Chapter 3 Whispers in the Dark

**Chapter Three*

The days dragged on. David and Juliana were tired. They had followed lead after lead, but it always felt like they were getting nowhere. The more they tried, the more elusive the truth became. Every time they thought they were close, it slipped through their fingers.

David stared at the pile of papers in front of him. They were filled with names, phone numbers, and intercepted messages, but nothing seemed to connect. Juliana sat across from him, rubbing her eyes. The exhaustion was beginning to show. "David, this isn't working. Dan_Kabal always seems one step ahead of us. No matter how hard we try, we're stuck."

David didn't look up from his papers. "I know. But something's off. There's a piece to this puzzle that we're missing."

Juliana leaned back in her chair. "What do you mean? We've checked everything. The president's been the main suspect, the one everyone's pointing at."

David tapped his pen on the table, lost in thought. "I know. And I thought it was him too. But now, I'm starting to think we've been looking in the wrong place."

Juliana raised an eyebrow. "What are you saying?"

"The president isn't the mole," David said, his voice low but certain. "But someone close to him is. Someone in his circle. That's how Dan_Kabal always knows what we're planning. They've got someone feeding them information."

Juliana frowned, trying to make sense of what he was saying. "So, you're telling me that after all this time, the president's not the one giving away our plans? It's someone else?"

David nodded. "Exactly. We've been so focused on him that we didn't stop to think about the people around him. Someone inside the military has access to everything. Someone who's been passing information along to Dan_Kabal."

Juliana looked out the window, her mind racing. "But who could it be? The military has been loyal to the president for years. How could one person turn against us like that?"

David sighed, rubbing his temples. "I don't know. But it makes sense. Think about it-every time we plan an operation, Dan_Kabal always seems to know exactly what we're going to do. That doesn't happen by accident."

Juliana was quiet for a moment, trying to process everything. "So, you think the leak is someone inside the military? But who? We've got spies everywhere."

Before David could answer, both of their phones buzzed at the same time. David checked his screen. It was a message from an unknown number.

Juliana's eyes narrowed. "David, that could be bad news."

David answered the call, his hand steady but his heart racing. "Hello?"

A soft voice came through the phone, almost a whisper. "Inspectors... I know you're getting close, but you need to be careful. There are eyes on you."

David's blood ran cold. That voice. It was familiar. It was **Ku-Kalu**, the second-in-command of **Dan_Kabal**.

"What do you want?" David asked, trying to stay calm, his mind racing for answers.

"You're close, but not close enough," **Ku-Kalu** said with a laugh, his voice echoing in the silence. "The answers are out there, but you're not looking in the right places. They're hidden in plain sight."

David's grip tightened on the phone. "Who's the leak? Who's feeding you information?"

**Ku-Kalu** chuckled. "You'll find out soon enough. But here's a hint: look in the dark. That's where the answers are waiting for you."

Then the line went dead.

David stared at the phone, his breath shallow. "That was **Ku-Kalu**."

Juliana walked over to him. "What did he say?"

David's face was grim. "He's messing with our heads. He said the answers are hidden in plain sight. That's got to mean something."

Juliana crossed her arms. "So, you think the leak is someone we haven't even thought of yet? Someone we've been looking past?"

David looked at her, his expression serious. "Exactly. Someone close to the president. Someone with access to military plans."

Juliana paced back and forth, running the possibilities through her mind. "But who? We've got to start making a list of suspects. The president's circle is huge. Who could have access to that level of information and betray the country?"

David shook his head. "I don't know yet, but we need to find out fast. The longer this goes on, the more people will get hurt."

That night, David and Juliana met at a small café on the outskirts of **Vandeka**. It was a quiet, hidden place, perfect for discussing their next steps without being watched. They sat in the corner, sipping on their drinks, deep in thought.

"I used to come here a lot with my mom when I was younger," Juliana said, looking around. "It was a peaceful place. Doesn't feel like that anymore."

David stared out the window, his mind still racing. "No, it doesn't. I wish we could go back to the way things were. But we can't."

Juliana met his eyes. "Do you really think the leak is someone close to the president?"

David's voice was quiet but firm. "Yes. It has to be."

Just then, David's phone buzzed again. He looked down at the screen. It was a new message from an unknown number.

Meet me at the old warehouse on the edge of town. I have information that will change everything. Come alone.

David showed the message to Juliana. She looked at him, her face full of concern. "You don't know who this is. It could be a trap."

David thought for a moment. "It could be. But we don't have any other leads. We can't afford to miss this chance."

They arrived at the warehouse later that night. It was a cold, dark building on the outskirts of town. The air felt heavy, like something was about to happen. Juliana was on edge, her hand on her gun.

"This place doesn't feel right," Juliana said, her voice low. "I have a bad feeling about this."

David nodded. "I know. But we have no choice."

They crept inside, careful not to make any noise. The place was empty, except for the shadows lurking in the corners. They moved through the warehouse, their footsteps echoing in the silence.

Then, a figure appeared in the darkness. At first, they couldn't make out who it was, but as the figure stepped into the light, they saw it was a man, tall and thin, with a scarf covering part of his face.

The man's voice was low and cautious. "Are you the ones they sent?"

David stepped forward, trying to stay calm. "Who are you?"

The man lowered the scarf just enough for his eyes to show. "I have information you need," he said, his voice steady. "But it's not going to be easy to hear."

David frowned. "What do you know?"

The man looked around, making sure no one else was there. "The leak you're looking for... it's someone inside the military. Someone close to the president. They've been feeding Dan_Kabal information."

David's heart raced. This was the lead they had been waiting for. "Who is it? Who's the mole?"

The man didn't answer right away. Instead, he stepped back into the shadows, his eyes never leaving them. "You'll find out soon enough. But be careful. The truth will destroy everything you know."