Chapter 42

Michael had left hurriedly before Nathaniel got inside.

Ariel confused, Wonder where he had went, decided to check the room and heard Nat's voice behind her.

“Are you looking for something?“

She quickly, masked a cheerful expression and then turned to Nat, her face wild with a smile.

“I thought I heard something. It's probably nothing.“ She brushed it off with a light chuckle.

Nat looked around and sniffed the air. His brows furrowed. “Was Someone here?“

“Someone here?!“

“Do you have someone else who comes to your home?“ She asked.

Nathaniel laughed lightly. “I've just been wary ever since that attack. I don't want anything happening to you.“ Their eyes met where she stood and she was quick to look away.

“I prepared something, get over here before it gets cold.“ She gestured to the dinning table.

They ate silently, except for the sound of cutlery cutting through steak.

“I had it ordered.“ Ariel finally said breaking the silence.

Nathaniel only nodded. “We'll talk tomorrow,” he was already on his feet drinking the water from his cup then set it down gently.

Ariel just stared at him, still chewing the last piece of her steak in her mouth.

“Your mouth,” she touched her lips to show him where she meant. It has a slight caught.

“Did you guys went on a field work?“ .

Nathaniel nodded.

“So, on the case, I found something.“ Nathaniel muttered pulling out a ribbon from his pocket.

“I thought you were going to bed.“

Nathaniel smirked. “I want to dream of an angel but that won't be possible without the angel next to me.“

Ariel scoffed laughing and Nathaniel smiled.

“There's also something, James called that he needed to see me.“ She breathes out exasperatedly.

Nathaniel was silent.

“I don't know what he wants but he said it was urgent and wanted to come to where I was immediately. I had to come up with a lie and reschedule it to tomorrow, at this location.“ Ariel pushed a small note on the table towards Nat.

He picked it up staring at it, “Did he mention anything like why he wanted to meet?“

Ariel folded her hands beneath her chest, leaning back on the chair heavily as she shook her head.

“But there's something that baffles me, you said your girlfriend had died and before that she requested for help from the department.“ Ariel stood up, went to the sitting room and pushed out a board to the dinning.

“I see someone was really busy.“ Nat muttered and she nodded with a loud sigh.

“It was just confusing, finding the person's motive, when he'll go after the next girl and who that will be. We need to figure that out quickly before another person's death is recorded.“ Ariel explained.

“And what have you found?“

On the board were pictures and small notes and red thread that connects the notes to each other.

“We've established the fact that the murderer only goes after girls.“ She looks at him and continued. “Our prime suspect, is James in which we have evidence but not strong enough.“

Nathaniel knit his brows. “You found him passing a ribbon to someone at a club before, we've always seen him at crime scenes and he's always missing when we were chasing SK only to find murder afterwards.“

“That's just theoretical proof, it could be coincidence, could be just happening.“ She shrugged.

“So, you're saying, James isn't a suspect anymore?“ He squinted his eye lid, giving her a confused look.

She walked forward, “All I'm saying is that, there's likely to be Someone else playing tricks on us. While James still stays the prime suspect, we will find strong evidence of him and that's what will happen tomorrow.“

Nathaniel walked towards her, staring at the murder board she made.

“I won't see him alone, I'll be needing your help.“ Their eyes met and they were like that for some moment.

Nathaniel nodded, his jaw ticked. “The earlier we find the killer, the faster I get to avenge her death.“

Ariel watched him, her eyes on him. “Stay away from him.“ Michael's words kept replaying in her head.

Nathaniel just looked like a harmless person to her and seeing the way he protected her before from SK she's certain he won't hurt her. Probably this murder cases had something to do with Michael.

She didn't include it, but her other suspect is MICHAEL.

“Can I stay in your room tonight? I want to make sure you're safe.“

Ariel scoffed walking to her room, “I'm not a child, I'm a detective and your superior at that.“ She glanced back, over her shoulder. “I should be the one protecting,” she pushed open the door glanced back at Nathaniel and walked inside after muttering. 'Goodnight.'

Ariel sighed out in the room and began to pull off her top. She dropped her trouser and was standing in just a bra and panties. Ariel had her hair packed up in a bun to protect it from water and then she felt something warm behind her.

Ariel turned immediately startled and that's when she senses Nathaniel.

“What? How did you…?“ She stammered.

“You can enter the bathroom, I'll be here.“ Nat said.

“That's crazy, this is my room and the bed can barely contain two persons.“

“Just for tonight.“ Nat pleaded. “I'm sincerely worried, I can't bare it if something happens to you also.“

Ariel turned slightly to meet his eyes, it held warmth. Staring at her like he would lose her the moment he steps out.

Ariel nodded and entered the bathroom while Nathaniel waited outside.

She turned on the shower and picked the bar soap, it slipped off her hand as she was about to make the sponge foam.“

“Shit.“ She muttered squatting to pick it up.

Ariel stretched her hand and touched the floor, under the sink where it had fallen.

She finally felt it and then pulled it out, but when she got up and looked at what she held, Ariel quickly threw it off and screamed.

Her heart beat increased, on the far end of the room lay a finger.