Psychological Network
The rain had stopped, leaving the streets of Paris sparkling under the dim city lights. The smell of black coffee still faintly wafts through Vanya's apartment, but now the woman's mind is filled with other images. A black-and-white photograph from the past that she has just discovered—a photo of her father, Viktor Mikhailov, with a young Damian Volkov.
Vanya walks back and forth in the living room, her fingers occasionally touching the desk full of files. She tried to put together the pieces of information that felt like an endless puzzle. Her father, a prominent criminal psychologist whom he had known as a man of the law, was now connected to the most feared name in the criminal world. Volkov.
She opened her laptop again, searching for her father's name in the old database. There was nothing suspicious. There were no service records indicating involvement with Russian criminal organizations, let alone the Volkov Group. All the records were about his research in forensic psychology, international seminars, and a few high-profile cases he had solved with Interpol. So, where did the photo come from? And why was it kept in his father's secret archive?
Vanya returned to the photo files of the victims. Isabelle, Adele, Katarina. He picked up a pen and a blank sheet of paper and began to schematize. In the center, he wrote "Hidden Psychological Needs". From there, she drew a line to each victim's name, writing down the points she got from their interviews and psychological profiles.
Isabelle du Claire: Dominant father, pressure to be perfect, feeling never enough. Quote: "I finally met a man who could see inside my mind."
Adele Dubois: A possessive mother, toxic romantic relationships in the past, feeling trapped and powerless. Quote: "He was the only one who heard me."
Katarina Petrova: Childhood trauma from conflicted parental divorce, feeling lonely, and craving validation. Quote: "I felt safe with him, as if all my fears had disappeared."
The pattern became clear. It's not just a coincidence. This is a highly personalized hunt, targeted at women with deep inner wounds, hungry for understanding and acceptance. Volkov didn't kidnap them for ransom or outright political power. He kidnaps them for something far more complicated, far more terrifying: total psychological control.
“Mental addiction,” Vanya muttered, repeating her words to Moreau yesterday. “Trauma bonding.” She imagined Volkov, using his deep knowledge of psychology, approaching the victims, infiltrating their minds, becoming the savior figure they craved. Then, as the bond formed, he would pull them into his web, without a trace, without any resistance.
“But why?” Vanya asked herself, frustrated. “What is its purpose?”
She recalled information about Damian Volkov: the son of a military psychiatrist, with a history of dissociative episodes due to childhood abuse. This information, once dismissed as background, now felt like a key. Volkov is not only intelligent, but he is also a victim who understands how trauma works. And he used his knowledge to manipulate others.
Vanya closed her analysis schema, her eyes fixed on the black-and-white photo of her father and Damian Volkov. A frightening thought crossed her mind. Had her father been Volkov's mentor? Or, worse, part of the “torture” mentioned? No, that was impossible. Her father was a good man. But that photo... that photo was clear evidence that they were related.
Suddenly, Vanya's cell phone vibrated on the table. An unknown number. She hesitated for a moment, then picked it up.
“Vanya Mikhailov?” a man's hoarse voice came from the other end. The voice was distorted, as if through a voice-changing device.
"Yes. Who is this?" Vanya felt her adrenaline rise.
"You're investigating the kidnapping of elite girls. Isabelle du Claire, Adele Dubois, Katarina Petrova."
Vanya stiffened. Only a handful of people knew that much detail, and no informant had ever contacted her like this. "How do you know?"
"I know more than you think, Agent Mikhailov." There was a brief pause. "You're close to the truth. A very dangerous truth."
"What truth?" urged Vanya. Her heart was beating fast.
"This isn't just a kidnapping. It's part of a bigger game, and you... You'll be the next pawn if you keep moving forward."
"I don't understand," Vanya tried to keep her voice calm, though her hands trembled slightly. "Who are you? What do you have to do with this case?"
"I am someone who is trying to save you from the same fate as them." The voice sounded more urgent. "Volkov will not stop. He targets those with connections to his past. And you, Vanya Mikhailov, have the strongest connection of all."
"What do you mean?" Vanya narrowed her eyes. A connection to Volkov's past? What did this man know? Was this about her father?
"I can't tell you much. Trust me, this is for your safety. Step back. Stop this investigation right now. Or you will be the next victim."
"I will not back down," Vanya replied firmly. "There are lives at stake. And I won't let a psychopath like Volkov continue to act."
There was a sigh on the other end of the line. "You're stubborn. Like your father."
Vanya gasped. "You knew my father?"
"More than you can imagine." The voice now sounded regretful. "He tried to stop Volkov once, but failed. Now, it's your turn. Don't repeat his mistakes."
Before Vanya could ask any further questions, the line was cut.
Vanya stared at her dead phone, her mind racing. Who was that mysterious man? What did he know about her father and Volkov? "Don't repeat his mistake." Those words echoed in her head. Had her father ever tried to stop Volkov? When? Why had she never known?
A cold fear crept up her spine. This information changed everything. It wasn’t just about saving the victims; it was also about uncovering her father’s past—and perhaps her future. The warning to back down felt like both a threat and a confirmation. She had gone too deep, and Volkov knew it.
Outside his apartment window, the lights of Paris flickered, as if blinking a warning. Vanya knew he couldn’t back down. Now, this was his mission. She had to uncover the truth behind the Shadow of the Luxury Dress, not just for the victims, but for herself, and for her father.
She reached for her laptop again, her eyes glowing with new determination. She wouldn’t stop until she found Volkov and uncovered all the hidden truths.




























