184 Push It To The Limit

A/N: lengthier read going into the weekend, but this chapter solves some unanswered questions, and has a few long unseen fan faves in it, too! Enjoy!

Push it to the limit
Walk along the razor’s edge
But don’t look down, just keep your head
Or you’ll be finished

Open up the limit
Past the point of no return
You’ve reached the top but still you gotta learn
How to keep it

Hit the wheel and double the stakes
Throttle wide open like a bat out of hell
You crash the gates (Crash the gates)
Going for the back of beyond
Nothing gonna stop you, there’s nothing that strong
So close now you’re nearly at the brink
So, push it, ooh yeah

Welcome to the limit (Limit)
Take it baby one step more
The power game’s still playing so
You better win it

Push it to the limit (Limit)
No one left to stand in your way
You might get careless, but you’ll never be safe
While you’re still in it

Welcome to the limit (Limit)
Standing on the razor’s edge
Don’t look down just keep your head
Or you’ll be finished

Welcome to the limit
Push it to the limit

Maya Fey and Franziska Von Karma
Radisson Blu Portman, London
July 21, 2026

The normally loquacious Burger Queen stared at the one-time Courtroom Queen of Mean with a dumbfounded expression as Franziska wrapped up her gut-wrenching tale about the dramatic confrontation with her sister and niece prior to her arrival.

“Your silence speaks volumes. I imagine it is because you finally have come to the realization I am a lost cause, have you not, my friend?” The latter questioned hollowly. “I have learned to accept this ugly truth about myself, and it is high time you did, as well, for I am a calamitous, walking hurricane of Frau. I singlehandedly destroy everything around me on my path of self-destruction. Hence, my saintly Schwester, my sole, unwavering ally left in this world, now thoroughly despises me, for I am an irredeemably incendiary human being.”

The shell-shocked spirit medium finally found her vocal cords, just in time to confront this latest round of ruthless lambasting the ex-DA was determined to flog herself with.

“Please stop beating yourself up like this, Franziska!” The Master pleaded, laying a placating palm on the former prosecutor’s rigid arm, as both her hands were tightly clutching her sleeves. “I have no doubt the story you just told me was no more than an anecdata, at best. Not the facts, but merely your own, heavily biased personal observations and opinions!”

“You were not present, Maya, so you cannot possibly know what you speak.” Lachrymose gray eyes met munificent ecru ones. “You did not witness those devastated looks on their faces…”

“Yes, you and Kat had the ugliest fight imaginable just now, but it wasn’t because you were trying to hurt anybody! You were merely trying to defend the only sister you have, who’s always nurtured and protected you because you love her so damn much!” The American insisted fervidly. “It sounded like Anneliese was long overdue to hear the reality of everything, anyway, and while she might be hurting for a bit, the truth will always set you free – trust me, I know what I’m talking about! Also, contrary to how it seems right now, what with everything being so raw, I know that neither of them hates you! Moreover, none of this makes you a bad person!”

“That is where you are wrong, my dear Pollyanna. I – I am not the same soul I once was. So much has changed; so much has had to change. Ergo, you should not expect out of me all that I incarnated in bygone days, for that part of me has ceased to exist.”

Every person you encounter, even the most callous and unyielding, was once as gentle as a breeze. And therein lies the sorrow of existence. Within me, there is no longer anything good or redeeming. This is the unfortunate truth of my own reality.

Franziska pressed her quivering lips together.

I do not believe that people truly love me; that they have ever loved me. They love the illusions of me that I have carefully woven for them, the images of me they have constructed in their thoughts. They adore the uncomplicated versions of me, the parts that are effortless to love. But who will extend their love to the girl who can’t cease her tears? The girl who inflicts pain upon herself? The girl who is losing grip on her own life? The girl who is consumed by overwhelming sadness, unable to rise from her bed? The girl who keeps pushing everyone away? Who will love the monstrous aspects within me? Who will love me now?

“At times, when you are in anguish, all you yearn for is someone to embrace you until the trembling subsides. Yet, all too frequently, no one comes.” She swallowed, feeling the ache deep within. “And thus, you teach yourself to console your own heart, to seek solace within the confines of your own mind. That is how you learn to endure. However, since you have reunited with the man you love, Maya, and have friends and daughters who cherish you, you cannot possibly comprehend the experience of being compelled into self-preservation mode, even if it drives away those around you and leaves you utterly alone in this world.”

The psychic reeled back as though she’d been slapped.

“Right now I’m not quite sure what is more difficult to hear, what you think of yourself or what you seem to truly think of me! Is that seriously how you see me, Franziska? Just some jejune, mindless optimist Mary Sue? A Little Miss Perma-Smile? You think my life is so damn fabulous I pee glitter, shit cupcakes, and fart rainbows?!”

The amiable Kurain leader was momentarily thwarted from her sympathetic stance and affixed the Profiler with displeased mocha orbs.

“Just because I laugh a lot, doesn’t mean my life has been, or is, devoid of hardships. The world is brimming with individuals who bear the appearance of friendliness but harbor monstrous intentions, as well as angels who bear scars invisible to the naked eye. Just because a smile graces my face each day does not mean that no troubles are weighing on me. I merely elect to forge ahead, refusing to dwell on the negatives that have beset my life. Every fresh moment presents an opportunity for renewal, a chance to embrace a different path. And that is the choice I make – I choose to be that person!”

The psychic took a deep, calming breath, trying to squelch the hurt that had arisen from her friend’s dismissiveness, and chose her rebuttal carefully.

“Franziska, you are not the sole one who has undergone a transformation since our last encounter. I, too, have changed. I have matured and developed. Believe me, I have faced my own fair share of hardships as well. Yet, if there’s one thing life has taught me, it is that sometimes, the bleakest moments can lead us to the most radiant destinations. I’ve come to understand that the most poisonous individuals can impart the most crucial lessons. Our most agonizing struggles can bestow upon us the most indispensable growth. And the most heartrending losses of friendship and love can create space for the most marvelous souls to enter our lives.”

As she spoke, Maya felt all the wisdom and experience garnered from all she’d endured flowing through her, obliterating her brief pang of indignation about having her personal hardships overlooked. Her friend had spoken unfairly and unwisely, and admittedly without thinking, but only because she was in such serious turmoil and hurting so badly right now. She greatly required unrestricted caring and empathy at this point, not exacerbation or condemnation.

“I have come to realize that what may appear as a curse in the present can, in fact, be a blessing in disguise. And what may seem like the conclusion of our journey is often just the revelation that we are destined to embark on a different path. Through my experiences, I have learned that no matter how daunting circumstances may appear, there is always a glimmer of hope shining through.”

The village leader gently but firmly took the silver-haired woman’s unyielding hands into her own, until she felt Franziska’s stiff fingers finally relax under the warmth of her palms.

“Above all else, I have gleaned the wisdom that regardless of how feeble we may perceive ourselves or how dreadful circumstances may appear, surrender is not an option. We must persist. Even when fear takes hold, even when our resilience feels depleted, we must muster the courage to rise again and press onward. Whatever adversities we may face in the present moment, they shall eventually fade away, and we shall emerge triumphant. We have journeyed this far and united, we can overcome whatever lies ahead… together.”

A single liquid bead ran down the German’s cheek. For eons, she hadn’t felt the gentle touch of another human being, either physically or emotionally. And now, after having been without it for so long, being faced with so much unlimited, unsolicited love was heavily overwhelming.

“How are you like this?” She stared forlornly into those kind, compassionate dark eyes. “Why are you able to still be this wonderful, magnanimous person after living a life of hell, when you could easily be selfishly blinded by your own sufferings, as I have? How is it you continue to extend yourself to me, when I have done nothing to deserve such benevolence, and have spent the past year pushing you away?”

“Because last year, when you were there for me at my worst, you and I forged a bond that will never make sense to anyone else, one which is unbreakable. True friends are like stars; you can only recognize them when it’s dark around you. And that’s what we are, whether you like it or not.”

Maya’s response was as sincere and earnest as the woman herself.

