Mask Man tightened the bandage around his wound, his movements calm despite the pain.
Sam and Dr. Merry were tied to opposite sides of a chair.
Merry groaned—and then her eyes snapped open.
"Hey! Untie me!" she shouted angrily.
"What did you do to Steve?"
"I warned him. I knew something was wrong—but that idiot never listens."
Mask Man glanced at her, unimpressed.
"Do you always talk this much?" he said dryly.
"You doubted me, yet didn't stop your man from drinking coffee offered by a stranger."
He chuckled softly.
"Coffee…" Merry hissed.
"I knew something was off. But that fool—always a mess."
She paused, eyes narrowing.
"So… he's dead?"
Mask Man cut her off.
"Do you really think he gets to leave this that easily?"
He laughed—but behind it burned anger and suspicion.
Merry snapped"Why are you doing this to me?"
"You're here because of your own actions," Mask Man replied.
Merry said in rage,"I don't need life lessons from you."
"But I need the truth," he said calmly.
"What exactly did you do to Nora?"
Merry laughed.
"Don't tell me this is revenge?"
"It's not revenge," Mask Man replied.
"It's an investigation. I told you—I'm working on a closed case."
Merry scoffed.
"Fine. Let me be clear. I didn't kill Nora."
"I work for money. Rick paid me. I did my job."
"Your dirty job," Mask Man muttered.
Merry said,"Call it whatever you want."
she continued casually,
"All I did was sign off on the toxicology report—stating that intoxicating substances were found in Nora's system, proving she was driving under the influence."
Mask Man stared at her.
"You're a doctor. Did your morals allow that?"
"Morals?" she laughed loudly.
"Morals, my foot. Merry works for money. Nothing else."
For a moment, Mask Man looked furious.
Then—he laughed.
"Rick…" he said quietly.
"That bastard paid you to change the report."
"You had no involvement afterward. You did nothing big as others did ."
"So now—justice falls on you."
Merry smiled, relieved.
"Exactly. It's just business."
"Pay me, and I'll work for you."
"Spare me."
Mask Man tilted his head.
"Who decided that?"
He raised his gun.
"I'll do justice by not letting you beg."
"You'll get the easiest end—far kinder than the others."
Merry's face softened in relief.
"You won't shoot me. You don't hit women."
Mask Man smiled.
"Morals?"
"Morals, my foot."
Bang.
Merry collapsed—silent forever.
Behind her, someone was still tied.
Still breathing.
Still alive.
Why he was tied as he was Mask man's enemy?
Why Mask Man betrayed?
Questions still remained.