Midnight Caller.

As she entered the cosy little cafe nestled among the bustle of the street outside, Katherine couldn't help but notice how invitingly intimate the space felt despite being filled with patrons huddled around small tables sipping their warm cups of brew. Jane Donnelly sat across from Chief Katherine Frost at the back corner table, anxiously picking at her latte foam while stealing glances at the imposing figure before her. The detective's sharp gaze seemed to pierce through her nervousness like a laser beam. It was hard not to feel exposed under such scrutiny, even though Katherine's demeanour remained strictly professional – no judgment passed upon those within her purview. Okay Jane can you start from the beginning what happened the other night asked Katherine. As she started talking, Jane’s hands began trembling ever so slightly, betraying her nerves. "So there I was, just finishing up my dinner when I heard footsteps outside," she recounted haltingly. "My heart almost stopped in my chest. "Katherine listened attentively, nodding occasionally to show empathy and understanding, although inside she wondered if Jane had forgotten something more pertinent than the mundane details surrounding the incident. Jane went on to say that she looked through the peephole in her door but saw nothing so went back to her dinner. She then showered and headed to bed thinking nothing more of the sounds. But later in the middle of the night, she awoke suddenly, adrenalin pumping through her veins, sensing some form of threat.

I saw the figure standing next but before I could scream a pair of pantyhose was **** into my mouth. The figure then flipped me over and used more pantyhose to tie my wrists and ankles. It was then the figure spoke in a female voice telling me to relax and I would not be harmed. It was then I knew that the figure was a woman which gave me a little relief.She proceeded to blindfold me tightly and whispered in my ear - 'you're going to get so turned on tonight.' My blood ran cold. She said it sounded innocuous enough, but knowing what she meant terrified me beyond belief. How did this person know about my secret desires? And why was she here to exploit them now?" Katherine leaned forward intently, showing genuine concern. "Did she do anything else afterwards?"She didn't continue any physical act, instead leaving me tied on the floor all night. When morning finally came, I managed to free myself and called the authorities. That's when they told me about your involvement, Miss Frost," she concluded, turning towards the detective once again. Her vulnerability shone through her wide-eyed stare, making it difficult for Katherine to maintain her focus. "It seems our perp knows exactly whom to target," mused Katherine aloud, contemplating possible motives behind these attacks. Could it be some sort of twisted game played out on people's deepest secrets? Or perhaps, an elaborate scheme aimed at extortion? Jane, can you tell me about the woman's accent? What kind of voice did she have continued Katherine keenly observing Jane's reactions.

Her voice had this strangely calming effect...almost seductive quality to it. Like she was trying to entice me further rather than threaten me. If only she knew how wrong she was! I shivered involuntarily at the memory. I also remember her speaking quietly but clearly, as if she wanted me to hear every word." Jane went on to say that the accent could have been either Japanese or Chinese. So Katherine was looking for a six-foot woman of oriental heritage who was probably born in America. Katherine thanked Jane and headed back to the police station. At her desk, she looked at the map of where the previous attacks had occurred.There was one commonality among the women that had been targeted, they were all living alone. Was it due to isolation? Or maybe because she had easier access to these women? What motivated someone to terrorize others with erotic games and threats? Maybe it was something sexual, a hidden desire taken too far. Katherine closed her eyes momentarily, feeling herself flush at the implications. After pulling herself together, she grabbed another cup of strong black coffee, hoping its caffeinated jolt might give her clarity. She went over the victims again all were professional women. A CEO of a fashion house two executives at prestigious law firms and now Jane a clerk of the court.This pattern indicated there must be a connection between these women. There was something about these targets, Katherine thought to herself. Something about them that made them stand out amongst their colleagues.

But what? As she delved deeper into each victim's background, she found that all of them had achieved great success professionally. Despite the challenges faced in male-dominated fields, these women held high positions within companies run predominantly by men. She went back to the first victim Sandra Graves the CEO. She had been attacked in her home at midnight subdued and tied with her pantyhose. She was then left until she had been found by her maid. Katherine then looked at disgruntled employees at the fashion house to see if any fit the scant description she had. However, most staff members appeared satisfied working beneath the powerful, assertive leadership provided by Sandra. Then Katherine had an idea and checked the employees who had been fired by Sandra.Two names stood out to her, Xing Xia, who claimed discrimination against gender and Aiko Tanaka who sued the company for unfair dismissal. Both showed **** resentment towards Ms. Graves. With renewed determination, Katherine decided to follow up on these leads. As soon as the sun rose above the horizon, she pulled her coat tightly around her frame, adjusting her fedora low on her brow, ready to face the day ahead. The next day she visited Xing Xia's home and found out that she had moved out when she had been fired. Her mail had been forwarded to an address in Japan. A quick call to immigration showed that Xing Xia had flown to Japan over two months ago. Disappointed Katherine knew she was not involved in these attacks.

Katherine tried to find out about Aiko and went to see Sandra. At Sandra's office, the ambience reflected her persona—a blend of power and elegance. Leather furniture decorated the room, giving off an air of luxury and prestige. Even without meeting Sandra, one could sense her influence simply from the environment. However, the usually calm Sandra displayed evident signs of strain, reflecting her struggle to handle both her business affairs and the unwelcome advancements of the Midnight Caller. **** to ensure the safety of her employees, Sandra agreed to provide information about Aiko Tanaka. Sandra told Katherine that Aiko had been fired because of her sexual advances to other female employees. According to Sandra, Aiko claimed that the victims were jealous of her beauty and intelligence and thus fabricated false allegations. The case went to a tribunal with Claire Renfield representing the fashion house. On hearing this name Katherine saw a common link. Claire had been the second victim.Having met Claire previously, Katherine already knew of her impeccable legal acumen. Nevertheless, she had prepared questions specifically tailored to shed light on potential connections between the cases involving Claire, Aiko, and Sandra. Now Katherine had a link she headed back to the office to try and locate Aiko. According to her records, Aiko had changed addresses several times since her termination, making tracking her movements incredibly tricky. Nevertheless, Katherine persisted, driven by the urgency of discovering the identity of the Midnight Caller.

Katherine had managed to get the court file and there it was another connection. The third victim Sarah Ashworth had represented Aiko in the case that she lost.Intrigued by this coincidence, Enola took note of this connection and decided to visit Sarah. Arriving at Sarah's residence, Katherine noticed a striking contrast between her surroundings and those of Sandra. While Sandra exuded opulence, Sarah's abode was simple and cosy, reflecting her down-to-earth nature. As they settled into a comfortable conversation, Katherine probed gently about the case that brought them together. Sarah explained her perspective on the matter, emphasizing the importance of protecting her clients regardless of personal opinions. Meanwhile, Katherine listened attentively, nodding occasionally to show understanding and encouragement. After their chat, Katherine knew she was on the right path and Aiko was now her prime suspect. The clincher came when she went back to the court file and there at the bottom, It named Judge Julie Bannon as the arbitor and the court clerk was Jane Donnelly. This last detail sent chills down Katherine's spine. Every single attack was connected to the same court case. Each target was somehow linked to the proceedings of that trial. With growing suspicion, Katherine narrowed her focus solely on Aiko Tanaka, certain that she must hold the key to cracking open this disturbing puzzle. She would carry on her investigation tomorrow.