Summary
My name is Isabela Valdez—Izzy, if you prefer. I’m a private detective in New York City. Right now, I’m teetering on the edge of consciousness on a gurney in a Canadian ER, surrounded by NY and Montreal detectives. They’re eyeing me like I’m the keeper of dark secrets, while I wrestle with the agony of a mysterious hockey puck that struck me down. No, I’m not dead—not yet. But you’re probably wondering how I ended up here. And trust me, this is no mere freak accident.
It all began with an enigmatic message—a warning, a provocation—that led me straight to Donavan, the shadowy figure at the heart of a lethal game involving a corrupt professional hockey syndicate. What started as a standard investigation quickly plunged into perilous depths. With each step closer to unmasking the truth, Donavan’s deadly squad tightened their grip, their ruthless precision nearly sealing my fate.
In a pulse-pounding confrontation, I cornered Donavan, clutching a decoy phone he believed held the key to dismantling his entire operation. Just as the tension peaked, a rogue puck, aimed with deadly accuracy, struck me, sending me into a cold, dark abyss.
Zeke’s team reacted instantly, moving with lethal efficiency to neutralize Donavan’s entire squad. The chaos was fierce but controlled, leaving Donavan to melt into the shadows as I hovered on the brink of consciousness. Now, as I’m rushed to the hospital, the real battle begins. The syndicate’s secrets are within my reach—but the clock is ticking, and my survival hangs by a thread.
Here I lie, surrounded by faces that demand answers, knowing only I can unravel the tangled web. And every second counts.
