27

I'mback at the station a few hours after we get the report of the fourth body.It'sstill lightout, but the sky is overcast and heavy with unshed rain.

It'sall just waiting to explode.

I swing open theprecinct'sdoors, hurrying inside. Ryan is standing near the entrance, an unlit cigarette hanging from his mouth.

"Where is he?" I ask. "The suspect?"

Ryan points down thestation'shall."In the interrogation room. Hawkins is waiting for you."He wrinkles his nose, looking me up and down."You know,you'dbe a hot piece of ass if you put in a little more effort. Grew your hair out. Smiled once in a while."

I narrow my eyes at him. Idon'thave time for his sexist bullshit today."You'reall the eye candy the station needs, Ryan."

He mutters bitch under his breath as I hurry away, and I flip him off over my shoulder.

Okay, so maybe I do look a little frazzled right now. I just came from the crime scene: another suspected victim of Hyde.

But I'm not so sure this time.

While at the scene, I got a call from Hawkins sayingthey'darrested a suspect a mile down the road. He was caught on security camera, and it took the team no time to match his vehicle and put out an APB.

I should be happy.They'vecaught my murderous stalker, andI'llbe free of his threats against my team.

But something about this doesn't feel right.

I head toward thestation'sinterrogation room. Outside, Naomiis standing next toHawkins, clutching her neat forensics folder. Her blond hair is perfectly pulled into a ponytail. I can practically see my reflection in her shiny black heels.

My stomach lurches when I realize who else is with them.

Jackson.

Even under the unforgiving florescent lights of the station, he still looks annoyingly put together and handsome.There'sa faint shadow of stubble over his sharp jawline. His dark hair falls perfectly tousled.He'swearing a charcoal gray wool jacket over a wine-red crisp button shirt that accentuates the angular lines of his body. Silver cufflinks on his wrist catch the light.

He glances over me and smiles. Heat grows in my core, and I shift on my feet. I hopeit'snotobvious.

God, he is so pretty. But so off-limits.

And obviously, he would never think of me as anything but a patient. What about meissobroken that these are the only two menin theworldI can think about?

I feel my cheeks reddening as I join the circle, nodding a greeting.

"Captain. Naomi."I pause, awkwardly turning to Jackson with a nod."Uh, Dr Keller."

Is calling him‘Jackson'reserved for whenwe'realone together?It'sstupid, but it feels like savinga bit of intimacy for justus.I'ma detective dealing with a murderous, obsessive stalker, but Jackson somehow still makes me feel like a kid with her first crush.

"We arrested a suspect at the scene an hour ago,"Hawkins says."Cain and I will begin interviewing him. His ID sayshe'sRicky Jones. Local resident. Works part-time in a liquor store downtown.He'srefusing a lawyer."

"Not the smartest cookie, huh,"I say. Perps who refuse a lawyer to fuel theirownegos are the easiest to nail.

"Maybe not,"Hawkins replies."But I feel confident that thisis a manwho'sbeen responsible for this whole spree."

I chew on my lower lip. I don't want to disagree with him, but I force myself to speak up. "Something feels off, Captain. The crime scene, it was all wrong. It doesn't match Hyde's other killings."

Ididn'thave long at the scene today. But still, it felt different. Someof thedetails were there, but they were printed in the press a few days ago. We stilldon'tknow who leaked them.

Naomi stares at me, her disdain obvious. "He's our guy, Captain. I'm pretty much certain."

I shoot an annoyed glance over at Naomi.We'reall professionals hereandactual human lives hang in the balance. Shewouldn'tdisagreewith me just because she dislikes me, right?

I clear my throat."What makes you certain, Naomi?"

"We'll get the forensic evidence analyzed at the lab but come on. We have him on the security footage. It's him." She turns to Jackson. "What do you think, Jackson?"

I can feel Jackson's gaze on me. "I'll save my thoughts for after Detective Cain's interview with the suspect."

Naomi's lips press into a line. "Okay, then. We'll see."

Jackson smiles at her, warm as ever, and her face softens. Oh god. She thinkswe'recompeting for his attention.

Jackson Keller is a good man. My encounters with Hyde have made it clearI'mnot looking for a good manat all. Or at least, my bodyisn't. I need to drop this before it gets any worse.

Hawkins is oblivious to the personal drama going on in front of him."Start the initial interview, Cain."

Nerves are simmering in my stomach as I nod and turn the handle on the door.

The suspect looks up at me as I walk in.He'shandcuffed to the table in the claustrophobic, gray interrogation room.

He's6 foot, at least. Dirty blond hair. Strong build. Sunken cheeks.

Hyde has threatened me and touched me and fucked me, butI'vestill never seen his face.He'scareful to never show anything that could give him away.I'masin thedark about this as the rest of my team.

But as much as I hate to admit it, Hyde was right when he said we have a connection. An inexplicable but undeniable understanding between us.

