me. I was standing next to her, observing the situation with seriousness. 

"Ma'am...it's him." One of them spoke. Their eyes were sneaking towards me now. 

"Let me see..." Chief Nadia steeled herself and then headed to see what the ladies had been looking at. I followed after her in curiosity. I needed to see what was happening. The officers moved back, as they made space for Chief Nadia. 

Curiously looking while fidgeting with my fingers, I watched as we walked near a big white box placed near the entrance. It had my name written on it, along with the initials B and F scratched across its white cover. 

I breathed in. So, Black Fist was looking for an audience while he challenged me. He wanted everyone to witness his strength, his control and his schemes. 

I could see Chief Nadia had stopped for a second. She momentarily looked back at me, with so many eyes already staring at me...so mute and listening. They were standing on my sides, wanting to know what was going on...why Black Fist was sending me this box.

Hesitant, Chief Nadia started opening this box. It could be a bomb, anything...we didn't how far this man could go. 

"Sarah," She called to one lady officer. "Turn on the security alert...and keep the bomb squad on line." She quickly ordered. The woman nodded and rushed away. The others stood around to witness the scene. 

Tearing of its cover, everyone watched as Chief Nadia then pulled out a note from inside the box and then turned towards us.

'A fool had stepped into my trap'

She started reading the note out loud. 

'She pretends like she can cover the gap'  

'Her confidence amused me'

'Let's see if she is will be able to win'

'She has two days to decode her note. 

'Middle Blue Town...she has two days to save its shops from me'

'There is also a gift for the lady in this box.'

Chief Nadia then pulled out some books from the box. They were the most random books about history, geography, space. She was looking so unamused…so stern. 

Everyone was staring, watching agape. 

"It's time ladies!" she then clapped her hands loudly, addressing the crowd while placing the books back in the bag. "We have work to do. We have to get all the shops, museums, in that area in lockdown. Make sure, we can get a list of residents staying in that area and the people who have recently been visited that town. I need details, phone calls to be made now!" Everyone immediately skipped to business. 

There was so much mayhem and havoc in the hall now. Everyone was running around, working to make calls and get the police on it. Security posted had to be guarded immediately. 

"Detective Maria..." Chief Nadia then walked up to me. 

"We have to decode the note he gave you..." she instructed, making me nod. 

"Do you think you can tell the officers what exactly happened at your place?"

"Yes," I sharply nodded. 

"Good. Also, I believe in you." Her gaze then turned tender and warm, as she patted my shoulder. “There is a reason why Black Fist got threatened by your interference. Don't worry...we will be able to catch this man, soon. We won't let his boredom put you in any danger. Rest assured, you will now have a security guard outside your flat, at all times. Okay?" She comforted, peering at me. I nodded.

Satisfied by my expressions, she walked back to her police, looking to make some urgent calls. It had been sweet of her to console me like this, but Chief had no idea that I was ready for this game. Black Fist...he didn't scare me at all; corrupt and dark hearts didn't scare me at all. 

Standing up against injustice, the wrongs, was my passion. I was so ready to compete with Black Fist and defeat him in his own game. 

'Only fools fall for deadly traps' 

He had no idea that some of these fools could be so determined that even these deadly traps would get crushed by their fight. He had no idea that some of these fools had enough scars to keep them strong and courageous. 

"Detective Maria..." Asmara now jogged up to me, carrying a cup of coffee in her hands. "Are you okay?" 

"Yes, Asmara...please, can you get someone to place my gifts on my desk? I have to go and talk to one of the investigating officers." I politely asked. 

She nodded. "Sure..."

"Here is your coffee..." She then handed me my cup.

 I smiled. "Thank you.”

It was time to get started."