Chapter 20: Guess Who

The coffee Chyler had ordered had gone long cold, untouched as she sat across Cece Howard at the downtown cafe.

"I really appreciate you meeting me," Chyler said.

Cece nodded. "I have an hour for lunch but whatever it takes to help with your investigation."

Chyler leaned in. "Did she ever talk to you or your parents about anyone she was seeing?

Romantically?"

Cece hesitated, chewing on her bottom lip. "She was... talking to someone I guess. She wouldn't tell me who. She said that she didn't want to jinx it until it was real."

"What made it seem serious?"

"She said that he had connections. That he could help her with her art. She kept saying that she was on the edge of something big like gallery deals, overseas exhibits, interviews with big shots..." Cece frowned and leaned forward. "I think something... bad happened. I walked in on her arguing with him on the phone and I overheard a name. I think it was 'Caden.' Or something close to that."

Chyler's fingers tightened on the edge of the table. Her heart pounded in her ears. "Did she say anything about it?"

"She just brushed it off when I asked her but I could tell she was rattled." Cece studied her for a second. "Do you already have a suspect?"

"I'm working on it," Chyler responded and offered a gentle smile. "I'll call you once I've covered all the bases, okay?" Cece nodded. "Take care, Cece."

★★★

Later that afternoon, Chyler sat parked across from the hotel where Caden Channing was staying. She had confirmed with the receptionist a few minutes ago that he was still in the building and now all she needed was bid her time and hope, just hope that she would get to prove that she was following the right trail.

Some minutes past five, Caden emerged in casual wear. He passed a few words to a valet then slid into the driver's seat of the sleek black Mercedes that had just been drove upfront. Chyler waited until he pulled into the street before starting her car and followed at a distance.

Several traffic stops and almost thirty minutes later, he pulled up in the parking lot of a trendy restaurant, pocketed his keys and headed up. Chyler followed, still keeping her distance and hiding behind cars. Caden didn't go inside. He headed towards the back, to the tables in the garden overlooking the descending sunset. There, he walked up to a woman waiting at the table.

The woman stood up, embraced him and then, they kissed.

"That pig!" Chyler muttered under her breath then took out her phone and took several snaps. The woman's back was to her, her long auburn hair obscuring her features so she didn't get a clear image of her. They chatted easily, touching often like it was practiced.

Then, they rose and started walking back together, holding hands. Chyler ran back to her car and waited until they appeared in the parking lot. As Caden opened the door, the woman turned and Chyler's breath caught.

Meghan Hardin. Caden's girlfriend in highschool before Capri.

Her pulse skidded. What the fuck were they doing? She started her car and followed them to another hotel, smaller and discreet. She parked across the street and watched as they walked to the entrance. She switched off the engine and crossed the street hurriedly, hoping to catch them before they disappeared. Inside, she captured several more snaps of them before they got into an elevator, Meghan leaning against Caden's shoulder. Then they were gone.

"What the fuck?" she sighed and stood back, her mind boggled with thoughts. Who the fuck was Caden Channing?

★★★

The following morning, the funeral home was silent except for the soft murmurs of guests arriving for the double memorial service. Jason and Serena's portraits stood at the front side by side, both a picture of life and health contrasting their lasts photographs taken

Chyler arrived in black slacks and a dark shirt, feeling naked without her badge. She wasn't sure where to seat until Brye waved to her near the middle aisle. Thank God she had asked him to go, otherwise she would have felt all lost and alone there.

"I expected you to show up earlier," he whispered.

She gave a thin smile. "And I expected you to make a dramatic entrance."

Just then, the door at the back opened again. Capri stepped in, hand in hand with Caden, looking picture perfect like they always did, a trail of elegance and sophistication never missing.

"Some things never change, I guess," Brye muttered.

Chyler's troat tightened but she didn't answer. All she could think about was her moments with Capri before she went back to Caden. That shady suspicious guy who was doing all sorts of things behind her back. Or did she know? Chyler let herself wonder for a moment. Then to her surprise, Capri broke off from Caden and walked straight to her. She ignored his look of disapproval and pulled Chyler into a warm unapologetic hug.

Chyler closed her eyes, holding her tight just for a second to take it all in.

"Hey," Capri said softly.

"Hey," she echoed, then turned to find Brye staring at them with wide delighted eyes. All she had to do was give him a look that warned him not to say a word and he obeyed.

Capri sat next to her while Caden took a seat in the row in front with several of his male friends, ones he was playing football with in highschool. He looked sour but Chyler didn't care. Her thoughts were spinning and having Capri so close to her was not helping her case. If she didn't know, how was she supposed to tell her? Or was it wise to just... keep it a secret?

The room fell into silence just as the event organizer took to the front. Chyler cleared her throat and leaned back, paying attention like everyone else.

Then. A loud crack from the ceiling filled the room. Seconds after, a small rectangular box roughly the size of a storage office box fell through the ceiling and crashed onto the front platform with a thud that cracked it open. A human head rolled out. Someone shrieked.

Screams rose immediately, pews scraping as people bolted from their seats. Chyler stumbled to her feet and froze, eyes going wide. Someone clutched her arm with a death grip but she couldn't tell if it was Capri or Brye.

"No! No, no—" her voice cracked as she stared right into the face she recognized even at a distance.

Meghan Hardin.

Blood soaked the inside of the box, the mouth twisted mid-scream. The neck was ragged where it had been severed and her hair roughed up, contrast to how perfect it was yesterday.

Then, someone shook Chy violently, snapping her from her shock. "Chy! look!"

Chyler followed the shaky pointing finger to the screen just up ahead. It was meant to play a slideshow of Jason and Serena's life before their death but now... It was something else.

One by one, their faces appeared, cycling in the order of their deaths. Maddie's came first. Then Jason's. Then Serena's. And then Meghan's. Static followed for five seconds. Then bold and threatening, a line filled the screen.

"GUESS WHO IS NEXT?"

Right on cue, Chyler's phone buzzed. She fumbled for it, her hands shaking. It was a message from an unknown number. Again. Her breathing gave away, chest clamming as she tapped on the message.

"Time is running out, officer Lee. Are you going to save the next one... or let them die like poor Meghan?"

Chyler's blood froze in her bones, making her world spin.