Chapter 35: Twisted Paths

By afternoon, Kristen’s exact location was still unknown, despite Dylan and his team’s efforts. The command center was filled with the hum of computers and the murmur of voices. As they reviewed the CCTV footage showing the last sighting of the car that had taken Kristen from home, Dylan noticed something odd. The footage showed a parking lot, dimly lit with sporadic shadows cast by the lights, and Dylan squinted at the screen.

"Dylan, take a look at this," one of the detectives said, rewinding the footage. "It looks like ha has switched to another car."

Dylan leaned in closer, zooming in on a black sedan. "You're right. That black sedan—he moved there. They’re trying to mislead us."

"Smart move," the detective muttered. "But not smart enough. Let’s see more to it."

Almost half an hour later, Marcus received a call from Dylan. He had just returned to the mansion from searching. The mansion was large, with grand columns and a sprawling driveway, the epitome of luxury but now filled wit