“Moreover, I see so much of myself in you, despite your inability to perceive it. I deeply cherish your imperfections, as they render you relatable and beautifully human. Individuals who possess a distinct sense of individuality captivate my heart. I wholeheartedly embrace expressions of authenticity, even in their most awkward and imperfect forms, for they epitomize the essence of naturalness and truth. Once you wholeheartedly embrace your flaws, they cease to be vulnerabilities that others can exploit.”

“You stand apart from the rest. I have encountered countless individuals, and I can discern the difference. When I engage in conversation, your gaze remains fixed upon me. Your attentiveness demonstrates genuine listening, void of any judgment. Such qualities are rare to find.” Franziska’s voice carried a profound sense of awe. “Others would simply walk away, leaving me to talk to myself. Some might even resort to intimidation. Nowadays, it seems that hardly anyone has time for others. You are one of the precious few who tolerates my presence; who puts up with me in all my beyond defective glory.”

“Someday, somehow, I pray you will grasp the essential art of embracing someone’s love for you, exactly as you are – with all your imperfections, those moments when you perceive yourself as unappealing, and even during times when you believe you lack achievements.”

The raven-haired beauty faced her fellow Daughter of Destiny squarely.

“To hold the belief that you should conceal every fragment of yourself that feels broken, out of apprehension that others cannot love what falls short of perfection, is akin to assuming that the beauty of a starry night sky cannot pierce through the cracks of a broken roof and fill an empty space with its awe-inspiring radiance. It is grossly underestimating the transformative power of embracing vulnerability and imperfection.”

A soft cry emitted from Franziska at that moment, and she received a gentle, commiserating squeeze of her hand in return as Maya continued.

“Un-fuck yourself. Be who you were before all that bad stuff happened that dimmed your fucking shine.”

The reformed perfectionist couldn’t help but let out a shaky, surprised laugh at this uncharacteristic manner of profanity from the non-cussing paragon. Encouraged, the Kurain Master pressed on.

“Franziska Von Karma, you are undeniably one of the most resilient individuals I have ever encountered. Remind yourself that everything will eventually fall into place and that brighter days lie ahead. You hold immense value and are destined for extraordinary accomplishments. You are deserving of love and affection. The present moment is ripe with possibilities. Even amidst challenges, remember that this phase shall pass. Embrace your authentic self with unwavering confidence. The pinnacle of your journey is yet to be reached. Unleash your inner strength, for you have the power to overcome any obstacle. And please know, without a shadow of a doubt, that I am here to stay as your friend until the very end. You are aware of this, aren’t you?”

The erstwhile Agent gave a small nod. She was so overcome with emotion right then, she didn’t trust herself to speak.

Friendship embodies the purest essence of love. When she utters the words, “I’ll be your friend until the end,” it carries the profound significance of declaring, “I will cherish you in the depths of my heart eternally, until the final pulsation.”

“Do you trust me?” Maya asked quietly, already knowing what the reply would be. “Fully and completely, with all your heart, as you know I do you?”

Franziska nodded again, without hesitation. She also knew what the next question was going to be before it was even uttered, just as she surely knew that she could entrust the necromancer as indisputably as if she were her blood kinswoman with the honest answer.

Among the myriad of valuable insights Maya Fey has imparted to me, the most profound lesson is that the intertwining of genetic material is inconsequential. When faced with utter chaos, those unwavering individuals who remain by your side, unwavering and steadfast, are the ones who truly embody the essence of family. This extraordinary woman, just like Katharina, is my Schwester, in every sense of the word.

“Then it’s only because we have an unbreakable trust between us that I’m going to abuse my bestowed given privilege of being allowed to ask one single question with another follow-up one. Should it be your wish, you have my word it shall be my last, along with my preemptive solemn vow that you will receive zero judgments whatsoever from me, regardless of what your response is. All I want is for you to tell me the truth.”

As she finally uttered the $64,000 questions, the psychic met the limpid silver gaze without flinching.

“Franziska, what is the true reason that you left Miles?”

Detective Tyrell Badd
Germany
July 21, 2026

As one hand rubbed at his bleary eyes, which were exhausted from countless non-stop hours of scouring through video footage, Detective Badd slugged back the dregs of his black morning coffee and barely resisted the urge to ram his heavy fist through the computer monitor.

Judas freaking Priest! Over 30 years of dedication to fighting and solving crime… and this is what my life has become? Somebody, anybody, have mercy on my ass and shoot me in the head already! I don’t think I can stand another second of this miserable, godforsaken tedium!

In his crime-fighting glory, there had existed a plethora of exhilarating pursuits and adrenaline-fueled escapades. This was the role he had accepted, a vital part of upholding the law and dutifully adhering to orders. Interpol labeled it “surveillance,” while during his days in the LAPD, he knew it as a “stakeout.” Although now observing from a distance, no longer present at the scene, the experience remained unchanged. It felt akin to residing in a perpetual state of twilight, trapped betwixt the realms of day and night. He would sit there, enduring muscle cramps, as the distinction between seconds and hours blurred into obscurity. Despite being seated in the luxurious comfort of an office chair, rather than the cruiser with only the police radio for company, time still passed with an unsettling resemblance to a haunting nightmare. Boredom relentlessly gnawed at his senses, piercing his eyes like a relentless drill.

It was the furthest thing possible from what he’d imagined his career would look like at this point in his life.

He reached down and absently tugged at the silky ears of the ever-attentive Pess, who was perched beside his chair with her tawny head resting against his hulky thigh and expelled a listless breath of vexation.

I thought I could adapt to this newfound “desk job” of mine with no quandaries. The law’s a big place, something for most folks, even an ornery coot of advancing twilight years, like me! I convinced myself this screening racket would just be like the good ol’ stake-out days – only from a greater distance now. What a delusional dunderhead I was! I never fathomed it was possible to literally die of boredom, yet here I am! I managed to dodge a quick, painless death from that explosion last fall which nearly wiped me off the map … only to potentially succumb to this, instead: slow, long-suffering death by ennui!

Badd was well aware that he sounded like an ungrateful jerk; knew he was supposed to be thankful to have survived the blast – with nothing worse than hearing loss in one ear! – from the planted car bomb detonation, which had annihilated Interpol’s prime mole in the cocoon investigation, Lou Pole.

Moreover, even though the veteran detective was still in formidable physical shape and as sharp as a tack mentally, with none of his wits showing any sign of being dulled with age, he also ruefully acknowledged that being in his 60s, he should’ve been retired by now.

The mere thought of enduring a pensioner’s lifestyle, mingling with the affluent yuppies on the golf course, barely made him hold back a contemptuous snort. The concept of “retirement” held as much significance as a mismatched puzzle piece that disrupted the entire picture. It was like glimpsing at a treasure map without a clue of the hidden riches, leaving one perplexed and devoid of true comprehension. The experience could either ignite a spark within or extinguish one’s flame entirely. Personally, bidding farewell to the force and idly lounging around would be akin to extinguishing the very essence of his being. The prospect of a sedentary existence as a senior citizen didn’t resonate with him. He couldn’t fathom if he would ever be ready for such a lifestyle.

Ergo, Badd realized he was quite fortunate Interpol had allowed him to continue working within his industry of passion, to which he’d devoted more than half his life – albeit now more behind the scenes rather than center field.

In those days, he effortlessly transitioned, as if driven by a deliberate act of volition, into a realm where time was meticulously calibrated, every detail meticulously observed, and his senses attuned with supernatural acuity to every sound, scent, and sight, capturing even the subtlest nuances like the flutter of an eyelid or the inflection of a voice.

I figured all my years on the force made me the prime man for the assigned surveillance mission since I already have the heart of a hunter, the patience of a fisherman, and the sharp eye of an eagle. Turns out I was wrong. Off-site reconnaissance just ain’t my bag! Whisky Tango Foxtrot, I’m as bored as a blind man watching a silent movie!

Were it not for the company of the golden retriever who never ceased to leave his side, Badd was sure he’d have lost his ever-loving mind.