And from the first glance, this man just doesn't feel like Hyde.

***

The interview confirms my suspicions. The man rambles about anarchy and chaos butcan'tname a single detail from the previous crime scenes thatwasn'tleaked to the press this week.

Hawkins, Naomi, and Jacksonare waiting forme in the briefing room afterward.

Now to crush their spirits.

"I'm sorry," I say. "It's not him."

"What are you talking about? We know he killed this guy, Ava."Naomi stares at me, looking likeshe'sholding back from rolling her eyes."It'son the security footage."

I give a tight smile."Yes, thank you, Naomi. What would we ever do without your forensics team to catch things like that?"

Jackson'slips tug upwards, and Naomi narrows her eyes at me.

Hawkins is glaring at metoo."What makes you so confidenthe'snot Hyde, Cain?"

"You heard how clueless he was about the other killings. His MO seems offandthe crime scenewasn'tconsistent. Hyde makes his murders into artistic scenes. Ricky just stabbed the guy and dumped him on the ground."

Hawkins exhales, closing his eyes as he runs his hand over his cropped gray hair.

I give him an apologetic look."I know you want this to be him, sir. But Ricky is just an amateur copycat."

Hawkins seems to process this for amoment,before turning to Jackson."You'vebeen right before, Dr Keller. Even when our own forensic psychologists were off. What does your gut say?"

Jackson tilts his head, as ifhe'sreluctant to disappoint Hawkins further."This is just an estimation after a cursory look at the limited information available…"

Hawkins waves his hand."And?"

"Itold you I thought Hyde would fit a certain psychological profile.He'sa predator. Cunning, with a penchant for psychological manipulation.He'scareful.Efficient,but meticulous. I suspecthe'shighly educated. Maybe even a professional, one that enjoys hiding in plain sight."

Jackson'stone sends a shiver across my skin. His voice is warm as ever, but the words have a heavy edgeto them.

"Rickydoesn'tseem to fitthat thesame profile at all,"he continues."He could easily be a copycat, suffering from delusions or just desperate to take credit forHyde'scrimes. I suspect that DetectiveCain'shunch is entirely correct."

There'sa flush of warmth in my stomach. Lately,I'vebeen screwing up my career at every turn. I tell myself that's the only reason why Jackson supporting my theory makes me feel so damn happy right now.

Hawkins sighs."Get Kakowski and Fields in here to take him to holding. Tell PR to start drafting a media statement. We have nothing to tie him to the other killings.We'llprocess him for this killing alone, for now at least."

Hawkins walks off, gesturing for Jackson to come speak to him.

Naomi purses her lips as they leave, lowering her voice to a whisper."Sucking up to the bossisn'tpretty, Ava. Jackson probably only sided with you becauseyou'rehis patientandhe pities you."

I chew at the side of my cheek, trying to ignore her."I'mjust doing my job. I suggest you do yours, too."

"Youshouldn'teven be here. You should have been suspended. If Hawkins thinksyou'recrackpot enough to send you to a shrink, you have no right to be working on a case."

There'sa twinge in my stomach.

I was right about the case, but what if Naomi is right about me?

You'rebroken, Ava. Beyondrepair. No one can fix you.

"Care to help me with a theoryI'vebeen working on?"

Jackson'sdeep voice interrupts us.

Namoi jumps, turning to where he appears beside her."Dr Keller, I—"

He stares her down, something cold glinting in his eyes."I'vealways thought that those who undermine theirowncolleagueslikelysuffer from great personal insecurity. What do you think about that?"

Naomi blushes, caught off guard."Ididn'tmean to cause offense. I just meant that Ava reallyisn'treliable right now—"

"From everythingI'veseen, Detective Cain is an incredibly talented police officer and a good person. Ican'tsay the same for everyone.Ifyou ever need to talk, you know where to find me."

He slips his white business card intoNaomi'sfolder. Her brows knit together in a speechlessfrown,before turning on her heel and hurryingoffinto the station.

Jackson smiles at me. My cheeks feel hot.

"Thanks for defending me. Youdidn'thave to do that."

He shrugs."I was just telling the truth."

"Well, if I was so good at my job, we would have caught Hyde by now. Arresting his copycatwon'tstop him."

"Still,that'sone less killer off the streets, right?"

"Maybe you have more faith in the justice system than I do."

He laughs. "You're a detective. Shouldn't you have the most faith in it?"

"Sometimesthemore time you spend with something, the less you trust it. Funny how that works."

"Ihopethat'snot true of everything."Jackson'seyes meet mine. Electricity seems to pass between us. He raises his sharp jawline an inch, slipping his fingersupto the pulse on his neck.

I trust you.

I mirror his gesture, a smile tugging at my lips before I walk away.

Dr Keller might be no match for a ruthless murderer like Hyde.But Ican'thelp it; when I look into his eyes, I feel safe.