After a period of time had passed, Harty decided it was time to make his move. He promoted MysticChaos21 to a Moderator in the chatroom. This a would grant Jess additional privileges within the chat, including the ability to mahe discussions and maintain order.

  Harty leaned over to Michigo and whispered, “I’ve promoted Jess to Moderator. It’s a test to see how she reacts to having a bit of power. We o see if she’ll use it for the greater good or if she’ll give herself away with her as.”

  Michigo g Harty with curiosity “Do you suspect Jess, Harty? I mean, you’re testing her, but is there something you’re not telling me?”

  Harty hesitated before responding. “I wouldn’t say I suspect her ht, but…”

  Michigo crossed her arms. “You ’t lie to me, Harty. I o know what you really think.”

  Harty sighed and admitted, “Alright, you’ve got me. I guess I did give myself away. I just believe she’s hiding something from us. We ’t ignore any potential threats. Her behavior has raised some red fgs.”

  Michigo’s eyes narrowed, but her tone softened slightly. “So, what exactly do you think she’s hiding?”

  Harty leaned ba his chair, rubbing his temples. “It’s hard to say for certain, but from what Angie knows about her, it could involve Shadowcroft in some way.”

  Sometime ter, Harty looked over to Michigo and whispered, “I’m going to make a bold move now. I want to see if Jess is actually hiding anything at all.”

  Michigo nodded in agreement, her eyes locked onto the s. A private versatioween Jess and Chessmaster12 unfolded.

  Harty and Michigo both experienced a sense of shock. Jess’s admitted her ex-boyfriend’s ties to Shadowcroft. The implications of this revetion were far more signifit than they had initially imagine.

  Harty turo Michigo and said, “We’ve just uncovered a major piece of the puzzle, Michigo. Jess’s ex-boyfriend being involved with Shadowcroft is a game-ger. We o tread carefully from here on out.”

  “This ges everything, Harty. We have to figure out how to use this to our advahout putting Jess in more danger.”

  Jess’s messages tinued. Both Harty and Michigo noticed an uling shift ione and tent. The messages started to sound increasingly unnerving and filled with dark details. Harty’s eyes widened. “Something’s nht here. We o get over to Jess’s house, now!”

  Without hesitation, Michigo bolted for the door. “I’m already on it!” Harty quickly closed his ptop, and was about to meet Michigo at the door, but someone whistled at him from behind.

  Chloe had transformed herself. Her outfit and hairstyle oozing fidend sensuality. With a sultry demeanor, Chloe fidently approached him. Harty was both shocked and flustered by the sudden ge. He stammered,

  “Who... who are you?”

  Chloe held a rope in her hands and grinned. “You’re not getting out of here, Harty. I kly who you really are.”

  Before Harty could react, the door to Chloe’s house mysteriously locked by itself, sealing them both inside. Harty felt a bead of sweat f on his forehead. He whispered to himself, “OH… Oh…shit...I slipped up just for a sed!”

  Roselle and Angie arrived at a building in which Roselle had never expected Tina to be associated with. The location was notorious for X-rated films, and it left Roselle with a sense of unease. Angie parked her vehicle. Roselle couldn’t tain her questions any longer.

  “Angie,” Roselle began while trembling slightly, “this pce... and Tina’s photos... It’s all so overwhelming. Do you think Tina will ever be the same again after all this?”

  Angie shrugged nontly after stepping out of the car. “Who knows, Roselle? It’s hard to say. People ge in ways you ’t predict. But if Tina’s strong enough, she might e out of this stronger.”

  Roselle looked around nervously, taking in the seedy surroundings.

  “Is this your first time ing to a pce like this,” Angie questioned.

  Roselle nodded with her eyes wide. “Yes, it is. I’ve never been anywhere like this before.”

  Angie gave her a firm look. “Keep your head up, Roselle. The only person who protect you here is yourself. We o find Tina, but we also o make sure we don’t get ourselves into deeper shit.”

  Roselle took a deep breath. “Right. I’ll do my best. I just have--”

  Roselle was interrupted as a man in a business suit exited the building, looking happy and prosperous. Roselle’s eyes opened wide. “Wait, isn’t that Tina’s father? “The man got into a luxury car and drove away.

  Angie and Roselle exged gnces momentarily. Right after that, they decided to kno the door of the building. Moments ter, they heard some cursing from inside, followed by the door being flung open. An angry man with a stern face frohem.

  The man’s gaze shifted to Roselle, scrutinizing her. “You don’t look like a out for this type of showbiz, but the other one, maybe.” His eyes lingered on Angie.

  Roselle chuckled nervously. “We aren’t here to sign up,” she said quickly. “We’re looking for a friend. Her name is Tina. We were told she might be here.”

  The man’s face hardened further. “Tina, huh? And what makes you think she’s here? This ain’t a charity or a lost and found.”

  Aepped forward. “We know she’s involved with the people here. If you could just let us see her, we’ll be out of your hair.”

  “Tina’s not here, and I don’t want her kind around,” he spat out. “She’s being a star, but you tell that kid ain’t in it. I just spoke to her father too... what a fu scumbag. They only wanted my money and ain’t care bout doing the jht and satisfying people.”

