Chapter 69: A Killer’s Confidence

As the day drew to a close, Jason gathered the reports his team had compiled after an exhaustive day of searching for Sasha Paula. His usually sharp features looked worn under the weight of frustration and fatigue. The hum of the overhead light in his office was the only sound accompanying the rustle of papers. He knew the night would stretch far longer before he could even think of heading home.

Across the desk, Kate stood with her arms crossed, her brows knit in concentration. Jason glanced up at her and broke the silence.

"Kate," he said, rubbing his temple, "has Aussie sent over the translation of the quatrains from the Rubaiyat yet?"

Kate frowned, shaking her head. "No, nothing so far. His phone's switched off, and I can’t get through to him. It’s like he’s dropped off the grid."

Jason’s lips pressed into a thin line. The tension in the room thickened as he leaned back in his chair. "If your friend’s gone AWOL, we’ll need to find someone else to do the translation. We don’t have time to waste."

Kate stiffened. "I don’t think that’s a good idea," she replied, her tone defensive. "I trust Aussie. He knows how sensitive this is—he won’t leak it to the media or anyone else. But another translator? There’s no guarantee they’ll keep their mouth shut."

Jason’s gaze softened slightly, though the strain in his voice remained. "I get it. But we can’t sit around waiting, either. Track him down. Do whatever you need to. If we don’t get that translation soon, we lose another lead."

Kate nodded reluctantly. "Alright," she said.

There was a pause as she stared out the window, the faint glow of streetlights flickering in the distance. Then she spoke again, her voice quieter.

"Jason, I think we should start reaching out to Sasha's friends. They might know something—anything—that could help us."

Jason’s eyes stayed fixed on the papers in front of him, but his response came quickly. "I’ve already instructed Marlene to contact them all. She’s thorough. If there’s anything to uncover, we’ll hear about it soon."

Kate seemed to relax at that, though only slightly. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, her arms still crossed tightly. "That’s good," she murmured, though her mind clearly lingered elsewhere.

Her voice broke the silence again, more hesitant this time. "You know, Jason… my parents and Ryder only received one warning letter. But Sasha got two.

Why? Why would the killer single her out like that?"

Jason finally looked up, his expression darkening. "Because he’s a piece of shit," he said bluntly, his tone sharper than he intended. "He’s playing a game, Kate. And he thinks he’s untouchable. That’s why he’s getting bolder—why he’s pushing things further."

Kate’s brow furrowed, her lips pressing together as she absorbed his words. "Still," she murmured, almost to herself, "it’s strange. He must be confident to act this openly. Confident and… brilliant."

Jason’s head snapped up at that. His eyes narrowed, and his voice dropped to a low, warning tone. "Brilliant?" he repeated. "Kate, don’t give him that. Don’t romanticize what he’s doing."

"I’m not," Kate said quickly, meeting his gaze with unflinching determination. "I just mean… you have to admit he’s clever. He’s thought this through. Every move, every letter—it’s all calculated. I want to meet him."

Jason leaned forward, resting his forearms on the desk. The room seemed to grow colder with his next words. "Oh, don’t worry," he said quietly, almost grimly. "You’ll meet him soon enough."

Kate didn’t reply immediately, but the tension between them was palpable. The weight of Jason’s promise—or warning—hung in the air. Outside, the distant sound of a siren wailed faintly, adding a haunting undertone to the already heavy atmosphere.