Also, as much as he hated to admit it, even though she’d only left the house just before dawn to catch her early morning flight to England today, he missed Franziska already! The Wild Mare/caregiver from hell had indeed nursed him back to health with her unyielding but effective bedside manner, and for that alone, he’d always have a secret soft spot for her. Plus, whenever she wasn’t in one of her “moods” she was damn good company.

Sure the woman was demanding, bossy and as much of a stubborn hot-head as he was, with unforgivably deplorable taste in music, which more often than not made him grateful he only had the hearing capacity of a single ear that had to suffer from it, whilst cursing the fact that he knew Spanish. It’d been a necessary evil, having been with the LAPD all those years, what with California being right next to Mexico, as Franziska had taken to blaring not just desolate English love songs, but now Latin ones, as well! That particular morning’s had been a particular doozy….

Me miras diferente
Me abrazas y no siento tu calor
Te digo lo que siento
Me interrumpes y terminas la oración
Siempre tienes la razón
Tuu… libreto de siempre tan predecible
Yaaa… ya me lo se

(You look at me differently
You hug me but I feel no warmth
I express my feelings
You interrupt me and end the discussion
You’re always in the right
Your…words are always so predictable
Already…I already know the script.)

Así que corre corre corre corazón
De los dos tu siempre fuiste el mas veloz
Toma todo lo que quieras pero vete ya
que mis lágrimas jamás te voy a dar
Así que corre como siempre no mires atrás
lo has hecho ya y la verdad me da igual
Ya viví esta escena y con mucha pena te digo no,
conmigo no

(So the heart runs, runs, runs
Of the two of us, you were always faster
Take all that you want, but go away now
Because I’ll never give you my tears
So run like always, not looking back
You’ve done it before and the truth is that I don’t care
I’ve already lived this scene before and with a lot of pain
Now I tell you no,
Not with me)

Di lo que podía, pero a media puerta
Se quedó mi corazón
Tuuu… libreto de siempre tan repetido
Yaaa no no te queda bien

(I gave you all I could, but only half
Of my heart is left
Your…script is always so repetitious
It no longer suits you)

Así que corre corre corre corazón
De los dos tu siempre fuiste el más veloz
Toma todo lo que quieras pero vete ya
que mis lágrimas jamás te voy a dar
Así que corre como siempre no mires atrás
lo has hecho ya y la verdad me da igual
Tuuu… el perro de siempre los mismos trucos
Yaaa…. ya me lo se

(So the heart runs, runs, runs
Of the two of us, you were always faster
Take all that you want, but go away now
Because I’ll never give you my tears
So run like always, not looking back
You’ve done it before and the truth is that I don’t care
You’re…a dog with always the same tricks
Already…I already know them all)

Así que corre corre corre corazón
De los dos tu siempre fuiste el más veloz
Toma todo lo que quieras pero vete ya
que mis lágrimas jamás te voy a dar
han sido tantas despedidas que en verdad
Dedicarte un verso mas está de más

(So the heart runs, runs, runs
Of the two of us, you were always faster
Take all that you want, but go away now
Because I’ll never give you my tears
There have been so many farewells that, in truth,
one more verse is one too much)

Así que corre como siempre que no iré detrás
Lo has hecho ya y la verdad me da igual
lo has hecho ya y la verdad me da igual
lo has hecho ya pero al final me da igual

(So run like always, not looking back
You’ve done it before and the truth is that I don’t care
You’ve done it before and the truth is that I don’t care
You’ve done it before and in the end, I don’t care)

Luckily, Pess had been spared the agony of listening to this round of mournful lyrics, as she’d asleep at the time. Bully for the dog, but her adoptive, unfortunately bilingual, and thus, utterly dispirited Uncle – who hadn’t even had even a love life worth mentioning since Barrack Obama had been in office! – want to mercilessly beat his head against a wall after hearing the lyrics of Corre until it bled!

How selfish of me to have even briefly considered offing myself, simply to put me out of my misery! Badd chuckled darkly as he patted the head of the golden retriever, who licked his hand affectionately in response. It would’ve depressed this angel, who’s had to suffer enough of a broken home already. Poor pup. It’s not Pess’s fault her Mother’s abject taste in tunes would be considered downright abysmal, even by country music standards!

Leaning back in his seat, he glanced over at Franziska’s disgustingly spic and span desk, which was the polar opposite of his own, without any disarray of papers strewn about, nor any sort of visible clutter to mar its immaculate tidiness – save for one item.

Badd’s keen gaze was immediately drawn to his coworker’s leather-bound notebook sitting by the mousepad. It was the sole thing that hadn’t been tucked away like all the other files, perhaps due to her haste to get to the airport that morning. Also, it’d been left open, which was curiously out of character for the meticulous perfectionist.

Well, I’ll just be a thoughtful officemate and tuck it away for her – after I have a quick gander at it myself! It’s her sting operation work notes, so it’s not like it’s anything personal, he rationalized to himself. Besides, I need to give these tired peepers of mine a break from all this mind-numbing footage!

He did a cursory perusal of the comprehensive Profiler notes that’d been penned in his cohort’s neat, meticulous penmanship. The latest information was dated from that very morning, indicating the workaholic Case Analyst had been diligently working until literally the very last minute before departing for vacation.

Interpol’s profiling method detected and classified key personality and behavioral traits of individuals based on crime analysis. Criminal profiling aimed to link a suspect’s actions to their underlying thoughts and motives. In this case, the profile reports assessed the suspect’s motives, behavioral patterns, and proposed theories on the crime occurrences.

Flipping through the previous notes prior to her most recent one, the intrigued Badd delved deeper into Franziska’s analysis and research on the Borginian crime syndicate, which went into thorough detail about the changes that’d occurred since Wa Sing Ku’s assassination last fall.

…there has been a significant drop in violent and petty crimes such as burglary, breaking and entering, and robbery across Northern and Eastern Europe, where speculative drug activity would be prominent/originated from… a significant increase in drug-related crimes such as trafficking, manufacturing, and distribution…. definitive structured operations seem to show signs of new organizational leadership….

In the margins a curious sidenote had been written: New head speculation = Queenpin, not Kingpin?

Badd’s gaze abruptly fixated on the words, his thoughts suddenly awhirl.

Queenpin?!

He re-read all the morning’s notes several more times, his mind beginning to buzz as a familiar sensation of renewed vigor, circa his Los Angeles precinct days, began to course through him.

“Franziska, you gloriously maddening pain in the ass, I think you may have found the missing link here!”

Rummaging through his scattered papers on his own desk for several minutes, the burly man at last retrieved the sheet of paper he’d been seeking. It was a photocopy of the handwritten list of names the doomed Lou Pole had managed to filch from the newly fallen corpse of the Asian drug lord. The ever-conscientious Ku had always kept it on his person but never risked digitizing the list by even copying it onto a computer or mobile, in case they were traced or hacked.

Badd scanned the list of notorious drug lords and smugglers across the globe, which Lang had split up, and then assigned both Lana and Miles to check out thereafter.

• Fu Manchu
• Shang-Chi
• Dian Mayudzuki
• Tomas Kashkash
• Adam Baum
• Jim Shu
• Randy Lover
• Seymour Heinie
  

  ---

Many arrests had been subsequently made for all of Interpol’s industrious endeavors, although some of the men had disappeared entirely, as though they’d fallen off the face of the earth. Only Manchu remained utterly unscathed, somehow managing to elude them, and was still at large. But while the world was a safer, less drug-infused, crime-infested place with the consequential incarceration of Ku’s erstwhile associates, none of the culprits seemed to be the head honcho responsible for the cocoon smuggling. On top of that, there was no conclusive evidence that’d yet turned up to indicate if any of the apprehended criminals were even the keys to finding the responsible party whom they’d been fervently seeking.

Badd dug into his desk drawers to locate another sheet of paper, this one bearing all the names of Ku’s inner circle. Every single one of them, from friend to housekeeper, had been mysteriously eliminated by a still unknown assailant, all by mysteriously different but untraceable methods.

The detective frowned at the page as his eyes darted back and forth between the listed names of the fallen, then back at Franziska’s latest profiler notes for several moments. That was when he noticed one prominent name missing from Ku’s connections that hadn’t been crossed out because the body had never been found. Therefore, the person had been presumed dead as well.