  Roselle was taken aback by the man’s words.” you tell us where she might be or if you’ve seen her retly?”

  The man shook his head dismissively with a growl. His face surged with rage.“I told you, she ain’t here, and I don got no i in helping you find her! Now beat it!”

  Roselle and Auro leave but they were stopped iracks by the sound of a woman. She emerged from the building. She barely looked like she had any clothes on. They only saw her briefly before the man who was already angry exploded on them. “Are you crazy? Going out there dressed like that? You’ll get us all arrested!”

  The ushed the man aside and approached Roselle and Ah a smile. “Don’t mind him, darlings,” she purred. “He’s always so uptight. How I help you lovely dies today?”

  Roselle took a deep breath and replied, “We’re looking for Tina. Do you know where she is?”

  The woman nodded her head. Her colorful hair swayed while the woman took a few more steps forward. “Oh, you just missed them. Tina and her father left not too long ago. But, darling, you’re in luck. I know Tina very well. My name is Beige, and I used to work with her.”

  Beige spoke with disappoi while tinuing, “We were supposed to make a very special film together, darling. I was so excited about it. But then ‘Uptightass’ over there came in and drove Tina and her father away. He’s such a buzzkill.”

  Roselle nodded nervously. “U-Um… I uand. It…must have been frustrating to have your pns disrupted like that.”

  Roselle tried her best not to stare at Beige. The woman had he inno her eyes. She leaned in a bit closer and held a smile. “You know, sweetie, I tell you’re not used to this world, ’t I? You’re so pure and i, it’s almost refreshing...”

  Roselle eyed her slightly in fusion. “U-Um…”

  “You see,” Beige tinued, “there’s a lot you tell about someone in just a gnce. I tell you know absolutely nothing about this side of things. Your behaviives you away, darling.”

  Roselle blushed while Beige got a feel of her face. Beige, however, didn’t linger on Roselle for long. She shifted her attention to Angie. “You… you’ve got that look in your eyes. You know your way around this world, don’t you?”

  Angie didn’t flinder Beige’s scrutiny. She maintained her posed look and simply replied, “I know a few things. you tell us anything at all, or are we just going to be wasting more time here?”

  “Well, like I told you, she left with her father a little while ago. I think you would be able to find them at the downtown area.”

  Angie nodded. “Thanks for the info.”

  “Just be careful out there, especially with someone as i as her,” Beige said, gng at Roselle with a teasing smile. “This world be a bit overwhelming.”

  Roselle and Aered the downtown area. It was surrounded by a sea of people going about their business. The streets had chatter, footsteps, and also, traffic. Traffic whigie and Roselle found themselves stu.

  Angie smmed her hand oeering wheel of her vechicle in frustration. “This traffic is drivis! Why’d we have to get stuck here?”

  Roselle reached over and turned on the car’s stereo. Upbeat music filled the vehicle, and Roselle began bobbing her head to the rhythm. She fshed Angie a grin. “Why not let the music lighten the mood? It might help us think more clearly.”

  Angie’s frustration shifted to mild amusement. “You know, I think you might just be using this as an excuse to turn up the music.”

  Roselle ughed softly.

  After some time, the car finally is way through the gridlock. Angie guided them toward the downtown area on foot. Roselle kept a, sing the crowded streets for any sign of Tina or her father.

  “Keep your eyes open, Roselle,” Angie advised. “We o find a lead, and it might not be easy in this crowd. Let’s start by asking around discreetly. Maybe someone saw them.”

  Roselle and Angie began showing a picture of Tina to anyone who might have seen her or her father. The people they entered were mostly unhelpful or had no information to share. However, their persistence paid off when they approached a girl ie teens with purple hair and a friendly demeanor.

  The girl took a look at the photo and nodded. She poio anirl nearby eared more provocative, with colorful tattoos and a dark style. The girl noticed them approag and gave them a curious look.

  Angie showed the photo. The girl took a moment to study the picture and then poioward a nearby donut shop.

  “That way,” she said uhusiastically. “You might find what you’re looking for there.”

  Roselle and Aered the Donut shop. They sed the interior. Soon, they saw a man sitting at a er table. He appeared to be in his te forties, well-dressed in a business suit.

  Sitting across from him was a young woman with elegant, feminine charm. She had beautiful, long pink hair that cascaded down her back. Her stunning appearance made her seem like a character from a dream. What really caught their attention was her current attire, which was revealing.

  Tina’s father, notig Roselle and Angie’s arrival, smiled warmly at the girl whom was assumed to be Tina. “Sweetheart, you have all the donuts you want. It’s a little treat before your film.”

  Tina nodded politely. “Thank you, Dad, but I o stay the same size for the film, so I’ll stick to just a dozen. I ’t afford to gai.”

  Her father chuckled. “Well, you know best, darling. Get what you like.”

  Tina pced an order for a dozen donuts. The men who were manning the ter immediately began preparing them. Her father wore an affeate smile on his face.

  Roselle gred over towards them ihought.‘I want to know the truth. I ’t stay in the dark any longer. But... I really do this? Should I just stay still and never know the truth? Maybe… it’s better to let Tina tinue her life without any interference…’

  Roselle shook her head. ‘No! I’ve e this far… I have to do this!’