Great! Here's **Chapter 4: The Mystery of Night Footsteps** in its full, expansive novel form: ---

 

## **Chapter 4: The Mystery of Night Footsteps**

Night shrouded the city in thick fog. Streetlights cast narrow shafts of light, and the silence was broken only by the distant rustling of leaves and the occasional sounds of nocturnal animals. Commissioner Jakub Nowak was sitting at his desk when the phone suddenly rang.

"Amber Station," the officer on duty said in a tense voice, "residents are reporting strange footsteps in the abandoned city park. No one comes out, and the sounds repeat every few minutes."

Jakub stood up, petting Argo's head:

"Looks like the night investigation will be extended today. Ready, boy?"

The dog lifted its head, growling softly and moving energetically toward the door, as if understanding the importance of the task.

---

### **Approaching the Park**

The park, usually a place for peaceful strolls, now seemed eerie. The fog was thickening, and the trees cast long, blurred shadows. Every rustle of the wind sounded like the footsteps of an invisible figure.

"Argo, be careful," Jakub muttered, switching on his flashlight. "We need to understand what's going on here before someone really panics."

The dog moved ahead, sniffing the air, and his nostrils picked up something unusual. He led Jakub along the paths, avoiding wet leaves and broken benches, as if guiding him unerringly to his destination.

--

### **Building the Tension**

The commissioner's every step was cautious. The shadows of the trees seemed to move, and every sound of footsteps on the wet sand made his heart race. Residents leaning out of the windows of nearby apartment buildings watched anxiously.

“Argo, what could that be?” whispered Jakub, watching the dog.

Argo stopped at the old fountain in the very center of the park and barked softly, clearly pointing to something nearby.

“You have something we can investigate,” the commissioner said, bending down and picking something up from the ground. It was a fragment of a feather.

--

### **Unexpected Discovery**

Jakub raised his flashlight higher and spotted an owl trapped in a metal grate. The bird, clearly trying to escape, was making shrill sounds that sounded like clattering footsteps at night.

“Argo… that’s not human,” Jakub muttered, crouching down. “It’s our ‘night intruder.’”

The dog approached, barking softly, as if urging the commissioner to action. Jakub carefully removed the grate, and the owl took to the air, soaring majestically into the night mist.

“Everything’s alright, little friend,” Jakub said, petting the dog’s head. "Sometimes a mystery doesn't require pursuit or confrontation, only understanding and reflection."

--

### **Reflection after a Night Adventure**

The night walk ended peacefully. Jacob and Argo slowly returned to the station, the streetlights reflecting their shadows on the wet cobblestones.

"You see, Argo," Jacob said, looking at the dog, "not every mystery is dramatic, not every one requires action. Sometimes, calm, patience, and observation are enough to solve the mystery."

The dog sat at his leg, barking softly, as if agreeing with every word. The commissioner knew that each night might bring a new mystery—but with Argo by his side, none would be too difficult to solve.

--

This chapter expands on the mini-adventure of nightwalking, introducing tension and an atmosphere of dread, and emphasizing Jacob's unique bond and partnership with Argo.

I can now write **Chapter 5: Letter in the Mailbox** in full, comprehensive novel form.

Want me to continue Chapter 5?