This glaring oversight was possibly the deadliest mistake any of them could have possibly made.

Badd fell back against his chair in a dazed stupor, the wind completely knocked out of his sails as he processed this grievous error none of them had even thought twice about until now.

He frantically dialed Franziska’s mobile number, knowing that even with England being an hour behind Berlin time, the flight was only 90 minutes, so his colleague had surely landed by now and would no longer be on the plane. He needed to speak to her this instant!

The phone rang half a dozen times before going to voicemail, and after his second attempt, he cursed savagely before hanging up and calling his niece at the Borginian Interpol HQ.

“Kay, it’s me.” He couldn’t have been bothered with any sort of preamble at this point. “I need you to track down the coordinates for Franziska, pronto! Has she landed safely in London yet?”

“Is everything alright, Uncle Badd?”

“Maybe, or maybe not. Nurse Ratched informed me she’ll be staying at the Radisson Blu Portman,” he told her succinctly. “She also left me a copy of her itinerary, and according to this, she should’ve landed some time ago but she’s not answering her phone for some reason. Hence, I need your help here, kid.”

“Give me a second, Uncle Badd.” Kay sounded startled by her uncle’s gruff tone only for a split instant, before briskly switching into professional Interpol Agent mode. “I can get this information for you no problem since all Agents have a GPS tracking device on their cell phones.”

Badd drummed his fingertips on his desk while he listened to the rapid telltale clicking of computer keys on the other end of the line.

“Good news!” The ninja chirped triumphantly. “According to the Intel I have here, Ms. Von Karma is safely in London at her hotel, just like she said.”

“Call the front desk and try to get patched through to her room, since I keep getting her voicemail,” Badd ordered. “I need to ring Agent Lang now. We’ll chat again as soon as I’m done with the call.”

“On it! Talk to you in five!” Kay rang off.

The detective’s third call fortuitously had the intended party answering the phone on the fourth ring.

“Shi-Long Lang speaking.” The Agent’s voice sounded muffled over the angrily beeping car horns in the background. “What’s going on, Detective Badd?”

“Agent Lang, whereabouts are you exactly?”

“I just hopped into a taxi cab outside of the Savoy Hotel, and I’m already trapped in hellacious morning rush-hour traffic on my way to London headquarters.” Lang sounded grumpier than usual. “It seemed to be my best course of action since that’s where all our resources are, and I am trying to track the whereabouts of a certain wannabe Agent who has suddenly decided to go rogue on me!”

“Son of a nutcracker!” Badd exploded wrathfully, disregarding the fact that the Wolf Man was his boss and not vice versa. “First Lana, and now we have another wayward Agent over whom you’ve lost control?”

“Even though Lang Zi says: the reason people judge people is because people are people, doesn’t mean I’m in any extant state of mind to deal with any more misplaced liability charges! Ergo, don’t you go and start blaming me about Agent Skye, Pops!” Lang growled warningly. “I’ve already had to face the misplaced wrath of a certain pretty boy prosecutor regarding that particular matter!”

“What in the name of Betty Crocker’s bloomers?! You can’t possibly mean Miles?”

“Who the hell do you think I’m trying to track down?!”

“He’s taken off from England?”

“Like a bat out of hell, the minute he found out his former undercover partner was missing.” The Agent grumbled. “He jumped into the first available airport taxi and was headed to Borginia, despite my orders to the contrary! To  add insult to injury, he also proceeded to physically demonstrate not only his complete disrespect of my authority but his unjustified ire at me as the blamed party for this unfortunate event, as well!”

“Miles Edgeworth?” Badd was incredulous. “Jesus H. Tap-dancing Christ! Are seriously you telling me the famously cool as a cucumber DA assaulted you?”

“Sucker punch, right in the kisser.” Lang let out a menacing snarl. “Remind me to throttle him with that fancy schmancy frilly neckwear of his when I get my hands on him, will ya? But not before I let him know that his insubordinate Tyson-impersonating ass is indisputably, irrefutably fired!”

“Never mind that!” The detective was in no mood to hear any more bellyaching about the insubordinate man, while secretly thinking that if the normally pacifist lawyer had indeed struck his supervisor, it would only be because Lang had somehow provoked him if not outright deserved it! “We’ve got bigger fish to fry, her…”

His desk phone rang shrilly in the background.

“…Let me call you right back, that’s probably the kid. We have a major crisis that she’s trying to help out with.”

Hanging up his cell, Badd snatched the receiver off the cradle and barked into it.

“Kay! What’s the update?”

“I have good news and bad news.” The Yatagarasu sounded uncomfortable. “The good news is Ms. Von Karma checked in early this morning, with no problems!”

“Alright, at least we know she’s safe. What’s the bad news then?”

“The bad news is she threatened the poor concierge at the front desk that he would be whipped to within an inch of his life if he or any of the staff disturbed her by showing up at her door or patching through any phone calls until she at least got a few hours of rest because she’d been working all night. So, um, I can’t get through to her, even though I told them it’s a matter of life or death!”

“Joseph and Mary in Tinsel Town! It is a matter of life or death.” Badd saw no point in mincing words. “I need you to call Miles’s phone, this instant!”

“You’re kind of freaking me out!” Kay anxiously noted the unease beneath his gruff tone. “What’s going on here?”

“Kid, I am ordering you to forget you’re a grown woman now, and just listen to your legally adoptive Uncle/Guardian already!” He snapped peevishly. “Don’t ask any questions – just do it!”

“Whatever you say, Uncle Badd.” She now appeared genuinely distressed. “Hang on … and stay on the line. I’ll call him from my cell, but I don’t see the point, seeing as how I talked to Mr. Edgeworth not too long ago. I’m expecting, any minute now, for him to arrive in the limousine I hired to pick him up at the airport…”

“You spoke to Miles?” Badd cut her off. “When, exactly?”

“Er, maybe 40 minutes ago… no wait, that can’t be right! The airport is only 20 km away from HQ – he should have been here at least a quarter-hour ago!” There was a frantic series of keyboard tapping, and he knew that Kay was trying to pinpoint Miles via his cell tracker, the same way she had just done with Franziska. “I can’t get a signal, which means the phone is either turned off or dead.”

The word dead made a sickening knot in the detective’s stomach, and he sucked in a sharp breath.

“Uncle Badd? Are you OK?”

Trying to quell his mounting unease, he hurriedly punched in an order for a cab pickup via his mobile taxi app.

“Is that why you can’t track Lana’s whereabouts?” He shrugged into his trusty bullet-hole-filled trenchcoat while grabbing his gun, holding the phone against his shoulder as he did so. “Is it only because her phone is off?”

“It’s um, one possibility….” She began hesitantly but was interrupted, as Badd was loath to hear the other worst-case scenario out loud.

“What about Miles?” He demanded. “Surely his cell wasn’t the sole means of tracking him?!”

“Uh … Maybe we shouldn’t panic just yet,” Kay suggested hopefully, although she sounded unconvinced, even to her own ears. “Don’t you think his battery may have just died?”

“Very unlikely. That man is fastidious almost to a fault when it comes to being prepared. He carries a backup battery, for his other backup battery!” Badd was now reaching for his wallet and keys. “Kay, I’m on my way to Borginia right now. Don’t even think about moving a muscle and heading out anywhere until I get there to HQ, you hear me? Because I can’t even imagine what I’d do if anything were to happen to you, too.”

“Too?” She was downright distraught now. “Uncle Badd, talk to me! Who’s in trouble now?!”

“I’ll explain everything later, kid. You have my word,” he promised, seeing no need to alarm her with his suspicions over the phone. “But right now, I need you to call that nice man who lives down the street from me, Herb Avore, and ask if he can keep an eye on Pess for a few days while I’m gone. Tell him I’ll make it worth his while and that I keep my key under the front mat. I need to call Agent Lang back.”

“I swear, I’ll stay put, Uncle Badd,” she swore obediently. “I’m going to call your neighbor right now. According to the flight times I see online, you should be able to catch the next plane out once I pull some strings with Lufthansa Airlines.”

