Бесплатный фрагмент - Shadows over Yerevan

Chapter 1. The Killing at the Market

It was a typical summer day in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. The sun was beating down on the bustling city, and the air was thick with the sound of vendors hawking their wares and the chatter of shoppers. At the crowded market, people were buying and selling fresh fruits, vegetables, and spices. It was a lively and colorful scene, but it was about to be shattered by violence.

As the midday sun reached its peak, a piercing scream echoed through the market. People looked up, startled, and saw a woman running frantically through the stalls, her face twisted in terror. She was shouting in Armenian, but the words were lost in the chaos.

The shoppers around her started to panic and scatter. Some looked for a place to hide, while others rushed toward the source of the commotion. They found the woman collapsed on the ground, her throat slashed. Blood was pooling around her body, and her eyes stared blankly at the sky.

The market erupted in chaos as the police arrived on the scene, trying to cordon off the area and interview witnesses. But it was too late to save the woman’s life. The killer had disappeared into the crowd, leaving behind a community reeling in shock and horror.

As the sun began to set on the city, the investigation into the murder began in earnest. The police canvassed the area, looking for clues and trying to identify potential suspects. But with the killer still at large, the people of Yerevan knew that they were in the midst of a dangerous and unpredictable situation. The Killing at the Market was only the beginning of a wave of violence that threatened to tear the city apart.

Detective Aram was one of the first officers on the scene. He pushed his way through the crowd of onlookers and knelt down beside the victim. He had seen many crime scenes in his years on the force, but this one was particularly gruesome. Aram knew that he needed to act fast if they were to have any chance of catching the killer. He called for backup and began to question the witnesses. Most of them had seen little, but a few had noticed a man in a black hoodie walking away from the scene of the crime. Aram’s mind raced as he tried to piece together the evidence. He knew that time was of the essence, and that they needed to act fast before the killer had a chance to strike again. He looked around the market, searching for any sign of the suspect. As the sun began to set, Aram knew that they needed to start closing in on their suspect. He coordinated with his team and began to move through the market, searching for anyone who matched the description they had been given. The city was on edge as news of the murder spread. People stayed inside their homes, afraid to venture out into the streets. Aram knew that he had to bring the killer to justice if he was to restore a sense of safety to the community. As the night wore on, Aram’s team finally caught a break. They spotted a man in a black hoodie, matching the description they had been given. He was walking down a deserted alleyway, away from the market. The team moved in, their guns drawn, and surrounded the suspect. Aram’s heart was pounding as he closed in on the man. He had no idea what to expect, and he knew that the killer could be armed and dangerous. But he had a job to do, and he was determined to see it through. «Put your hands in the air,» Aram shouted, his voice echoing through the alleyway. The man turned around slowly, his hands raised in the air. Aram breathed a sigh of relief as he recognized him — it was a local vendor who had been at the market earlier that day. The man looked terrified as the police surrounded him, but he insisted that he was innocent. Aram knew that he would need to question him further, but for now, he was just glad to have someone in custody. The killer was still out there, but they were one step closer to catching him.

Chapter 2. A City on the Edge

As news of the killing at the market spread through the city, a sense of unease settled over Yerevan. The people were on edge, knowing that a killer was on the loose and that anyone could be a target. The police were out in force, patrolling the streets and searching for clues.

Aram had barely slept the night before, poring over the evidence and trying to piece together the killer’s motive. He had a gut feeling that this was no random act of violence — there was something personal about the killing at the market. But he had no concrete leads, no suspects, and no idea where to turn next.

As he drove through the city, Aram could feel the tension in the air. The normally bustling streets were deserted, and the only sounds were the distant wails of police sirens. He knew that the people of Yerevan were scared, and he was determined to do everything in his power to catch the killer.

Aram’s phone rang, jolting him out of his thoughts. It was his captain, calling to check in on the investigation.

«Any updates?» the captain asked.

Aram sighed. «Nothing yet, sir. We’re still interviewing witnesses and following up on leads.»

The captain was silent for a moment. «Aram, we need to catch this guy before he kills again. The city is on the edge, and we can’t afford to let this drag on.»

Aram nodded, even though he knew that the captain couldn’t see him. «I understand, sir. We’re doing everything we can.»

The captain hung up, leaving Aram alone with his thoughts once again. He knew that the pressure was on, but he also knew that he couldn’t rush the investigation. He needed to be thorough, to follow every lead, and to leave no stone unturned.

As he drove through the city, Aram’s mind raced with possibilities. Who could have killed the woman at the market, and why? Was it a personal vendetta, a political statement, or something else entirely? He knew that he needed to find answers, and soon.

As the sun began to set over Yerevan, Aram pulled up to the police station. He was exhausted, but he knew that he couldn’t rest until the killer was caught. A sense of determination settled over him as he walked through the doors, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

The police station was a flurry of activity, with officers coming and going and phones ringing off the hook. Aram made his way to his desk, shuffling through the piles of paperwork that had accumulated since the investigation began.

As he sat down, Aram’s phone rang again. It was a witness who claimed to have seen the killer leaving the market. Aram’s heart raced as he took down the witness’s information, hoping that this would be the breakthrough they needed.

He quickly coordinated with his team and headed out to follow up on the new lead. As they drove through the streets of Yerevan, Aram couldn’t help but feel like they were running out of time. The killer was out there, and he was getting closer with each passing moment.

They arrived at the witness’s house, and Aram began to question her. She was nervous and jittery, but she gave a detailed account of what she had seen. Aram took notes and asked follow-up questions, hoping to get any small piece of information that could lead to the killer’s capture.

As he was leaving the witness’s house, Aram’s phone rang again. It was another officer, reporting a new victim — this time, a young woman found dead in a park on the outskirts of the city.

Aram’s heart sank as he heard the news. He knew that they were dealing with a serial killer, and that the situation had just become much more urgent. He rushed back to the station, coordinating with his team to get to the crime scene as quickly as possible.

As they arrived at the park, Aram’s worst fears were confirmed. The killer had struck again, and this time the victim was even younger than the last. Aram could feel his blood boiling with anger and frustration. How many more people would have to die before they caught this monster?

As the night wore on, Aram and his team combed the park for evidence. They questioned witnesses, collected DNA samples, and photographed every inch of the crime scene. Aram knew that this was their chance to catch the killer, and he was determined not to let it slip away.

As they packed up their equipment and headed back to the station, Aram’s mind raced with possibilities. They had two murders now, both seemingly unrelated but connected by the same killer. He knew that they needed to find a connection, a motive, something that would lead them to the killer’s identity.

Yerevan was a city on the edge, and Aram knew that it was up to him to bring peace and safety back to the streets.

Chapter 3. The Detective’s Gambit

He knew that they were running out of time. The killer had struck twice now, and there was no telling when or where he would strike again. Aram had to make a move, and he had to make it soon.

He sat back in his chair, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. He needed to think outside the box, to take a risk and make a move that could break the case wide open.

And then it hit him — the detective’s gambit.

Aram knew that the killer was watching, waiting for the police to make a move. He was playing a game of cat and mouse, and Aram was determined to turn the tables.

He picked up his phone and made a call. «I need you to set up a press conference,» he said. «I want to make a public statement.»

The press conference was set for the following day. Aram spent the rest of the night preparing his speech, carefully crafting every word to convey the message he wanted to send.

The next morning, the press conference was packed with reporters and camera crews from every major news outlet in Armenia. Aram stepped up to the podium, took a deep breath, and began to speak.