Chapter 36

“What are you doing?”

Ariel rose up, raising the picture for him to see.

“Who are you, Nat?” Her gaze hardened.

“What are you doing here?” He stepped forward, his brows furrowed and she moved backward instinctively.

“Stay the fuck where you are.” She glared at him, her breath loud.

“First, you lied you couldn’t use guns, and now I find a picture of me in your house with the words you’re next written behind it—and not only that, also you have an evidence from the time you weren’t even transferred.” She paused, staring at his unreadable face. “It’s either you’ve been lying and you’re the killer, or you’re just tied to all this somehow.”

“Ariel…” he stepped closer, his voice low.

“I said stay right there. Don’t make me call the cops on you,” she threatened, pulling out her phone, ready to dial the number.

Nathaniel wanted to move but hesitated, tightening his fist. “It’s not what you think.”

“Then explain,” she snapped.

He sighed softly. “The picture—I received it this morning.”

“Why would someone send you a picture of me with a very disturbing sentence behind it?” She let out a dry laugh. “Make it make sense, Nat.”

“Believe me, Ariel, I’m also confused. I think whoever is behind these killings sent that.”

“Don’t try to play me for a fool, Nathaniel. What the hell do you have to do with any of this?” she yelled.

Nathaniel stepped closer quickly this time, despite her telling him to stay away.

“I swear I’ll dial the number. Don’t think I won’t,” she threatened, yet he continued to step forward until her back hit the wall.

Ariel’s chest rose and fell as she stared into his deep blue eyes. Her gaze dropped to his lips, and she swallowed hard, looking away.

“I’ll tell you everything, but I need you to trust me,” he said softly, in a low tone.

Ariel scoffed. She pushed him on his chest, and then he caught her hand, pulling her closer. His lips slammed onto hers in a soft kiss, but she was quick to pull away and slapped him hard across the face.

“I am really calling the cops now.” She pressed the numbers to dial, and Nathaniel snatched the phone from her.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Her voice trembled as she began to get scared.

“I won’t harm you, Ariel. I promise.”

Nathaniel turned off the phone, then walked over, took a chair, and sat in it.

He rested his head between his palms and raised it back up. “The silver necklace,” he began. “It belonged to my girlfriend. She…” He paused, breathing in. “I heard she was murdered, and that was why I decided on a transfer to this place.”

Ariel scoffed. “You don’t expect me to believe that, right?”

Nathaniel looked at her, raw pain in his eyes. She turned away, not wanting him to charm her—if he thought he could.

“We had just broken up that day, it was my fault and I wanted to apologize. Then, I traced her to this bar, called her phone, and we were talking for a bit. The next thing I heard was her screaming and running, and then the line went dead,” Nathaniel explained.

Ariel looked at him keenly, suddenly remembering she’d received a hint before the death of the lady.

Nathaniel brought out his phone and played a recording.

Ariel listened to it, it was heartbreaking. The way she screamed for help, the loud footsteps behind her as she ran.

“I believe James has something to do with this,” he said.

Ariel returned her gaze to him. “Do you have proof?”

“You.” He stood up.

Me? Ariel thought.

“Yes, you,” he walked closer to her. “That night, I remember her saying she met someone. I think she meant James. And just as you said, James always meets these girls before he kills them.” He broke it down, and somehow it made sense.

Back then, I had suspected James too, and everything is replaying like it did then again. James is always seen with the girls before they die, it was really suspicious.

“So, do you think it’s James that sent that?” I pointed to the picture.

He shook his head. “I can’t really say, but I need to protect you.”

She scoffed playfully and smiled softly. “Then why did you…” she trailed off, touching her lips.

Nathaniel smirked, in a cool way that made Ariel’s heart almost flutter. She never saw him as a man, just a junior colleague, but presently, he looked cool—like those hot guys who ride sleek bikes.

“I just did that. Thought it would make you calm.” The words came out of his mouth easily. “I’m sorry if I startled you.”

She nodded. “It’s no problem.”

Nathaniel smiled again.

“So, where do we start from?”

Nathaniel picked up the other pictures. “I’ve been working on the case, trying to find the murderer, but no matter how many times I tried, I just can’t link SK with some of these cases.”

Ariel stood next to him; he leaned close, showing her the pictures.

“The ones where the ribbons were found, I think they were done by a different person.”

He looked at Ariel; she turned to him also. Their faces were really close. They stayed in that position for a second before Ariel turned away quickly.

“Let’s just call it a night and continue tomorrow,” she said, already walking towards the door. She held the doorknob and then turned back to meet Nathaniel’s gaze on her.

“Goodnight,” she muttered, walking out.

When she got out, she finally let out the breath she’d been holding.

Her phone had been ringing, thankfully, she had left it on

silent.

“Why the hell are you calling now?” she muttered, staring at the name on her screen.

James.