Run: 2026-02-19-01KHSZ0HWHN15Y8RDFFWAK5Z15

Harlow Quinn's boots crunched against the gravel as she stepped out of her car, the tails of her black overcoat fluttering in the chilly night breeze. Her sharp eyes scanned the abandoned Tube station platform, now cordoned off with police tape. This was no ordinary crime scene. She ducked under the tape, her jaw set with determination. The flickering fluorescent lights cast eerie shadows across the platform, the echoes of her footsteps the only sound disturbing the unsettling silence. "What have we got?" Harlow demanded, her gaze sweeping over the gathered officers. "Female victim, early twenties. Throat cut." Detective Sergeant Briggs approached, his brow furrowed. "We found her about an hour ago." Harlow nodded, her eyes narrowing as she took in the details. "And the location?" "Abandoned Camden Tube station. Looks like some kind of...underground market." Briggs gestured toward the shadowy archways that led deeper into the tunnels. Harlow's expression darkened. "The Veil Market." She knew of the notorious supernatural black market, having tracked its elusive trail for years. But to find a body here... "You know about this place?" Briggs asked, his tone laced with a mix of curiosity and unease. "Unfortunately." Harlow strode toward the body, her keen gaze sweeping over the victim. "Have you ID'd her?" "Eva Kowalski, 26 years old." Briggs consulted his notebook. "Works as a research assistant at the British Museum." Harlow's brow furrowed. "The Veil Market..." She knelt beside the body, her fingers gently tracing the deep gash across Eva's throat. "This doesn't fit the usual M.O. of the Veil Market. No signs of a struggle, no other wounds..." Her eyes narrowed as she studied the victim's face. "What was she doing here?" "Maybe she stumbled onto something she shouldn't have," Briggs offered, his tone grave. Harlow stood, her gaze sweeping the platform once more. "Where's her companion?" Briggs blinked. "Companion?" "Eva Kowalski was known to frequent the Veil Market. She wouldn't have come alone." Harlow's eyes narrowed. "Find her friend. Now." As the officers dispersed, Harlow knelt beside the body once more, her fingers tracing the delicate gold chain around Eva's neck. A small, ornate locket dangled from it, the surface marred by a splotch of crimson. Harlow's breath caught in her throat as she gently pried it open, revealing a faded photograph of two young women — one with red curls, the other with a brilliant smile. "Aurora," Harlow whispered, her heart sinking. Eva's companion was Aurora Sinclair, the ringleader of the supernatural clique she'd been investigating for months. And if Eva was involved... "Detective Quinn?" A tentative voice drew Harlow's attention, and she turned to see a young woman with red curls and round glasses approaching cautiously. "You must be Eva's friend," Harlow said, rising to her feet. The woman's green eyes were wide with fear and grief. "I-I'm Aurora Sinclair. What happened to Eva?" Harlow studied her for a moment, seeing the genuine distress etched across her features. "I'm afraid Eva Kowalski has been murdered." Aurora's face crumpled, a strangled cry escaping her lips as she sank to her knees. "No, no, this can't be..." Her trembling hands covered her face, her shoulders shaking with sobs. Harlow's expression softened, a flicker of sympathy crossing her hardened features. She crouched beside Aurora, her voice low and measured. "I need you to tell me everything you know about Eva's involvement with the Veil Market." Aurora lifted her head, her eyes red-rimmed and desperate. "The Veil Market? I don't... I don't understand." "Don't play coy with me, Ms. Sinclair." Harlow's tone was sharp. "Eva was your friend, and she was found dead in the heart of the Veil Market. I need to know what she was doing there." Aurora shook her head, her curls bouncing wildly. "I-I don't know anything about the Veil Market. Eva and I... we've been friends since we were children. She's an occult researcher at the British Museum, but she's never mentioned anything about... about this place." Harlow studied the young woman's face, searching for any signs of deception. But Aurora's grief and confusion appeared genuine. "If that's true, then why was she here?" Aurora's brow furrowed, her gaze darting around the platform as if the answer lay hidden in the shadows. "I... I don't know. We were supposed to meet for dinner tonight, but she never showed up. I came to look for her, and..." Her voice trailed off, a fresh wave of anguish washing over her features. Harlow's jaw tightened, her mind racing with unanswered questions. If Eva wasn't involved with the Veil Market, then what had brought her to this dark, dangerous place? And who had wanted her dead? "Detective Quinn!" Briggs' voice echoed across the platform, drawing Harlow's attention. She rose to her feet, her gaze locking with Aurora's. "Stay here. I need to speak with my colleague." As Harlow strode toward Briggs, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this case than met the eye. The evidence didn't add up, and the presence of the Veil Market only deepened the mystery. She had to uncover the truth, no matter the cost. Briggs greeted her with a solemn expression. "We found her bag, just over there." He gestured toward a shadowy alcove, where a worn leather satchel lay discarded on the ground. Harlow nodded, her eyes narrowing. "Anything else?" "Yeah, and... you're not going to like it." Briggs hesitated, his brow furrowing. "We found a Veil Compass." Harlow's heart sank. The Veil Compass, a tool used to navigate the supernatural realm, was a prized possession of the Veil Market. If Eva had one, it meant she was more deeply involved with the underground world than she had initially let on. "Damn it." Harlow's jaw tightened, her mind racing. "This just got a lot more complicated." Briggs nodded, his expression grave. "What do you want to do?" Harlow's gaze drifted back to where Aurora sat, her shoulders shaking with grief. "We need to find out what Eva Kowalski was doing here. And we need to keep a close eye on her friend."