BLOODHOUNDS #4: The Dark Knight

Everly Jordan

I looked at myself in the mirror, looking like a mess. I pulled my long, light ash-brown hair into a messy bun. I washed my face and brushed my teeth.

Yesterday was a very rough day.

I can't sleep because of the note left in my waiting room yesterday. Someone was stalking me, and they wanted me dead. I was up all night and slept around five in the morning.

"Everly." My manager, Natty, short for Natasha, called me. She walked into the bathroom and sighed before showing me her iPad screen.

It's another piece of news about Richard and me. We met yesterday for Tamara's birthday, and people can't stop shipping us after we used him as the actor in my music video. I closed my eyes and nodded.

"Did they find who entered my waiting room?" I asked Natty as I dried my face with a clean towel.

"No. I've talked to Albert, and he's looking for someone to help with the case. The police handled this so slowly because they think it's just a crazy fan wanting to get your attention." I walked out of the bathroom, and Natty followed me.

"It's been going on for a year, Nat. I've been getting death threats. I don't understand why they're not taking this seriously."

"Albert is currently looking for someone for it. He's trying to find one of the best companies for it."

"I don't need more bodyguards, and I have tons of them already. I need someone to find my stalker and put them in jail!" I hissed as I grabbed my phone to call Albert myself.

"We will. I promise. For now, you need to focus on your tour. The opening night is in two days." I put my phone down and looked up at the ceiling.

"The rehearsal will start in 2 hours. Dereck will pick you up." With that, Natty left. I went down to have breakfast that Oakley already prepared for me.

"Donuts for you." Oakley pushed six glazed donuts in front of me. I smiled, thanking him.

"You're the best, O." I ate my breakfast and ended it with one donut because there's nothing that can lift your mood than eating a donut after every meal.

I sighed long, hoping Albert would find someone to find my stalker soon.

Mason Calland

"Sir, we have Mr.Quanto waiting for you." I had just got into our office in downtown Seattle when Leroy notified me that Albert had come.

Albert was one of my parent's family friends. I've known him for more than two decades. He's nice, but also fucking dumb sometimes.

I gave Leroy a nod to bring Albert into the room. I sat on my chair, opening my computer to check my email. Albert walked in with Leroy, and I got up.

"Hi, Mason. How are you?" He asked with a big smile on his face. He brought a black file with him, which caused me to question his presence. He put his hand out, and I shook it.

Albert and I were both from two different sides of the business. He's into the entertainment industry when I'm not. The last time I checked, he owned a record label.

"I'm good. How about you?"

"I'm great." I gestured for him to sit down, and he put the black file in front of me. He's straightforward in letting me know what he wants. I opened the file and there were tons of pictures of small notes.

They are threatening notes.

"Everly Jordan. She got a stalker, and it's been going on for year." I shut the file and looked at him, annoyed.

"You're wasting my fucking time, Albert." I hissed.

"Mason, hear me out first." I gestured for Leroy to come into the room.

"Have the LA PD take care of this or ask the FBI to be involved." Leroy walked in, and I eyed him to bring Albert out.

"We did, but none of them responded and didn't take the case seriously. She's been getting death threats recently, and the stalker sent her many packages!" He opened the file again and showed me all the photos of the dead animal packages.

"I know about your nickname. They called you the hunter." And how did he get that information when he was far from the underground world? Leroy grabbed his arm, making him stand up from the sofa.

"I don't have time to care for this kind of shit, Albert. As much as I'm curious how you know about that nickname, I'm not in the mood to be a fucking security guard."

"Just once. Please help me, and you know that you owed me once back when you were nineteen!" He almost screamed when Leroy dragged him out. "Her opening night is in two days, and the stalker said he will kill her there. I don't know if it's an empty threat, but she's scared."

"Get out, Quanto."

"Just this once. I know your capabilities. I know you can catch whoever that is on her opening night. I knew your reputation, Mason. Please..." I put my hands into my pocket, tilting my head to the side. Leroy dragged him out and closed the door.

I sat down and looked at the file once again.

One picture shows Everly crying while holding a note in her hand. She just opened a package, and it's her mic with blood all over it.

There's a yellow Post-it on Everly's profile that Albert put at the bottom of the file.

It's one of the death threat notes.

"I can't wait to touch your throat, Everly. I want to cut it open and stab your vocal chords until you won't be able to sing anymore."

I looked up when Leroy walked into my office. I gave him the file Albert left, which caused him to question my actions.

"Give me the blueprint of her opening night venue, and I want you to give me the list of all the staff she has."

"But Mr.Calland, you ha—"

"Cancel it."

"Very well. Do you want me to notify Albert that you're taking the case?"

"No. Let's go there a few hours before the concert. I need one hundred people on my team. I need ten snipers. For now, bring Elliot into the team."