Chapter 34

Mrs. Jones arrived at the crime scene just in time, her team close behind.

Ariel instinctively tried to hide behind Nat, but it was too late, Mrs. Jones had already seen her.

She stepped out from behind him awkwardly, lowering her gaze as guilt prickled through her chest.

“I thought I told you to stay out of this, Detective Ariel,” Mrs. Jones said, her voice stern as she approached.

Ariel opened her mouth to speak, but Mrs. Jones cut her off.

“You were given orders, detective!” She paused, her eyes narrowing in confusion. “Besides, I was told you were discharged today. What are you doing here?” Her gaze shifted to Nat.

“I came to shop,” Ariel lied smoothly, forcing a small smile. “Dragged Nat with me. It was just a coincidence— we honestly had no idea this was going to happen.”

Her lie slipped so easily that Nat turned to her with a shocked look. Ariel rolled her eyes at him, silently telling him to play along.

“It better be that,” Mrs. Jones said curtly, brushing past them toward the body.

Ariel finally let out the breath she’d been holding. “That was close,” she muttered. “Is she handling the case now?”

Nat shrugged. “I think so.”

Ariel nodded. “Let’s go.”

She pulled out the ribbon from her pocket. Nat’s eyes widened, and he gasped, words catching in his throat. He could only watch as Ariel slipped it back into her coat and walked toward the exit.

Just as they stepped through the sliding glass doors, the opposite door burst open—James ran inside.

Ariel froze. Her brows furrowed as she pointed toward him. “I just… I thought I saw James,” she said, glancing at Nat for confirmation.

Nat exhaled heavily, grabbing her arm. “You need to go home.”

Nat dropped her off in front of her house.

“You sure you’re okay?” he asked, studying her face.

Ariel nodded with a tired smile. “I’ll be fine.”

She waved goodbye, watching his car disappear before turning back to her small porch. She climbed the steps and fished her keys from her bag, but when she tried to twist the lock, it didn’t open.

Her eyes caught a folded piece of paper taped to the door.

Thirty minutes later, Nat was in his kitchen wearing just a shirt and boxers, stirring a mug of coffee. He had just sat down, ready to rest, when a knock echoed through the apartment.

He opened the door— and there stood Ariel, two luggages at her feet and a sheepish grin on her face.

“Fuck.“ Nathaniel muttered silently.

Ariel dragged her bags inside with a sigh of relief once she’d gotten them through the doorway.

Nat sat on the couch, watching her in disbelief. “Why the bags?”

Ariel poured herself a cup of coffee from the dining table and joined him on the couch.

“My rent’s due,” she said bluntly. “I’ve got no place to stay.” She took a sip and immediately winced. “Ouch, it's hot.”

“So?” Nat asked flatly.

She rolled her eyes. “So, I’m staying with you for a while. Just until I find another place.”

“That’s not possible,” he said quickly, almost too quickly.

Ariel froze, lowering her cup. “Why not? It’s not like you live with anyone,” she said, smacking her lips in annoyance. “And besides, we can work the investigation together.”

Nat’s shoulders slumped. He didn’t answer.

“I saw your face when you looked at that ribbon,” Ariel said softly. “You know something too, don’t you?”

Nat stayed silent, then stood and grabbed her bags, carrying them toward the guest room without a word.

Ariel chuckled quietly, sipping her coffee again. She was certain— he was hiding something.

Her mind drifted back to the boutique, to James rushing in after the murder. Why would he go back there?

Ariel stood, wandering around the apartment. Her eyes caught the sight of a small library tucked against the wall. She reached out to pull a book—

“No! Don’t touch that!” Nat’s voice snapped from behind her.

Ariel frowned, her hand hovering mid-air. “Why are you suddenly acting jumpy?”

She reached again, and Nat rushed forward, his voice rising. “I said don’t touch it!”

Ariel’s suspicion deepened. “Are you hiding something?”

“This isn’t your house,” he shot back, his tone sharp. “You can’t just go around touching things.”

She folded her arms across her chest, exhaling hard. “Now I’m curious.”

“Then you might want to go find another place to stay,” Nat said coldly.

Ariel scoffed, dropping back onto the couch with a glare.

Nat glanced at the library, then at Ariel before walking toward her.

She leaned back on the couch, one leg crossed over the other, sipping her coffee with a smirk that dared him to speak.

“I told you not to touch anything,” he repeated, his voice lower this time.

“I didn’t,” she said with feigned innocence. “But now I really want to know what’s so special about that bookshelf. What’s behind it, Nat?”

He clenched his jaw. “You’re reading too many crime novels again.”

She chuckled. “Or maybe you’re just a bad liar.”

Nat exhaled, rubbing his face. “Ariel, you came here because your rent’s due, not to dig through my life.”

“You don’t have to hide things from me.” She placed the cup down gently, her eyes locking on him. “We’re both detectives. We both know when someone’s lying.”

He looked away. The room grew tense.

A faint creak echoed through the house. Both of them froze.

Ariel’s eyes darted toward the hallway. “Was that your door?”

Nat didn’t answer immediately. “Stay here.”