Final Call

The phone rang once, then silence. Captain Dubois watched it intently.

Across the room, the killer sat with arms crossed, a smirk on his face. “You won’t find her in time.”

Dubois's teeth pressed together in frustration.

The phone rang again, longer this time.

“Answer it,” the killer taunted.

Dubois hit the button. A faint, desperate voice crackled through. “Help…”

The killer’s smirk faded.

Dubois stood up, his tone firm. “Looks like I just did,” he said, the unexpected victory clear in his voice.