Chapter 33
“James?”
Ariel turned sharply, her eyes narrowing. “That’s him, right there. Follow him.”
Nathaniel hit the brakes with a confused expression. “Oh, okay.”
James climbed into a taxi. Just as it passed by their car, Ariel urged Nat to move.
They trailed behind James slowly until the taxi stopped in front of a museum.
“A museum? Isn’t that odd?” Ariel muttered, glancing at Nat.
She smacked her lips and quickly got out of the car without waiting for a reply. Nat sighed and followed as she shadowed James.
“Why are we following James?” Nat asked once he caught up.
“You’ll find out soon,” Ariel said, turning the same corner James had taken.
James walked through the lobby and paused when a man in a hoodie approached him.
Ariel and Nat stopped too, pressing against the wall to spy.
“I think I recognize that hoodie,” Nat whispered.
Ariel turned to him. “You do?”
He nodded slowly. “Yeah, from the club.”
“What club?” Ariel blinked.
Nat froze, realizing he’d said too much. “Oh, it’s nothing,” he said quickly.
Ariel shot him a suspicious look. “Are you hiding things from me now?” She smacked the back of his head. “You’re still a rookie—you’ve got a lot of training left.”
Nat blinked at her, but Ariel only snickered and rolled her eyes before turning back to the pair.
“Huh? Where did they go?”
James and the hooded man had vanished.
The two of them left their hiding spot and began searching the museum halls. Some doors were restricted, especially where the exquisite artifacts were kept.
“There,” Nat pointed. James was already heading out, crossing the security post.
“Shit! We need to go after him.” Ariel sprinted after James.
Nat wanted to ask more questions, but she was too focused to listen. With an exasperated sigh, he followed.
“Wait.” Nat caught her arm, pulling her back.
Ariel gave him a startled look.
“What’s really going on?” Nat pressed.
She glanced around—too many eyes on them. Exactly what she wanted to avoid. Gritting her teeth, she leaned closer.
“Listen. Every one of those dead girls, the last person they saw was James. He has to be involved.”
“Are you sure?”
Ariel looked at him, then glanced up just in time to see James stepping out of a room with a female museum worker trailing behind him.
“Follow me. I’ll prove it.”
Nat quickened his steps as they tailed James. James stopped a cab, opened the door for the woman, and climbed in beside her.
Ariel rushed to Nat’s car and slid into the driver’s seat. Nat frowned.
“You’re driving now?”
Ariel just winked, shifting gears before swerving onto the road after the cab.
“You just got out of the hospital, Ariel,” Nat reminded her.
Ariel slammed the brakes so suddenly that Nat lurched forward, the seatbelt snapping him back.
His eyes widened as he gaped at her.
“Quick, we need to go after him!” Ariel said, jumping out of the car.
Nathaniel groaned in frustration. His gaze caught the boutique sign on the building James had entered.
“A boutique? Really?” he muttered, dragging himself out of the car.The place looked glossy, rows of mannequins behind the glass, neon lights blinking.
Tired of chasing, he let Ariel run while he followed at a slower pace.
Inside the boutique, Ariel searched frantically, but James was nowhere in sight.
She pulled out her phone and dialed his number.
“Where are you?” she demanded when he answered.
“Ariel!” James’s voice was warm, enthusiastic. “I was just about to come to the hospital to see you. Mrs. Jones said you’d been discharged. Are you home?”
Ariel’s chest tightened. She scanned the boutique with sharp eyes. “No, I’m not. Catch you later.”
She hung up. James was lying—proving her suspicions right.
Her ex-boyfriend was a killer.
“Hey.” Nat tapped her shoulder.
Ariel spun, instinctively twisting his arm. Nat cried out in pain.
She quickly let go. “Tsk, you shouldn't sneak up on people like that.”
Nat straightened, rubbing his arm. Then he grabbed hers and started pulling her outside.
“Where are you taking me?” she demanded, struggling.
“You need rest. I’m not letting you endanger yourself again.”
Ariel scoffed. “What are you, my guardian?”
Nat stopped, facing her. “Think about it. James just brought his girlfriend here. This doesn’t look like a murder plot. More like you’re chasing him for something else.”
Ariel blinked in disbelief. “Are you saying I’m jealous? Jealous of that bastard who can’t keep his pants on?” She stepped closer, glaring like she might strike him.
Passersby slowed, murmuring as they watched.
“Who kills a girl in a boutique?” Nat shot back.
Suddenly, a piercing scream tore through the building, followed by the blare of an alarm.
The crowd erupted, people rushing out in panic. Perfume bottles smashed against the floor, glass cracking under the stampede of shoes. Someone shoved Nat hard in the shoulder as terrified shoppers shoved their way toward the exit.
Ariel and Nat exchanged a look, then sprinted toward the sound.
They followed security guards into the restroom.
The attendant who had screamed sat crumpled in the corner, trembling, her eyes wide, hands clutching her head.
Ariel stepped inside. The first thing she saw was blood—then the body by the sink.
The copper stench of blood hit her instantly, sharp and suffocating. The victim’s skull was bashed in, a metal rod driven into her head. Her eyes were gouged out, her limbs twisted unnaturally.
Ariel’s legs trembled, fear crawling through her body, but she forced herself forward. Her heartbeat pounding in her ears.
The guards moved to stop her, but Nat flashed his ID.
He joined her, grimacing at the horrific sight.
The possibility that Ariel was right chilled him to the bone.
Ariel crouched and picked up a ribbon lying beside the corpse.
She studied it closely.
Nat gasped, his eyes wide. “Is that…. the ribbon you were talking about?”
Ariel nodded slowly.
Nat’s fists clenched as his thoughts went back to the hooded man.
It was happening again.
The same nightmare from five years ago was repeating itself.