“You’re the best, kiddo. I’ll see you in a few hours, tops.”

His phone screen pinged then, alerting him that his taxi was two minutes away, and he hurriedly patted the dog on the head as he strode forward, promising her a huge T-bone steak as soon as he returned.

“Be a good girl, Pess. A very nice man will be coming to take care of you soon, but in the meantime, guard this house. Uncle Badd will be back before you know it.”

Pess wagged her tail and seemed to nod in understanding, and the detective pulled the door firmly shut behind him and dialed his supervisor’s number again.

“Lang, it doesn’t matter where you are right now…”

“Still stuck in traffic,” the other man was barely audible amidst the loud, angry honking of car horns. “Hey, watch it, buddy! I swear, driving like an unhinged maniac seems to be a universal prerequisite for cabbies, even in a country as civilized as merry ol’ England!”

“Glad to know you haven’t reached London HQ yet, because you need to turn that cab right around and head to the Radisson Blu Portman to find Franziska, ASAP!” Badd commanded. “Because she’s the only one who can possibly shed some light on the unhinged maniac that’s captured Lana! That’s right, I’m positive foul play was a factor in her disappearance, and I’m equally sure her kidnapping was not random! On top of that, I’m certain Miles, who nobody can reach ever since he landed in Borginia, is in grave danger as well.”

“What are you basing all of this upon?” The Wolf Man demanded. “These sound like wholly unfounded speculations, at best!”

“Not a chance. I cross-referenced Franziska’s profiling notes with the list of Ku’s affiliates that were targeted, and guess who we seemed to have stupidly overlooked as one of the unaccounted-for bodies?”

“Who?!”

Upon hearing Badd utter the name, Lang made a hissing sound through his teeth.

“Great balls of fire! How the hell is that even possible?! Everyone who was associated with Wa Sing Ku is now pushing daisies!”

“I’m sure the same sentiment could have been said about Debbie Dallas and Maximillian Banks,” Badd reminded him staunchly. “Nonetheless, if they’ve found Lana, they already know such isn’t the case, which means the next target will be Miles!”

“Holy Christ-ola! We’ve got to move fast – there isn’t a moment to lose! Because if what you’re saying is true, that means once they get their hands on both Lana and Miles…”

“That’s right,” Badd finished grimly. “It’ll mean the next time we see their names in the newspapers, it will be in the section marked obituaries!”

Flashback

Franziska Von Karma
Von Karma Estate, Germany
April 28, 2025 6:35 AM

Franziska busied herself replying to a few other emails and idly went to a few sites of particular interest, happy to distract herself from her thoughts, and when she looked at the time on the computer, she was startled to realize that she’d been online for just over an hour. It was half past six now. Daylight was beginning to creep through the blinds.

I need to get back to bed. Maybe I can squeeze in another hour or two of rest by Miles’s side before he wakes up for his morning run. Perhaps just lying next to him, feeling his presence, will quell my nerves from earlier. And maybe…the time has come for us to try to talk about what’s been happening between us, like he’s tried so hard to do all those months ago, and see if we can salvage that …dying tree, so it can flourish and grow once again. Assuming I’m not too late…

Franziska scrunched her eyes tightly shut against her burning lids, trying to drown out her tormenting internal monologue, and found her hand moving to the bottom drawer, as though it had a mind of its own, and glanced down at a small, framed photo of her and Miles she’d stashed back there. It was of the two of them dancing at the Gumshoe’s wedding, where he’d dipped her back over his arm, while her head was thrown back, her laughing visage one of pure, unabashed merriment.

It seemed like another lifetime ago since they’d been that happy.

This is why photographs captivate me so. They serve as tangible evidence that at some point, even if only fleetingly, everything coalesced into perfection.

Blinking rapidly against the hot tears prickling behind her lids, she then grabbed the small notebook and pen she also kept tucked away there.

A few moments later, she stared down at the melancholic words she’d just jotted down, unleashing an inner poet within she hadn’t known existed until then.

Never could I have imagined becoming the kind of woman who finds solace in both classic and contemporary poetry. However, within the depths of my heart, the most cherished poems are merely two, one infused with a profound sense of remorse, while the other resonates with the essence of you, Liebling…

In this present moment

My weary scars resurface,

Bleeding anew,

A chilling sensation

Traverses my spine,

Toxic tears gnawing

At my weary eyes,

A sorrowful mind pilfering

My once radiant smile.

Today,

A collection of faded memories,

Etched within,

Deepens the ache of sadness,

Unleashing the floodgates

Of our shared past,

Like an ancient closet,

Unveiling remnants

Of pure, agonizing emotions,

What once was,

And the wistful echoes

Of what might have been.

There it was, in Mont Blanc ink on cream paper. All her buried sorrows, since losing Carol, mingled with her latent agony about the slow, painfully looming demise of her relationship with Miles all this time. The end seemed more inevitable as each day passed. If only she could find the strength to voice all the thoughts that had been whirling in her mind.

I understand the pain Miles is going through. It’s not just my loss, but his too, as it was his daughter who was taken from us. Yet, in the depths of my sorrow, there’s a selfish yearning within me—a longing to ask him a question that weighs heavily on my heart. Does he ever think of me? Does my presence cross his mind? Is it ever? Is it often? Is it at all? And if he does think of me, what occupies his thoughts? Is it the memory of my infectious laughter that has faded away in these past months? Does he long for the sound of my voice, which has lost its softness? Does he miss my smile that no longer brightens my face? Or the way I fidget nervously when I’m unsure? Does he contemplate the way I sometimes let anger consume me during our arguments? Or how I tend to shut myself off from the world? Does he hold onto the hope that, in the end, I will always open myself up to him again? Or does he dwell on the ways I may annoy him – my pride, my stubbornness, my coldness? Does he wish for me to be different? Or does he simply shake his head and let it be? I want to know if he thinks about us because I think about us all the time. It’s a constant presence in my mind. Every day, every moment, he occupies my thoughts. I miss him. Even though he’s physically here with me, I miss him; ache for him. More than he’ll ever truly understand…

She stopped the haplessly morose train of thoughts and dug her fingernails into her palms, giving her head a fierce shake.

Nein! I must put a stop to these desolate thoughts consuming me. It’s time to reach out to Miles, to tap into the reservoir of love that I believe still lingers between us. I want to enchant his ears once more with tender, poetic whispers, just as I did in the beginning. I yearn to convey to him, once again, how his eyes resemble glistening stones beneath the serene depths of a lake—a comparison that always stirred his heart. Or perhaps I can finally utter the words that have been longing to escape my lips for far too long:

“Liebling, your smile is the quintessence of a golden dream from which all the world’s poems awaken…” she whispered achingly. “How I need you, Miles. Please hold me as if you will never let me go, for only within your embrace will I feel whole again. Kiss me, because, from the moment you let your lips meet mine, it never fails to vanquish the overwhelming fear that haunts my life…”

As she placed her hand on the heavy wooden door, Franziska realized she could hear the slightly muffled sounds of Miles’s voice on the other side. When had he awakened?

He appeared to be on the phone with someone. She could only make out snatches and snippets of the conversation. She hated herself for eavesdropping but felt compelled to stay still and listen for some reason.

“I can’t just do that Lana. It’s not that easy…”

Lana?! Franziska’s heart went into a tailspin, as all of her insecurities came flooding back to her at the mere mention of the other woman’s name. What was she doing calling Miles this early in the morning?!

“….need to give her some notice…. She needs me…too cruel to just leave her like this…try to understand….This isn’t about you and me…Franziska is so vulnerable…worried she’ll fall apart…it’s been a long time coming but she probably wasn’t expecting this…Can’t do this without you….we’re a team, you and I…make her understand…I owe her this…”

Franziska’s heart sank. It seemed she was too late after all. This was her worst fear. That she had killed whatever precious love he’d had for her, and that without the baby as a key factor anymore, he had no reason to stay by her side anymore, save for his obligatory morals. He was trying to spare her because he knew she was vulnerable. Well dammit, she was a Von Karma! She didn’t need his pity! If her words and her actions had uprooted that dying tree and it was about to fall dead anyway, so be it! She would deal with the consequences of her actions like a grown woman and end this torture!

