The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era

Chapter 811: [THE SHADOW WITHIN] (XX)

HE listened without moving, his eyes fixed ahead as voices drifted in from nearby.

"...they already caught someone, right?"

"That’s what they said during the press conference this morning."

"So that’s it? Case closed?"

A brief pause followed before the other voice spoke again, lower this time.

"I don’t know. They’re saying the victims... something about their hearts."

"Their hearts?" the first voice repeated. "You mean he actually took them?"

"That’s what people are saying."

There was a faint sound of disbelief. "That’s insane. What kind of person does that?"

"A psychopath," the other replied. "Someone who enjoys it."

He almost scoffed. Enjoyment had nothing to do with it. People were always quick to reduce things into something simple they could understand. They did not know what they were talking about.

"...they also said the police might’ve found where he’s keeping them," one of them added.

That made him stop for a moment. So that was the angle they were pushing. He let the words sit in his head, turning them over. A statement like that was obviously not really for the public. He could tell it was aimed at someone specific.

For instance, at the actual killer.

For him.

It was a trap. He could see through it easily. They wanted to get a reaction out of him, to push him into doing something that would give him away.

He was not stupid or careless, so he would not fall for a cheap trick like that. But even so, he could not shake the irritation sitting under his skin.

He thought about the possibility that maybe they knew something. But he pushed that thought aside fast. If they really had anything solid, they would not be so vague about it. They would move on him already. Still, he could not get his mind to calm down. Mostly because of his... condition. The one that made him think too much, second guess everything, and never let things go.

He had to be sure. He needed to confirm that the police really had nothing to work with.

He would not go there himself. That would be stupid. The police were probably hoping he would try something like that. So he had to settle for the next best option. Check things from a distance.

He rose and made his way to the adjoining bathroom. Once inside, he closed the door behind him. Then he pulled out his Terminal.

He had already checked it earlier. No one had accessed it without permission. Nothing had been tampered with. If anyone had tried, the system would have wiped everything important the moment it detected a breach. He had made sure of that.

He typed a few commands, opened a secure channel, and the screen changed. Then a specific video feed appeared.

The screen showed a dark room from several camera angles. Everything looked the same as before. Nothing had been touched. No one had gone inside.

He watched for a few seconds longer, checking each camera. Everything was exactly as he left it.

A quiet, humorless laugh slipped from him. Of course. There was no way those idiots were even close. They were grasping at shadows, hoping something would stick. In the end, they would do what they always did.

They would simply settle.

They had Hale. That was enough for them. They would push it through, call it a success, and move on.

He closed the feed, the faint curve of a smile still on his lips.

***

Lewis stood by the doorway for a moment before stepping inside the hospital room.

Mercer was sitting up in the bed, a blanket over his legs. His face was still pale, and he seemed tense, like his body had not quite healed yet.

"Mr. Mercer," Lewis greeted.

Mercer looked up and nodded slightly, a small smile on his face. "Detective."

Lewis stepped closer. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," Mercer said. "Still a bit weak, but the doctors said I’m recovering well."

Lewis studied him briefly, then nodded. "They mentioned you might be discharged soon."

"Tomorrow," Mercer replied. "If everything checks out."

"When that happens, we can arrange protection for you," Lewis said. "If you want."

Mercer frowned slightly. "Protection?" He hesitated before continuing. "I thought you already had someone in custody."

Lewis kept his voice calm. "We do. This is just standard procedure. With everything that has happened, we can’t afford to take any chances."

Mercer seemed to consider that, then gave a small nod. "I see."

They spoke for a few more minutes. Lewis asked a few routine questions about his condition. Mercer answered without hesitation, though there was still a hint of fatigue beneath his steady voice.

After a while, Lewis stepped back. "I won’t keep you any longer. Get some rest. I promise you that everything will be over soon."

Mercer gave a faint smile. "Thank you, Detective."

Lewis nodded. "Get well soon."

He turned and left the hospital room without another word.

***

Lewis walked straight to Stevens’ office after that. Stevens was already there, leaning back in his chair as if he had been waiting.

"How’s our patient?" he asked.

"Stable," Lewis said. "He’ll be discharged tomorrow."

Stevens nodded slightly. "And the plan?"

Lewis exhaled. "It still depends on the target. But if everything goes as expected, we should have our answer before the week ends."

Stevens watched him for a moment, then gave a small hum of acknowledgment. Lewis remained standing, his arms crossed. After a brief pause, he spoke again.

"You’re really sure about this?" he asked. "About him."

Stevens smiled faintly. "Can one really be certain about anything?"

Lewis did not respond.

Stevens tilted his head slightly, then added, "But if you need reassurance, I’m as sure as the sun coming up tomorrow."

Lewis held his gaze for a second longer before looking away. A quiet sigh escaped him. He only hoped things would go the way they planned.

***

He did not like how things had turned out.

He knew the smart thing to do was to ignore the thoughts in his head and just stay put. But his mind would not calm down.

He felt a persistent nudge, an unseen force pushing him toward a path he’d resolved to avoid. The same thoughts echoed relentlessly in his mind, quiet but insistent, eroding his self-control bit by bit.

Check it. Make sure. Confirm.

He let out a slow breath and tried to stay calm, but the feeling kept getting stronger. By the time midnight came, he had already decided. He waited until everything was quiet. Once he was sure no one was around, he got up and moved.

There was a secondary exit he had prepared long before, a narrow access route that led from the lower level of the building to a maintenance corridor rarely used. It connected to an underground parking area that most people had forgotten existed. His car was there.

He got in without hesitation and started the engine.

He drove in silence. He kept his speed steady and took roads that stayed away from busy traffic. The city lights faded as he went further out, and all he saw were dark roads and empty buildings.

He stopped near an old storage facility on the edge of an industrial zone. The place had not been used in years, at least not officially. From the outside, it looked like any other abandoned site waiting to be cleared.

He stepped out and went inside.

He found the hidden entrance behind a stack of containers. He pushed it aside and climbed down into the basement.

The air was cool and still. He didn’t bother with the lights since he didn’t need them. He’d walked it so many times that he could navigate in the dark. The wide-open room had concrete walls and a low ceiling. Along the sides were old, mostly empty shelves, and against the far wall stood metal cabinets. Even in the dark, he could picture every detail, from the smooth concrete floor to the placement of each shelf.

He reached the far end and unlocked the secured compartment. When it opened, four glass containers came into view.

Each vial, filled with a clear solution, was sealed to preserve its contents — a perfectly intact human heart. Suspended within the liquid, each organ was carefully positioned to showcase its preserved state. The tissue maintained its shape, the surfaces were clean, and the cut vessels were clearly visible.

He moved closer and let out a slow breath. He looked at each container one by one. A small smile formed on his face. He liked how they looked. Everything was neat and in its place. Each heart was right where it was supposed to be. It felt right. It felt good.

For a moment, the tension that had been building in his chest eased.

Then— Light flooded the room.

He flinched when the lights turned on, his eyes narrowing against the sudden brightness. His chest went tight the moment he realized he was not alone. He turned around and saw two people standing at the entrance.

Detective Lewis.

Dr. Stevens.

Lewis met his gaze, steady and unreadable. "Sorry for the intrusion, Mr. Mercer."