Chapter 2 Something Unseen

DAVE

I parked close to the alley.

The place was already a mess. Patrol cars everywhere. Red and blue lights flashing. EMTs rushing around. Officers talking over each other.

Just another night in Manhattan, with another problem waiting for me.

I hadn't eaten dinner yet.

Of course.

I got out of the car and headed straight for the woman sitting on the curb. She was wrapped in a blanket, shaking badly. Her eyes kept moving, like she was still trapped in the moment.

I crouched in front of her.

My knee cracked when I bent down.

Great.

"Ma'am," I said gently. "I'm Detective Callahan. What's your name? Can you tell me what happened?"

"I'm Sarah. He attacked me," she whispered, pointing at the man being loaded into the ambulance. "And then... something came."

Something.

"What kind of something?" I asked calmly.

"A wolf," she said.

I paused.

"A big one," she added quickly. "Huge. Gold eyes. It attacked him and It saved me."

I nodded and wrote it down.

People in shock say strange things. I'd seen it too many times to count.

A wolf... in Manhattan?

Yeah. Sure.

I figured it was a big dog. Maybe a scared animal someone mistook for more.

"Did you see where it went?" I asked.

"Yes. He had a knife," she said, breathing hard."He stabbed the wolf on its right and It ran inside that building there." She pointed at the renovation site beside the tall Aurora Luxe tower.

I looked at the structure. Empty. No workers at night. Easy place for an animal or a scared witness to hide.

"And then," she continued, her voice shaking again, "a woman came out. Just minutes later."

I looked up.

"A woman?"

"Yes," she said. "Tall. Dark hair. She looked like she was in a hurry."

I stopped writing.

"What did she say to you?"

"Just asked if I was okay," she said. "Then she left."

"Can you recognize her?" I asked.

"Yes," she said without thinking. "It was Meredith Stevens."

I blinked.

"Meredith Stevens?" I repeated slowly. "The CEO?"

"Yes," she said firmly. "Her."

"Ma'am" I said gently, "you're telling me the woman you saw was Meredith Stevens? The Meredith Stevens? CEO of one of the biggest companies in New York? She always has security with her. She wouldn't just walk alone through a place like that."

"I know what I saw," she said, her voice steady now. "I follow her. Her interviews. Her speeches. I can recognize her anywhere. It was her."

She wasn't panicking anymore, she sounded so sure of herself, I had to write it down. not because I believed her, but because I couldn't ignore how sure she was.

I stood and went over to Miller, who was wrapping up with the EMTs.

"The witness says a large animal attacked the suspect," I said quietly.

"Animal control can handle that," Miller said. "Anything else?"

"The timeline's strange," I said. "She claims the animal ran into the building. Then Meredith Stevens walked out."

Miller stared at me.

"The Iron Goddess?" he scoffed. "You're joking."

"I wish I was."

"She wouldn't be anywhere near this place," he said. "Not alone."

"I know," I replied. "But the witness won't back down."

Miller checked his watch. "If she was in her office, she's gone by now. Probably used some private exit."

"Maybe," I said. "But I still need to talk to her."

Miller snorted. "Good luck getting close to her."

"Routine follow-up," I said, though something in my chest felt tight.

We spent a few more minutes documenting the scene. But the whole time, one thought kept circling in my head:

A wolf attack.

A wounded animal running into a building.

And then Meredith Stevens-one of the most powerful women in Manhattan-walking out right after.

I didn't believe the connection.

I didn't want to. But the timing didn't sit right with me.

And tomorrow

I was going to get answers.

No matter what.