Chapter 15 - The First Mistake
The investigation changed the moment the anonymous message arrived.
Detective Susan Ortega immediately handed the phone to the Digital Forensics Unit.
"Can you trace it?"
The analyst shook his head.
"The image was routed through multiple encrypted servers. Whoever sent it knew exactly how to hide."
Officer Marcus Hale studied the photograph again.
"Zoom in."
The technician enlarged the image one section at a time.
At first nothing appeared unusual.
A gray concrete wall.
A folding chair.
A fluorescent light.
Then Hale noticed something reflected in a dusty window behind Hannah.
"Stop."
The image froze.
"What is that?"
The analyst enhanced the reflection.
A calendar hung on the opposite wall.
Only part of it was visible, but one word remained readable.
Riverside.
Rachel, who had been quietly watching from the conference room, frowned.
"Riverside?"
Another detective immediately searched commercial property records.
"There are seventeen businesses with Riverside in the name."
Hale shook his head.
"No."
He pointed toward another corner of the image.
"Look at the electrical panel."
The analyst zoomed again.
A faded inspection sticker remained attached.
It listed the maintenance company responsible for servicing the building.
Only one digit of the address was visible.
Warehouse District...
Building 12.
Detective Ortega smiled for the first time that day.
"They made a mistake."
Within minutes, every abandoned industrial property near Riverside Building 12 appeared on the department map.
Only three matched the construction style shown in Hannah's photograph.
Officer Hale stood.
"We move now."
As tactical officers prepared their equipment, another analyst rushed into the room carrying a tablet.
"Marcus."
"What is it?"
"I recovered deleted GPS history from Eric Whitmore's second phone."
Hale took the tablet.
One location appeared repeatedly over the past six months.
The same industrial district.
The same warehouse block.
Rachel whispered,
"That's where Hannah is..."
No one corrected her.
May you like
Because everyone was beginning to believe she was right.
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