The clock struck 7 p.m. and an ear-piercing alarm went off. Matthew Hood had to discontinue his push-ups at 257 and go forward to turn it off.

IT WAS TIME.

He contemplated whether he should make the call first or freshen up first, then decided that since he wasn't leaving for another 5 hours at any rate, he would prefer taking a shower first.

Threats should be given while being comfortable.

He stepped into the shower, into the cold water. Slowly, he touched the scar on his lower abdomen.

Damn that bullet.

Matthew dried himself, then looked in the mirror. He decided he was looking extra handsome that night.

He stepped outside, took off the towel, and put on a comfortable T-shirt and trousers.

'Ah hell, I'll just make the call.'

Even though Michael was confident, perhaps overconfident, he felt a brief but powerful pang of fear. After all, he was about to call a murderer.

'No, I must shake it off. I MUST NOT sound afraid.'

He took the phone in his hand, and dialled a number. Someone picked up. 

Matthew took a deep breath.

'I know what you've done.', he said.

There was no answer.

'I know you killed Cassie Turner. How I know it is unimportant. What IS important is what I'm gonna tell you now.'

There was again silence on the other end.

'Good, you understand your powerlessness then. Now listen to me. You will follow all my instructions to the letter. At midnight tonight, you will go to 1922 Wellington Drive. You'll find an abandoned building there on your right. Enter it, and climb up one flight of stairs to reach the second floor. Enter the first door on the right. You'll find me there. DO NOT try to inform the police or any accomplices, everything will be strictly monitored. If you do not show up, I will reveal everything to the cops, or worse, Steven Blazing. Is that clear?'

There was a long pause at the other end, then ultimately, a voice murmured 'Understood' and hung up the call.

Matthew Hood was suddenly unable to believe that he had really done it. But it had to be done. He wanted justice for his love. And the only justice, was his OWN justice.

For the next 3 hours, Matthew sat absolutely still, planning out everything, considering all the possibilities of what could happen. Then he finally realized that he had the killer by the neck, that they had no other choice but to show up, ALONE. His evidence and power was far too strong for them to retaliate. He was gonna be quite fine.

At 11 p.m, Matthew dressed up in a black shirt and trousers, to be easily camouflaged in the dark. He wondered if he should take the car, then decided against it. Draws too much attention.

Within 11:10 p.m, he was ready. He slowly opened a drawer, and pulled out his pistol. Again he wondered if he'd better take the silencer along, then again decided against it, as it will probably cause the dead body to not be discovered for a day or two, but he needed the body to be discovered as soon as possible.

Before leaving his apartment, Matthew wondered just for a second whether he should have informed Circuit about what he was about to do, then dismissed that thought, since Circuit would almost certainly try to stop him.

Matthew locked his apartment and stepped out into the night. There was no one around. He said to himself:

'This ends tonight. Both of us will enter that building, only ONE of us will come out.

Yo.

Let me know what you thought of that chapter. What do you think is gonna happen next?

VOTE and COMMENT if you liked the chapter, please. It really helps the book gain more readers, and I love readers. *makes puppy dog eyes*

Thanks for reading, and the mystery will resume again soon. Till then, HAPPY UNSCRAMBLING!

-S. B.