The love I hold for you, Miles Edgeworth, knows no bounds, extending until my physical vessel ceases to function and my soul transcends into whatever lies beyond. I fervently hope that this love is imprinted upon my very soul, so that it may endure eternally, even if only mine remains steadfast. Even during my darkest days, beneath the shadows that engulfed me in the past, my love for you remained steadfast, shielding my mind from descending into despair. I always believed that no matter how deep I feared I had sunk into the abyss, you would be there, a solid foundation to anchor me, offering respite as I climbed back towards optimism. However, if that is no longer the case, I would prefer the bitter truth, a sharp slap of reality indicating that your heart has moved on, rather than being kissed with deceit any longer.

Loudly clearing her throat as she opened the door then, to make her entrance known, Franziska pushed the heavy wood ajar and found Miles sitting up on the bed, raking his fingers anxiously through his hair with his free hand, with the other clamping his cell tightly to his ear. A pensive frown marred his brow as he listened intently to whatever Lana was saying, and still didn’t seem aware of her existence behind him in the bedroom, so engrossed was he in the conversation.

“It’s not what I want to do, it’s what I have to do…”

Swallowing painfully upon hearing those words, Franziska coughed slightly, to alert him of her presence, and Miles’ head shot up then, his eyes wide with astonishment.

“I’ll call you later, Lana,” he said abruptly into the phone, then rang off.

Franziska ensured her expression was neutral as she studied his handsome face, which wore a look of intense consternation at the sight of her.

Consternation? Do you recall the time when your eyes spoke volumes of love?

Well, he needn’t feign anything, disquietude or otherwise, towards her any longer.

Do not make the mistake of assuming that you have complete control over me. I am simply allowing you to have your desires fulfilled because of my love for you. I may be naive, but I am not ignorant. I understand that your presence is physical, but your heart and soul are elsewhere. I will not obstruct your path, as I have come to understand where and with whom you truly desire to be. Although every night my mind will wage a fierce battle—my body longing for your touch and my mind yearning for your apology. And my heart? It is too shattered to even question why.

She somehow managed to affix a placid smile on her face as memories of them together started to fade, replaced by her acceptance of the cold reality as it sunk in. Like a fog clearing up, she could finally move forward and do what she needed to do, even though it was killing her inside.

Ultimately, our love resembled a ferocious inferno, not merely a body of water but an expansive ocean. However, our flame was extinguished, overwhelmed by the relentless currents. As the fire dwindled and the waves violently surged, we found ourselves engulfed in its demise causing us both to sink beneath the surface…

End Flashback

Maya Fey and Franziska Von Karma
Radisson Blu Portman, London
July 21, 2026

Franziska’s eyes were clenched tightly shut while she’d been speaking, and she was now afraid to open them, for the pent-up floodgates to be unleashed would be endless when she did.

Her mind was awash with turmoil.

The mere thought of him intertwined with her, locked in an embrace like perfectly fitting puzzle pieces, still rends my heart apart. It’s unbearable. I find myself wondering how he converses with her; if his words carry the same tenderness he once bestowed upon me, if he listens to her tales and etches them into his memory. Does he sway with her in the midst of the street, reveling in the dance of shared joy? Does he know her hopes and aspirations? I ponder if he pens her love letters; if she ignites his inspiration, if she brings out the best in him and challenges his very core. I yearn to know if she possesses courage, kindness, and compassion. Above all, I ache to discover if she brings him happiness. Yet, in truth, it is not my place to pry into who he kisses, embraces, shares laughter with, twirls in the streets, awakens beside, develops feelings for, or forges new memories with. His heart’s choice is none of my concern. And yet, this realization shatters me, as it did before. The pain remains, unabated.

She choked back the lump in her throat.

But how long, just how long can you keep loving someone who does not t love you back? More than a year has gone by, and during all that time, I just kept telling myself every night that maybe tomorrow my feelings will fade. Nevertheless, I still wake up every morning to a heart yearning for you…

“Lana?!” Maya’s startled cadence broke into her thoughts, forcing Franziska finally turn around and face the wide-eyed American with teary orbs. “Lana Skye, as in Ema’s big sister? You’ve convinced yourself that Miles was in love with her, so you decided to leave him before he could leave you?”

“My former fiancé returning to his ex-lover was inexorable, from the moment she came back into our lives by some wretched twist of fate. I simply decided to beat it to the punch.” She lifted her chin. “Evidently, for several years when Miles first joined the District Attorney’s Office, he worked under her… Although I did not become privy to the fact that it was in more ways than one until I was forced to endure the two of them being undercover together for our top-secret Interpol operation these last few years.”

“There is no way in hell Miles is with Lana!” Maya protested doggedly. “As much as you claim that I wasn’t here to view the fallout between you and your relatives, you haven’t been around to regard what he’s been like since you’ve been gone! The man is a complete mess! All aloof, and unsmiling, and as emotionally constipated as ever…”

Her voice trailed off as Franziska wryly arched an eyebrow at her, and she bit back a sigh.

“Okay fine! I know with Miles, that doesn’t sound like much of a change from the norm!” She admitted powerlessly. “But you’ve got to believe me, Franny, he’s been even more of an Android since he got back in town! While I will be totally honest and profess that as much as he and I are good friends, I am not his nearest and dearest confidant, my boyfriend, on the other hand, very much is! And Nick would also attest to the fact that Miles Edgeworth is not in the least acting in the manner of a man who’s happily in love with another woman, one who just doesn’t happen to be around right now due to working conditions! Moreover, he hasn’t even made any mention of Lana at all!”

“Miles not mentioning Lana is hardly groundbreaking news, nor is it proof of anything,” Franziska stated flatly. “He is very good at keeping his lips zipped when it is convenient, believe me! As callous as it sounds, the ugly truth about their sordid history together was thrust with comparable force to the sort I bestowed upon my unsuspecting niece.”

“I swear, I’m not judging you, but you cannot justify ending an eight-year relationship based on what sounds like circumstantial evidence!” Maya was all but wringing her hands now as she frantically tried to talk some sense into the quondam barrister’s thick skull. “This would never hold up in a court of law!”

She snapped her fingers as a forgetive stroke of innovation struck her.

“Do you remember how you encouraged me to do that venting exercise? It was back when Nick broke up with me supposedly for Iris – by the way, that was all a lie to protect me from this psycho creepiscle dildo stalking him and his friends, who ended up trying to frame him for murder. But I digress. Anyhow, recall how you had me pretend that you were Phoenix Wright, standing in front of me, and made me express everything to him, thus far, that I’d been unable to? Why don’t we try that, right now? I’ll be Miles!”

Maya affected her most austere, arrogant expression and haughtily crossed her arms over her chest in what she thought was a bang-on Miles Edgeworth impression, then jutted her chin at Franziska, lowering her voice by several octaves and inflicting it with her most lofty British intonation.

“Mein Dame. I trust that there is something you wished to convey to me?”

The spirit medium had been expecting a similarly repressed tirade of bottled-up umbrage like her own had been, or else hoped the exercise would help the dispirited woman see things from a more crystal-clear point of view, and therefore more open to reason about how completely erroneous her rationale was about Miles and Lana!

Rather than titter at Maya’s admittedly comical impersonation of her former fiancé, as the village leader had secretly been hoping she would do, instead Franziska’s voice was husky with sorrow as she openly spoke what was in her heart.

“Every fibre of my being, Miles, is consumed by a profound desire for your happiness. I yearn for your triumphant ascent to greatness, for you to soar beyond all boundaries. Even if my suspicions about you and Lana prove unfounded, my greatest wish is for you to encounter a love so profound that it surges forth from within you like an unstoppable river, never leaving you hollow. May your life be brimming with fulfillment, and may the universe shower you with kindness. May you discover rays of sunshine even on the dreariest days, and may they remain steadfastly by your side. So, my beloved, I hope you have moved on. I hope you will once again embrace love with open arms. And dear God, I hope she is deserving of you, truly deserving. May you never forget your inherent worth, and how truly remarkable you are.”

