Chapter 257
Chapter 257
"But the person was wearing a hat and mask, dark clothing. We can't make out the face. They also took a route that avoided most of the cameras—only two caught their back."
"So no shot of the face?"
"Correct. I'm sorry."
Katniss hung up and crouched down to examine the slashed tires.
The cuts were clean and precise. One per tire. No hesitation marks. Professional work.
She straightened up, dusted off her hands, and Lillian's words echoed in her mind.
Someone was getting desperate. Which meant she was on the right track.
---
The next morning, the news reached Cedric.
He strode down the hallway and pushed open Katniss's office door. She was on the phone with the insurance company, calmly confirming the claims process.
When she saw him, she held up a finger, finished the call, and hung up.
"What brings you here?"
"What happened to your car?"
Cedric stood in front of her desk, both hands braced on the edge, leaning forward. Anger threaded through his voice.
"Something happened last night and you didn't tell me?"
"I did tell you." Katniss pointed at her phone. "I sent you a message."
Cedric paused, pulled out his phone, and sure enough—one WhatsApp message from her.
Sent last night. One line.
[Car got keyed. I'm fine. Filed with insurance.]
He stared at it, jaw clenching so hard he nearly threw the phone. "You call that telling me? Your car gets trashed and you send me a text?"
"What else was I supposed to do?"
Katniss leaned back in her chair, expression unbothered.
"Call you in the middle of the night to come look at my scratched car? Was that really necessary?"
"Yes, it was necessary!"
Cedric's voice rose.
"This wasn't some random vandalism. Someone was sending you a warning. Do you not understand that?"
Katniss was quiet for a few seconds. Then, slowly: "I understand."
"Then why didn't you call the police? Why didn't you tell me? Don't you realize this could be—"
"Connected to the Jason situation."
Katniss finished his sentence, her tone level.
"I know. I thought of that."
Cedric froze.
"Now isn't the time to tip anyone off."
Katniss considered for a moment before speaking.
"I filed a report. Security pulled the footage. No face on camera. So what am I supposed to do? Lock myself inside twenty-four hours a day?"
Cedric took a deep breath, moved around to her side of the desk, and leaned down to meet her at eye level.
His voice dropped, uncharacteristically gentle. "This time, listen to me. I'm assigning two bodyguards. They'll drive you to and from work. Don't go anywhere alone until this is over."
"No."
Katniss refused without a second's hesitation.
"Why not?"
"Because—"
She paused, lowering her voice.
"If this really is connected to that person, and you suddenly surround me with security, they'll know we're onto them. They'll get more careful, and we'll never catch them slipping."
Cedric's expression shifted. "You know who it is?"
Katniss looked at him. Her lips parted, then she shook her head.
"I'm not sure yet. Just a guess. When I'm certain, I'll tell you."
"Katniss!"
Cedric straightened abruptly, barely contained frustration in his voice.
"Do you have any idea what you're doing? You're using yourself as bait!"
"I know."
"And you're still going to do it?"
Katniss looked up at him, her gaze holding a resolve he'd never seen before. "Because I'm done being outmaneuvered. Every time something happens, all I can do is take the hit. This time, I want to be the one making the move."
Cedric opened his mouth. Nothing came out.
He looked at the woman before him and felt, suddenly, like he was seeing a stranger.
He'd always wanted Katniss to lean on him. But the harder he pushed, the further away she drifted.
He'd made her this way.
The realization settled like ice water in his chest, followed by a bitter ache.
He was silent for a long time. Finally, his shoulders dropped. His voice came out rough. "At least... let me make sure you're safe."
Katniss looked at him. After a moment, she gave a small nod.
---
That afternoon, she'd just left the office, heading to meet a supplier.
At a red light, she glanced casually at the rearview mirror and spotted a black car sitting two lanes back.
Her brow creased with irritation.
That car had been following her since the parking garage. When she turned, it turned. When she went straight, it went straight.
Katniss gripped the wheel, studied it for a few seconds, then suddenly flicked on her right blinker and cut across lanes at the intersection, ducking into a narrow side street.
The car clearly hadn't anticipated the move. It hesitated for two seconds and didn't follow.
But she'd already seen the face of the man in the driver's seat—the one wearing a Bluetooth earpiece.
She didn't recognize him. But the car was unmistakable. Cedric's backup vehicle.
She slammed the brakes, pulled out her phone, and dialed Cedric.
Two rings. He picked up.
"Hello?"
His voice carried a note of surprise—he clearly hadn't expected her to call.
"Cedric, did you have someone follow me?"
Two seconds of silence on the other end.
"It's protection."
"I said I don't need it."
Katniss's voice went cold. "Do you not understand English?"
"Your car looks like someone took a knife to it, and you think I can just let you drive around alone?"
Cedric's voice edged with anger too. "What if something happens?"
"If something happens, that's my problem."
Katniss spoke each word with deliberate precision.
"I don't need you having me watched. Call him off."
"Not happening."
"Cedric—"
"Katniss."
He cut her off. Something long-suppressed bled through his voice.
"Can you stop treating every ounce of my concern like surveillance? I'm worried about you. That's not the same as not trusting you."
Katniss held the phone, her knuckles white.
She exhaled slowly. A long pause before she spoke.
"Call him off."
She repeated it, her voice much quieter than before.
"Or I'm not coming home tonight."
She hung up, tossed the phone onto the passenger seat, and started the car again.
In the rearview mirror, the black car sat at the mouth of the alley. It didn't follow.
---
That night, Katniss returned to her apartment. She'd just gotten out of the shower when her phone lit up.
A message from Cedric. One line.
[Called him off.]
She didn't reply.
She lay on the couch, staring at the ceiling, and felt suddenly, overwhelmingly tired.
She and Cedric—they seemed trapped in the same cycle, over and over. A knot that only pulled tighter, choking them both.