The café was almost empty.

  Too quiet for

  Marek Volkov chose a table at the back, where the reflection on the glass allowed him to see the door without turning his head. Ilya Novak sat across from him, a closed notebook in front of him, alert and focused. This was not an official interrogation. Not yet. It was a conversation. And Volkov knew that people lowered their guard when they believed they were not bein

  Daniel

  He was tall, well dressed, with a polite expression that seemed rehearsed in front of a mirror. He greeted them with a firm handshake—too firm.

  —Thank you for coming —Volkov said—. Please, have a seat.

  Daniel smiled nervously.

  —Of course. I’ll do everything I can to help. Laura was… important to me.

  Volkov watched his reaction when he said her name.

  No break in his voice.

  No pause.

  Just a correct statement.

  —When was the last time you saw her? —Volkov asked.

  —Two days before she disappeared —Daniel replied—. We had dinner together. She seemed normal. Calm.

  Ilya slightly tilted his head.

  —What did you talk about?

  —Normal things. University, plans, nothing serious.

  —Did you argue? —Volkov asked.

  Daniel shook his head quickly.

  —No. We never argued.

  The silence stretched a second longer than necessary.

  —That’s unusual —Volkov commented—. Even stable relationships argue.

  Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

  Daniel pressed his lips together.

  —We were… different.

  —Different how? —Ilya asked.

  —Respectful —Daniel said—. I always took care of her.

  Volkov slowly rested his fingers on the table.

  —Taking care of her… or controlling her? —he asked calmly.

  Daniel stiffened.

  —I don’t understand the question.

  —Laura started becoming quieter —Volkov continued—. Her mother noticed. Her friends too. Didn’t you?

  Daniel looked away toward the window.

  —Maybe she was stressed.

  —Because of you? —Ilya asked, without harshness, but without hesitation.

  Daniel let out a short, uncomfortable laugh.

  —No. I just wanted what was best for her.

  Volkov noticed the watch on Daniel’s wrist. Elegant. Expensive.

  —Did Laura give you that watch? —Volkov asked.

  Daniel blinked.

  —No… I bought it. For her. But she didn’t want to accept it.

  —Why not? —Volkov asked.

  —She said it was too much —Daniel replied—. That it made her feel… watched.

  Ilya looked up.

  —Watched by whom?

  Daniel didn’t answer immediately.

  —By me, I guess —he finally said—. She was exaggerating.

  Volkov leaned forward.

  —Laura marked a date on her calendar —he said—. Two days after your last dinner. Do you know why?

  Daniel swallowed.

  —No.

  —Are you sure? —Volkov asked.

  The silence fell heavily between them.

  —We were going to talk —Daniel admitted—. Nothing serious. Just… to clear things up.

  —Clear up what? —Ilya pressed.

  —She wanted space.

  The words hung in the air.

  —And did you give it to her? —Volkov asked.

  Daniel clenched his hands.

  —I told her to think carefully.

  —Was that all? —Volkov asked.

  Daniel looked up, his eyes no longer as confident.

  —Yes.

  Volkov leaned back in his chair.

  —Daniel —he said quietly—, when a person disappears without taking anything, without saying goodbye, without leaving a trace, it’s almost never because they chose to leave. It’s because someone else made decisions for them.

  Daniel stood up abruptly.

  —I didn’t hurt her.

  —I didn’t say that —Volkov replied—. Not yet.

  Ilya watched Daniel’s face: the tight jaw, the shallow breathing, the way he avoided eye contact.

  —Just one more thing —Volkov added—. If Laura appears… what do you think she would say about you?

  Daniel hesitated.

  —That I loved her —he answered.

  Volkov nodded slowly.

  —Love should never make someone disappear.

  Daniel left the café without saying goodbye.

  Ilya let out the breath he had been holding.

  —He’s not clean —he said—. But he’s not the end.

  —No —Volkov replied—. He’s just one piece. And not the most dangerous one.

  He looked out the window, at the city continuing its indifferent rhythm.

  —The most perfect disappearances aren’t committed by monsters —he added—. They’re committed by people who believe they know what’s best for others.

  And as the night deepened, Volkov knew they were closer to the truth…

  but also closer to something far darker.