M sat in the command center, staring at the screen in front of him. The decoded message from Hana’s journal replayed in his mind. She had outsmarted them at every turn, but he wasn’t about to let her continue her reign unchecked. There was only one way forward now—he had to reach her directly.

Evans sat beside him, scrolling through the latest reports. "She's still one step ahead of us," he muttered, frustration clear in his voice.

M nodded slightly, but his mind was elsewhere. "Maybe," he said, his tone thoughtful, "but we have something she doesn’t expect."

Evans frowned. "What do you mean?"

M looked up, meeting his gaze. "We're going to call her."

Evans blinked, confused. "Call her? You think she'll just pick up and chat with us?"

M’s expression remained firm. "She’ll pick up because she knows it’s me. And she’ll listen because she needs to know what I’m offering."

Evans shook his head. "What are you offering her? She’s a murderer, M. She's not going to listen to reason."

M leaned back in his chair, considering his words carefully. "She’s not driven by chaos, Evans. She’s driven by a sense of justice, however twisted it might be. She believes in her cause, and that's why she'll hear me out."

Evans opened his mouth to argue but stopped. M was right—Hana’s actions had always followed a pattern. She wasn’t killing randomly. She was targeting those she believed deserved it.

"So what’s the play?" Evans asked finally.

M glanced at the phone on his desk. "We get her to believe that working with us is her best option. We make her think she can use the task force to finish her work."

Evans crossed his arms, still skeptical. "And what if she refuses?"

M’s eyes darkened slightly. "Then we’ll know where she stands. But I think she’ll take the bait. She’s smart enough to see the opportunity."

Without another word, M picked up the phone, dialed a number, and put it on speaker. Evans leaned forward, his skepticism replaced by cautious curiosity. The phone rang once, then twice, and finally, a soft click echoed through the room.

There was a pause before Hana’s voice came through, calm and cold. "M. I was wondering when you’d call."

M’s expression didn’t change. "I’m surprised you answered."

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"You’re predictable," Hana replied. "Always trying to control the situation."

"Maybe," M said, his tone neutral. "But you know why I’m calling."

There was a pause on the other end. Hana’s voice softened, curious. "Do I?"

"You’re running out of time, Hana," M continued, leaning forward slightly. "The walls are closing in. You’ve been clever so far, but eventually, they’ll catch up with you."

Hana chuckled softly. "You sound so sure of yourself, M. You think you can stop me?"

"I don’t need to stop you," M replied smoothly. "I need you to stop yourself."

Another pause. This time, longer. Hana was thinking. M could sense it. Finally, she spoke again. "What exactly are you proposing?"

M exchanged a glance with Evans before continuing. "Join us."

There was a sharp intake of breath on the other end. Hana’s voice became incredulous. "Join you? You want me to help the FBI? Are you out of your mind?"

"I’m offering you a chance to control the narrative," M said, his voice steady. "You’ve always wanted to change the world, haven’t you? To bring justice. We can help you do that."

Hana didn’t respond immediately. M could hear her breathing, measured and slow, as she processed his words. When she finally spoke, her voice was laced with suspicion. "And what do you get out of this, M?"

M smiled slightly. "I get to stop a killer. You stop using the Ledger for personal reasons, and we use it to take down real threats together. No more hiding. No more running."

"You really think it’s that simple?" Hana asked, her tone sharp. "I’m not going to let you control me, M."

"I’m not asking for control," M replied. "I’m offering you a partnership. You’ve proven that you can outthink anyone in the bureau. Imagine what you could do if you had access to the resources of the task force."

There was silence on the other end. Evans gave M a doubtful look, but M remained calm, his eyes focused on the phone.

Finally, Hana spoke again, her voice quieter this time. "What’s the catch?"

M’s smile widened. "No catch. We both want the same thing—justice. You help us, and we help you finish what you started. Cleanly. No more mistakes."

"You really think this will work, don’t you?" Hana said, her tone bemused. "That I’ll just… join the team?"

"I think you’ll see the value in it," M said confidently. "You don’t want to keep running forever. You’re too smart for that."

Hana was quiet for a long time, and M could almost hear the gears turning in her head. She wasn’t convinced yet, but she was considering it. That was enough for now.

"You’ll give me full access to your operations?" Hana asked suddenly.

M nodded, even though she couldn’t see him. "Yes. You’ll be a part of the team. You’ll have access to the information you need."

"And if I refuse?"

M’s voice grew colder, more direct. "Then I’ll have no choice but to treat you like any other criminal. And believe me, Hana, I will catch you. It’s only a matter of time."

There was a long, tense silence on the other end of the line. Finally, Hana let out a soft laugh. "You’re bold, M. I’ll give you that."

M remained silent, waiting for her decision. After a few moments, Hana’s voice returned, softer, almost contemplative.

"I’ll think about it."

"Good," M replied. "But don’t take too long. This offer won’t last forever."

"I never expected it to," Hana said, her voice still calm but with an edge of finality. "Goodbye, M."

The line went dead, and M slowly lowered the phone. Evans let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

"You think she’ll take it?" Evans asked, his voice low.

M stared at the phone for a long moment before answering. "I think she’s smart enough to know this is her best chance. But whether she’ll take it… that’s up to her."