Inspector Igor Ivanov

By Willard Walker

Inspector Igor Ivanov was a renowned investigator of unusual mysteries. When it came to strange enigmas arising in the city, the department turned to Inspector Ivanov, the go-to detective to solve the case.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Clydesdale Books
• Release date: Oct 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223428008

Book preview

Inspector Igor Ivanov

By Willard Walker

©2023 Willard Walker

Contents

THE ABANDONDED MANSION

THE MYSTERY OF VICTOR PETROV

THE ROMANOVICH MANSION

THE MUSEUM OF CURIOSITIES

THE DISAPPEARING MUSICIAN

THE VANISHING OF MADAME DUBOIS

THE MYSTERIOUS MANUSCRIPT

THE VANISHING ACT

RAVENSWOOD MANOR

THE MIRAGE CHAMBER

THE CODEX OBSCURA

THE DISAPPEARING HEIR

THE MIDNIGHT VISITOR

THE PECULIAR CASE OF THE VANISHING CLOCK

THE DISAPPEARING HEIRESS

THE ABANDONDED MANSION

Inspector Igor Ivanov stood on the rain-soaked pavement outside the dilapidated warehouse, his trench coat heavy with the weight of the downpour. The flickering neon sign overhead cast eerie shadows on the surrounding buildings, and the cold, relentless rain made the night feel even more ominous. Ivanov was used to such grim settings; it was all part of the job.

His sharp, ice-blue eyes surveyed the area as he waited for his partner, Detective Elena Petrova, to arrive. They had been called to the scene in response to an anonymous tip. The message had been simple: The truth lies within.

Ivanov’s reputation as one of the most brilliant and relentless investigators in the city was well-deserved. Over the years, he had solved countless cases, each more complex than the last. He was known for his keen intellect, attention to detail, and his uncanny ability to see patterns where others saw chaos.

As Petrova’s car pulled up, Ivanov could see her silhouette through the windshield. She stepped out, adjusting her coat, and joined him under the flickering sign.

Any idea what we’re dealing with here, Ivanov? she asked, her voice filled with a mixture of curiosity and trepidation.

He shook his head. Not yet. We’ll know more once we get inside.

Together, they pushed open the creaking door of the warehouse and stepped into the dimly lit interior. The place reeked of dampness and decay, and their footsteps echoed eerily as they moved deeper into the building.

The first thing Ivanov noticed were the rows of shelves lining the walls, each filled with dusty, decaying books. They were all old, some of them appeared ancient. The second thing he noticed was the bizarre arrangement of the books. They were organized not by author or subject, but by color, creating a mesmerizing gradient that stretched from one end of the warehouse to the other.

Ivanov approached one shelf and picked up a book at random. It was bound in cracked leather, its pages yellowed with age. He flipped it open and found it filled with indecipherable symbols and diagrams. The language was foreign to him, a cryptic code that seemed to defy comprehension.

This is no ordinary library, Ivanov murmured.

Petrova, who had been examining another shelf, turned to him with a puzzled expression. What do you mean, Ivanov?

These books, he said, gesturing to the shelves around them, they’re not just old. They’re esoteric, filled with knowledge most people couldn’t even begin understanding.

Petrova frowned. What kind of knowledge are we talking about?

Ivanov sighed. The kind that leads people to do strange and dangerous things. The kind that can drive a person to obsession.

As they continued to explore the warehouse, they discovered more and more bizarre items—a collection of antique masks, a shelf of vials containing strange substances, and a series of paintings that seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy. It was as if they had stumbled upon a secret world hidden in plain sight.

But it was what they found in the center of the warehouse that sent shivers down their spines. A circle had been drawn on the floor, its edges illuminated by a faint, pulsating light. Inside the circle lay the body of a man, his eyes wide open in terror, his face frozen in a silent scream.

Ivanov kneeled beside the body and examined it carefully. The man appeared to be in his forties, with graying hair and a disheveled appearance. He wore a tattered suit, and his pockets were filled with strange talismans and amulets. Ivanov reached out and closed the man’s eyes, a gesture of respect for the dead.

This is no ordinary murder, Petrova, he said, his voice low and grave.

Petrova nodded, her eyes filled with a mix of awe and dread. What do you think happened here, Ivanov?

Ivanov rose to his feet and stepped back from the circle. I believe our victim was involved in some kind of occult activity. These books, these objects—they all point to a deeper, darker world. And this circle... He trailed off, deep in thought.

As they continued to investigate, they found a journal amidst the clutter of the warehouse. It belonged to the victim, and its pages were filled with cryptic entries about rituals, incantations, and a quest for forbidden knowledge. Ivanov read the passages aloud to Petrova.

‘The circle is the key to unlocking the secrets of the universe,’ Ivanov read. ‘It is the gateway to power beyond imagination.’ It seems our victim was on a dangerous path, Petrova. He was seeking something that should have remained hidden."

Petrova frowned. But who would have wanted him dead? And why leave his body here, in this strange circle?

Ivanov shook his head. I don’t have all the answers yet, but I have a feeling this case goes deeper than we can imagine. We need to find out who else was involved in this occult world and why our victim ended up here.

Over the next few days, Ivanov and Petrova delved deeper into the world of the occult. They interviewed the victim’s acquaintances, who were as enigmatic as the objects in the warehouse. Some were reluctant to talk, while others seemed genuinely terrified.

One name kept coming up in their investigation—a man known as Anton Kuznetsov. He was rumored to be a powerful figure in the city’s underground occult circles, and some believed he possessed knowledge and abilities beyond the ordinary.

Ivanov and Petrova tracked down Kuznetsov to a hidden underground club, where he hung out frequently. The club was dimly lit, with a haze of smoke hanging in the air, and the thumping bass of electronic music reverberated through the walls. Kuznetsov was seated at a corner table, surrounded by a group of followers.

As Ivanov and Petrova approached, Kuznetsov fixed them with a cold, penetrating gaze. His eyes were as dark as the secrets he held, and he seemed to exude an aura of power.

What brings the police to my humble establishment? Kuznetsov asked with a sardonic smile.

Ivanov didn’t waste any time. We’re investigating the death of a man named Viktor Petrov. We believe he was involved somehow in your world.

Kuznetsov’s smile didn’t waver. Ah, Viktor. He was a seeker of knowledge, much like myself. But he was reckless, and he paid the price for it.

Ivanov leaned in, his voice low and intense. We know about the circle, Kuznetsov. We know about the rituals and the forbidden knowledge. And we know you were connected to Viktor.

Kuznetsov’s eyes narrowed. You know nothing, Inspector. The circle is but a glimpse into the genuine mysteries of the universe. It holds power beyond your comprehension.

Petrova stepped forward, her expression unwavering. We’re not interested in power, Kuznetsov. We’re interested in justice. Viktor Petrov is dead, and we intend to find out who’s responsible.

Kuznetsov’s followers shifted uncomfortably, but he remained composed. Very well, Inspector. I’ll cooperate, but only to a point. I can tell you this much: Viktor was on the brink of a breakthrough, a revelation that would have changed everything. But he was not alone in his pursuits.

Ivanov and Petrova exchanged a glance. Who else was involved? Ivanov asked.

Kuznetsov leaned closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "There is a secret society, a hidden order that seeks to uncover the ultimate truth. They go by many names, but their purpose is singular—to unlock the mysteries of the cosmos. Viktor was on their radar, and they do not take kindly to those who stray too close to the