Ethan Hartman stumbled through the alley, his mind reeling from his mother’s harsh words. He barely noticed the group of thugs appearing from the shadows until it was too late. Their leader sneered, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "Word is your dad, Derek Hartman, was a DEA hotshot. Trained a bunch of agents and made life hell for us. Let’s talk about that, shall we?" Ethan’s heart pounded, but he refused to show fear. He fought back with everything he had, but the thugs were prepared. A sharp pain erupted in his lower back, and as his strength faded, his mother’s words echoed in his mind. "Mom… have I disgraced Dad?"
The Bayport police scoured the alley, but the victim was nowhere to be found. The rain had washed away any hope of clear evidence, leaving only a grim scene behind. As they expanded their search, they stumbled upon Riverside Millworks, an abandoned factory that seemed to whisper secrets of its own. Inside, dismembered body parts lay scattered across the floor, a macabre puzzle waiting to be solved.
She was a consummate professional, unflinching in the face of horror. Yet today, as she unzipped the body bag, something felt different. "What’s the situation with this case?" she asked, her voice calm and authoritative. An officer hesitated, "Dr. Hartman, the victim’s condition is… bad. Maybe you should prepare yourself…" Undeterred, she began the autopsy. As she meticulously sorted through the remains, her brow furrowed. "Where’s the head?" she demanded, the absence of this critical piece unsettling her.
Dr. Vanessa analyzed each fragment with precision. Her voice was steady as she narrated the victim's likely age and condition. Yet, as she spoke, an unspoken fear gnawed at the edges of her mind. Was it possible the body on her table was her own son? The thought was a cold blade against her heart, but she pushed it aside, focused on the task at hand. "Were any weapons found at the scene?" she asked, accepting the photographs of the rusted saw and hammer. The brutality of the tools mirrored the violence inflicted on the victim, a chilling testament to human cruelty.
Awareness returned slowly, and with it, the realization that he was alive. The thugs had left him for dead, but fate had intervened. Ethan shifted, wincing as he tried to sit up, determination burning in his chest. He would not be a victim; he would rise and reclaim his father’s legacy. The path would be fraught with danger, but he had to try. His father’s badge number was more than a dream—it was his destiny.
Dr. Vanessa paused, her thoughts straying to Ethan. Had she been too harsh, too distant? The case had become personal in a way she could not ignore. As the investigation continued, mother and son moved closer to an inevitable convergence, their paths entwined by blood and duty. The truth would come to light, and when it did, it could heal or destroy them both.