Her voice quivered, choked with tears that threatened to cascade at any moment.

“And, I yearn for you to forget me. Or, at the very least, to release all the pain I inflicted upon you by departing. I hope, one day, you will find it in your heart to grant me forgiveness. I pray—oh, how I pray—that you will comprehend the immense strength it took for me to bid you farewell…”The devastated Agent’s voice broke, and she found herself unable to go on another minute, so she buried her face in her hands, prompting Maya to immediately break character, hurry to Franziska’s side, and wrap an arm around her. This time, she got no resistance in return.

“I don’t understand Franny,” she murmured helplessly as the shattered German buried her glossy argentate head against her shoulder. “When we were last together, you were filled with so much resolve and confidence about returning to work and letting Lang know it was entirely on your terms… What could’ve possibly happened since then to make you do such a turnabout? What’s more, you didn’t sound even remotely like somebody who decided to walk out on the love of her life simply to spare her own pride, all because she believed she was being left for another woman. Talk to me, please!”

Franziska began to tremble, and Maya could feel the other woman’s resolve weakening. In a sudden burst of inspiration, she began to melodiously croon into her friend’s ear.

You with the sad eyes
Don’t be discouraged
Oh I realize
It’s hard to take courage
In a world full of people
You can lose sight of it all
And the darkness inside you
Can make you feel so small

But I see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that’s why I love you
So don’t be afraid to let them show
Your true colors
True colors are beautiful
Like a rainbow

Maya loosened the ariose floods of her voice, till the mellifluous sound seemed to fill the reticence within the suite.

Show me a smile then
Don’t be unhappy
Can’t remember when
I last saw you laughing
If this world makes you crazy
And you’ve taken all you can bear
You call me up
Because you know I’ll be there

The sound of the heartfelt descant was so reminiscent of all the poignant, childhood memories when Minna sang to her that all lingering traces of restraint faded away, and Franziska collapsed into the hold, clinging to the tiny spirit medium like an infant to its mother, while Maya carried continued singing the lyrics of the soothing, sweet song.

And I’ll see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that’s why I love you
So don’t be afraid to let them show
Your true colors
True colors are beautiful
Like a rainbow…

Standing there, in the Master’s commiserating embrace, the anterior Prosecuting Prodigy’s defenses were utterly obliterated by the timeless gesture of unconditional friendship and love.

A hug holds an exquisite power of connection, transcending the need for words to convey unequivocally that someone occupies a cherished place in your heart. It stands as a testament to their significance, a profound assurance that their presence is treasured beyond measure.

In the spirit medium’s comforting arms, her body quaking with barely suppressed sobs the whole time, Franziska finally professed the long-guarded secret which had resulted in her penning the fateful Dear John letter on that cold spring day one year ago.

After that confession, she broke down completely as the pent-up cascade of droplets she’d been suppressing for so long burst forth like a dam, and she cried atop her soul sister’s supportive shoulder as though her heart were breaking all over again.

And Maya cried with her.

Lana Skye
Date:? Time:? Location:?

Lana felt the constricting pressure of the zip ties biting into her wrists, the uncomfortable grip reminding her of her captive state. The rough rope secured tightly around her ankles kept her grounded to the cold, unforgiving cement floor. Dim light filtered through a high window, casting fragmented beams that illuminated the swirling dust particles suspended in the air. In her confinement, the kidnapped victim’s focus remained fixated on that window, her only connection to the outside world. She yearned for a glimpse of her surroundings, a clue that could unveil her location, whether she was still in Romania or had been transported elsewhere.

Straining her ears, the Agent listened intently for any discernible sounds that might provide answers. The distant hum of passing cars or the echoes of ships in a nearby harbor could offer a vital clue. Perhaps the calls of seagulls or the melodious songs of garden birds would betray the nature of her environment, providing hints of whether she was in an industrial area or a residential neighborhood.

Yet, despite her efforts, Lana’s attention kept returning to the window. Its solid frame suggested it was not easily opened, thwarting her hopes of an immediate escape. Nevertheless, her mind raced, exploring every possibility, from ventilation shafts to hidden passageways, searching for an alternative route to freedom. She knew that unraveling the mystery of her captivity and finding a way out would require resourcefulness and careful planning.

Bound and shrouded in uncertainty, she clung to the slender thread of hope provided by that window. It was her portal to the outside world, offering glimpses of truth concealed in the shadows. Determined and fueled by a fierce resolve, she resolved to gather her strength and resilience, determined to uncover the secrets that held her captive and forge a path toward liberation. The Interpol Agent switched her attention away from brief but futile thoughts of escape from the so close, yet so far window as she caught sight of a dark, hooded figure in the corner of the room. It was a coal-haired man of interminable age, holding a switchblade in his hand and nonchalantly cleaning the underside of his fingernails with the tip of the knife, as though it were nothing more than a mere manicure instrument. He caught her stare in his direction and treated her to a cruel, sinister grin that made her flesh crawl.

The unsettling sight of snake-like eyes piercing from within a human face sends shivers down my spine. In those cold, unfeeling orbs, devoid of soul and conscience, resides a man capable of unspeakable acts. His propensity for violence surpassed mere self-defense, as I can sense he derives pleasure from inflicting pain upon others. The realization strikes with a chilling certainty that once he has exhausted his cruel intentions upon the current victim, he will readily seek out new targets to satisfy his sadistic cravings. The looming presence of such a predator instills a deep sense of unease, knowing that I am merely a temporary object of his malevolence, soon to be discarded in favor of fresh prey.

Her hijacker, who hadn’t spoken a word since removing the rucksack from the captive’s head and addressed her by the undercover name of Debbie Dallas, abruptly stopped pacing back and forth like a restless caged tiger and halted before the ex-detective. A dead silence now replaced the sharp, clacking noise of designer stiletto boots tapping across the hard concrete as the captor crouched down to the level of the floor-seated Agent so the two were eye-to-eye once again.

“I see you’re admiring Damien’s choice in silverware,” the captor remarked idly, as though they were making regular small talk. “Isn’t it funny how he is the greater supposed threat for you – don’t deny it, I can see it in your eyes – even though he’s my hired assassin, hence, doesn’t make a move unless I tell him to?”

A harsh, mirthless laugh.

“If you were wise – which none of you are, obviously – you would be quaking with fear over me since it is I who answers to nobody! Have you never heard of the Black Widow, whose venom is 15 times more deadly than a rattlesnake, and who kills her unsuspecting partner right after mating? A beautiful creature, but a deadly one. Many has been the time I have felt like it’s my spirit animal. It greatly amuses me so how my gender is constantly underestimated because I belong to the supposedly fairer sex. People are so arrogant, so dense. How is it they overlook the fact that with the majority of the animal kingdom, the female is often more deadly than the male?”

A maleficent smirk played on the full, crimson lips as she rose back to her feet and glared down at her captive with contempt.

“That is why you’re currently here at my mercy, is it not? Because my demure, unassuming self was deemed too insignificant to be paid mind to by either you or your equally useless Interpol bloodhounds. Hence why it was all too easy to simply keep playing dead in order to fly under the radar all this time … Lana Skye.”

Lana tried to maintain a serene façade to mask her terror as she faced the flawlessly made-up, venomous almond eyes of the late Wa Sing Ku’s fiancée.

Wong Li Tsong.

“How are you still alive, Li?” She struggled to keep her voice calm. “Everyone else associated with Ku was eliminated at the same time he got taken out … was it simply luck that you were spared?”

Flashback

Shi-Long Lang, Lana Skye, and Miles Edgeworth
Jõhvi Hospital, Borginia
November 25, 2025

“I’m saying that you have one sick and twisted sense of humor, Wolf Man, and I cannot believe the way Max and Debbie were described in that article!” Lana snapped. “Blaze of Glory?! Talk about your sick sensationalism and warped irony, unsuccessfully attempting to be passed off as comedic written wit! This article was supposed to be a posthumous, pseudo-epitaph, not an homage to Bon Jovi! I realized the ends justify the means, but still –”

“I apologize if you and I didn’t appreciate the creative leeway taken by Interpol with that news release, but it better we did that and let whoever has gone on a killing spree think that you two are worm chow, rather than have you actually join the heavenly ranks alongside Ku and the Klan,” Lang reminded Lana, arching an eyebrow. “Or have you already forgotten that you were both witnessed, on several occasions, associating with the kingpin and therefore were more than likely to be next in line on that hit list?”

