The next morning was gray and heavy. The clouds pressed against the windows of the small motel room where Jude and Daniel had spent the night. They had barely slept. Outside, the city was already busy. Cars rushed by on the wet streets. Horns sounded in the distance. But inside the room, everything was quiet, like time had stopped.
Jude stood in front of the cracked bathroom mirror. He hardly recognized himself. The cap hid most of his hair. Daniel had given him old glasses with clear lenses. Jude also had rough stubble on his jaw. His jacket was too big for him, making his shoulders look small.
He looked like just another tired man starting his day. But Jude knew the truth. He was a man on the run.
Behind him, Daniel sat on the bed and scrolled through his phone.
"You're still all over the news," Daniel said quietly.
Jude did not look back. "What are they saying?"
Daniel hesitated. "The police say you are armed and dangerous."
Jude let out a bitter sigh. "Of course they do."
Daniel looked up. "They're calling you the main suspect in the woman's murder."
The words hung in the air. It was hard to breathe.
Jude turned away from the mirror. "Then we don't have much time."
Daniel nodded. "No, we don't."
He held up his phone. "I did some checking this morning. Victor Kareem has a meeting at his office today, around noon."
Jude's eyes narrowed. "Good."
"You still think it's him?"
Jude picked up his jacket from the chair. "He has a reason. He has money. And he was at the club that night."
Daniel watched him. "We're still guessing."
Jude pulled the cap lower over his face. "No. We're going to find out for sure."
Later that morning, Jude and Daniel parked across the street from Victor Kareem's office. The area was busy with cars and people. They stayed in Daniel's car, under the shade of a big tree.
The office building was tall with shiny glass windows. Jude kept his head down and watched the entrance.
People came in and out all the time. Some were workers, others looked important, some carried coffee or folders.
Daniel tapped the steering wheel. "You think he'll come?"
"He owns the place," Jude said. "He will."
They waited. Every time a black car came to the gate, Jude sat up straighter.
Finally, a black SUV pulled in. Daniel paid attention.
"That might be him."
The gate opened, and the SUV drove inside. It stopped near the entrance. The back door opened, and Victor Kareem stepped out. Even from a distance, Jude recognized him right away. Victor was tall and well-dressed. He looked calm and confident.
Victor fixed his suit and walked into the building. He looked like a man with no problems at all.
Jude's jaw tightened. "That's him."
Daniel watched. "He looks… relaxed."
"He would," Jude said. "If he thinks I'm already caught."
Victor went inside. Daniel turned to Jude. "So, what's the plan?"
Jude thought for a moment. "We don't talk to him yet."
Daniel nodded. "Good. That would be dangerous right now."
"We watch him first," Jude said.
Daniel looked at the building again. "You think he'll make a mistake?"
"Everyone does," Jude said.
They watched for two hours. Victor came out once, talked to two men, then went back inside. Nothing seemed strange. He just looked like a man doing business.
Daniel rubbed his neck. "This is the most boring criminal I've ever seen."
Jude didn't answer. He kept watching the building. Something felt wrong. If Victor had set him up, wouldn't he be more careful? More nervous? But Victor acted like nothing was wrong.
Suddenly, Daniel's phone buzzed. He looked at the screen. "Wait."
Jude asked, "What is it?"
Daniel frowned. "It's someone from the club."
"You called them?"
"Yeah. I know one of the bartenders."
"What did he say?" Jude asked.
Daniel read the message. "He checked the security logs."
Jude leaned closer. "And?"
Daniel's frown deepened. "He says Victor left the club early that night."
"How early?"
Daniel scrolled through his phone. "About forty minutes after he arrived."
Jude felt confused. "That's impossible. I remember seeing him later."
Daniel shook his head. "The bartender says Victor had a heated phone call, then left out the back door."
Jude stared at him. "That doesn't make sense."
Daniel kept reading. "There's more. Security footage shows Victor getting into his car at 10:15 p.m."
Jude froze. "What time did everything happen with the girl?"
Daniel's voice was soft. "After midnight."
Jude felt dizzy. He leaned back in the seat. "No."
Daniel nodded. "If this is true, Victor was gone hours before."
They both watched the office building. At that moment, Victor came out again. He was laughing with two other men. He didn't look like a villain. He looked happy and relaxed.
Daniel spoke quietly. "Maybe he was angry at you. Maybe he wanted payback. But this… this doesn't look like a man who just set you up for murder."
Jude didn't answer. He felt lost. All the things he believed started to fall apart.
If Victor didn't frame him… then who did?
Daniel broke the silence. "What now?"
Jude watched Victor get into another car and drive away. His voice was low. "We were wrong."
Daniel sighed. "Then we have nothing."
Jude shook his head. "No."
Daniel looked at him. "What do you mean?"
Jude's eyes narrowed as he thought about the night at the club: the music, the people, the drinks, Daniel's warning, and everything starting to blur.
"We missed something," Jude said.
Daniel frowned. "Like what?"
Jude looked down the road where Victor's car had gone. "I don't know yet. But whoever set me up… was much closer than we thought."
Daniel shifted in his seat, uneasy. "Closer how?"
Jude didn't answer right away. He looked out at the busy street, at people living their lives like nothing was wrong.
He spoke softly, "Someone who knew exactly where I would be."
Daniel's face grew serious. "You mean someone from the club?"
Jude nodded. "Or someone who was there with us."
The car was quiet. Daniel started the engine. "Well, that's still a lot of people."
Jude looked straight ahead. His mind was racing. Somewhere in the club that night, someone had destroyed his life. And now, the only suspect he had was gone.
The search had just become even harder.
Behind them, a police patrol car turned onto the same street.
This time, the law was getting closer.