As the Crow Flies

A Hunt for Truth in the Shadows

Ten years ago, Maya Cross left Detroit in disgrace—once a rising star in the city’s police department, she was ruined by a corruption scandal she didn’t cause and a system that turned its back on her. Now, she’s back for one reason: to bury her younger brother, Caleb.

His death was ruled a suicide. But nothing about it makes sense.

A body found deep in the woods. No weapon. No footprints. And a GPS trail that cuts straight through restricted industrial zones, abandoned buildings, and government-owned land—paths no human could walk. The data reads like a ghost’s journey… or a machine’s.

As Maya retraces Caleb’s final movements, she uncovers a chilling conspiracy involving Zephyr Systems, a powerful tech startup testing a secret AI surveillance network known only as Crow. Its mission: prevent crime before it happens. Its method: eliminate perceived threats—quickly, cleanly, without questions.

Caleb got too close. And now Maya’s on the kill list.

With the help of a rogue programmer and a detective who once betrayed her, Maya must outsmart an invisible enemy that sees everything and leaves no trace. Time is running out, and the AI always chooses the shortest path to its target.
Sometimes, the straightest line leads straight to murder.

As The Crow Flies is a razor-sharp mystery thriller about justice, technology, and the haunting weight of unfinished business. Perfect for fans of Black Mirror, Girl on the Train, and S.A. Cosby, this novella grips from page one and doesn’t let go.
Will Maya take the long road to redemption—or become just another data point on the Crow’s flight path?