“I suppose we should be thanking you then, for taking preemptive measures,” Miles muttered darkly. “Which I suppose I shall do, as soon as I get over that most unflattering depiction! Although, since we are on the topic of people associated with the late, not so great, Ku, this bears another looming question. Amidst the latest tragedy that has befallen us, have you been keeping track of whatever happened to Li? I would imagine as his betrothed, she also potentially would have been an intended target?”

“Nobody has been recovered as of yet,” the Agent replied dismissively, suddenly looking utterly drained. “At this point, it wouldn’t be very far-fetched to assume that Li didn’t have to suffer the whole till death do us part thing for very long, nor did she have to wait until she was actually married to the son of a bitch. I guess her status could best be explained right now as still missing, presumed annoying.”

End Flashback

Present Day

Lana Skye and Wong Li Tsong
Unknown Location

“How was I spared?” Li’s delicate features contorted into a mask of heavy disdain. “More like, how does it behoove Interpol to exude such gross incompetence? Seriously, Lana Skye – yes Damien took the liberty of pursuing through the secret compartment of your wallet to find your Agent ID while you were dead to the world – were you always this stupid, or is today a special occasion?”

The soft-spoken Asian woman’s tone took on a steely edge.

“It’s pretty easy to lie low and undetected when people think you’re pushing daisies, is it not? Wasn’t that the purpose of interposing that ridiculous news release claiming the death of Debbie Dallas and Maximilian Banks III? What’s more, it’s even easier to stay alive while everybody in your circle drops like flies in your midst, when you were the one behind masterminding each and every one of those bodies that hit the floor.”

“You?” Lana’s unruffled veneer crumpled. “You killed Ku? But he was your betrothed!”

“Husband, actually,” Li corrected dismissively, extending an elegant well-manicured left hand to show off an enormous diamond ring one could’ve skated upon, along with a matching wedding band. “I suppose since I know your true identity, I should return the favor and ensure you and I are properly introduced. You may have known me as Wong Li Tsong, but it’s now actually Wong Li Tsong-Ku. However, mayhap you’re more familiar with my maiden name, or at least, that of my father: Fu Manchu.”

Fu Manchu. The name immediately registered in Lana’s mind as the sole elusive drug lord who had always managed to be two steps ahead of Interpol all these years and was the only one to have avoided incarceration from that top-secret list of criminals she and Miles had been tracking down across the globe.

“I see you’re acquainted with the notorious moniker of my dearly departed father.” The Black Widow’s voice was as poisonously sweet as the phony smile she was now wearing. “What you probably didn’t know is that Fu Manchu, a sexist bastard who was as guilty of underestimating me as you ninnyhammers were, is the longtime elusive head of the infamous Li-Suun Niik drug organization that you’ve been so desperately seeking. At least, he was… right up until his so unfortunate, very recent demise in an untimely plane crash, due to a faulty engine, leaving his sole heir behind to step into his shoes. Ah, a blaze of glory he went out it… I’m sure that sounds quite familiar to you, doesn’t it?”

Lana’s mouth went dry as she realized she was indeed at the mercy of a true Bête Noire. The genuine personification of the lamenting tune, “She Ain’t Pretty (She Just Looks That Way).” Li’s exotic beauty was purely a guise to mask the decrepit, insidious soul lurking beneath her painted exterior, and the Agent dazedly realized in that second that the Queenpin had zero intention of keeping her alive.

There was no way the femme fatale would have disclosed her evil crimes, including assassinating her spouse and kinsman, along with her true identity, if she’d thought the Agent would ever live to repeat it.

“You murdered your own father and husband?” Lana gasped in horror. “Why would you do something so diabolical?”

“Li never sullied her hands,” Damien interjected coolly, fixating his serpentine eyes on the aghast Agent. “That’s why she has me on her payroll.”

“Y – You were the one singlehandedly responsible for killing all those people?!”

The hitman shrugged insouciantly as he strode over to stand beside his boss.

“Some individuals may label me as evil, but I prefer to think of myself as wired differently from the rest. While others find squirrels endearing and cute, I perceive them as targets for my killing pleasure. Merely shooting them wouldn’t satisfy my desires; instead, I crave the prolonged torment of disemboweling them slowly, savoring the spectacle as their life fades and their eyes lose their spark. Examining their inner workings adds an extra layer of twisted fascination to the experience. I could claim it’s for scientific purposes, but that would be a falsehood. The truth is, I derive immense pleasure and satisfaction from these acts. I even take the liberty of recording these moments on my phone, allowing me to relish and replay the scenes repeatedly. As a young boy, a squirrel was enough to satiate my desires, but I swiftly graduated to larger and more challenging pursuits. Deep down, I always knew that certain human cultures would appreciate and value someone with my mercenary inclinations. It’s a matter of honor, or so I believe, anyway.”

“Damien was also the one who collected your carcass from the woods when you had your wee tussle with a couple of my henchmen,” Li supplied graciously, as though she were hosting tea. “As for the reasons behind my actions … what can I tell you? My quest for power, as a subservient Chinese female in a male-dominated world, was ingrained at an early age, and I will not let anyone or anything get in my way. Power is my fix. I feed on it, soak it in. It is the elixir I need to survive. We all have our guilty pleasures, it’s just that I don’t feel any guilt for mine.”

Another cruel smile.

“To me, taking your life is but a small piece of a grander game I play. I understand that you hold tightly onto the belief that victory is within your grasp, but it is, of course, a lie to offer solace in a realm devoid of hope. You find yourself trapped in a cavern of darkness, deceived by a flicker of light that grants false reassurance. There is no glimmer of hope, no salvation approaching. It is solely you and I, akin to a predator and its prey. There is no escape for you, no frantic last-ditch effort to salvage your existence. You are not a hero; you are inconsequential, less than a single raindrop evaporating upon a scorching desert. Your efforts will vanish into the vast expanse, leaving the landscape unchanged, desolate, and barren, serving as a playground for my weapons and destructive power.”

The murderess reached out a scarlet-tipped palm suddenly, grabbing her captive’s face roughly under the chin, squishing the cheeks together so hard, the flesh inside the Agent’s mouth gnashed painfully against her molars. With her free hand, Li snatched the switchblade out of the assassin’s hand and held it against the brunette’s collarbone, hard enough to draw a thin trickle of blood.

Lana winced at the stinging sensation, and a triumphant glint sparked in the soulless stygian orbs.

“And now that we’ve gotten the boring spiel about your inevitable fate out of the way, Agent Skye, I strongly suggest you start talking if you want to prolong your life a while longer. Because while I haven’t tainted my own hands – yet – I have no qualms using this glinting blade of Damien’s and carving every square inch of that pretty face of yours until you do.”

The trail of sanguine fluid slid down her chest and soaked the thin material of the kidnapped woman’s shirt, but still, even though pain fluctuated on her visage, the defiant stance, and angry crease through her forehead indicated she wasn’t about to cave in that easily.

This only infuriated Li, making her push the blade even deeper into the wound, uncaring about the pained gasp the Agent let out as the blood began to flow more freely now.

“Rest assured, I am not a patient woman, nor one who’s all talk, no action, Agent Skye, as you have chosen to learn the hard way.”

Unremorseful, hate-filled eyes bored into panicked teal ones as the sharp knife continued to press deeper into Lana’s flesh.

“So, do yourself a favor and tell me where I can find your partner in crime, the alleged perished billionaire playboy otherwise known as Miles Edgeworth.”

A/N: Thanks for the Spanish song suggestion DannyDragon aka mi amiga musica! (Hope you’re still reading!)

Paul Engemann – Push It to the Limit
Jesse & Joy – Corre (Run)
Cyndi Lauper – True Colors
Northern Pikes – She Ain’t Pretty