38

Game on, Hyde.

There'sa rare crack in the clouds this morning. A splinter of sunlight shines through. I squint in its spotlight as I stareupatJackson'soffice building.

Yesterday, my team found my fosterbrother'sdead body in the woods, and I realizedHyde'strue identity behind the mask.

Today, I have to find some evidence before anyone else dies.

There'sa tug of aching nostalgia in my chest as I climb the stairs toJackson'soffice.Part of me longs to return to that first session, when my only real problem was getting through therapy.

Just like the first time, I repeat my plan in my head.

Step one: Go in.

Step two: Find a way toirrevocablyprove to the team that Jackson is Hyde.

Step three: Run.

Okay,it'sambitious. ButI'mwearing something that should help: a pendantnecklace,housing a tiny recorder swiped from thestation'sstock of covert surveillance devices.It might not end upasadmissible in court, but if I can get Jackson to trip up and admit something,thenHawkins will have to agree to pursue him.

The door swings open. Today, Jackson is dressed more casually than usual. A black t-shirt clings to the firm muscles of his body under his jacket.

Nerves are prickling in my chest as I meet his stare. Idon'tknow ifI'mimagining it, butthere'ssomething different about the powerful energy emanating from his body.

"Good morning."I force a smile, trying to act natural."Thank you for fitting me in today, Jackson."

His dark eyes flicker with something undeniably cold and sharp."Ava. Come in."

I follow him, hands deep in my jacket pockets to stop myself from nervously fidgeting.

Jackson circles the room, pausing to stare out of the window.

I study him closely. Ican'tput my finger on it exactly, butit'sclearhe's… different.It"snot something tangible I could present to Hawkins as proof;it'sthe wayhe holds himself, an aura hanging around his body. Jackson usually feels like the sun. But today, he seems like moonlight: the hauntingly beautiful sole witness to the dark things that come out at night.

Some part of mecan'tstop thinking of them as two separate people. I justcan'treconcile kind, empathetic Jackson with the masked madmanwho'sbeen stalking me. And fucked me until I was seeing stars.

I know whatit'slike to touch that body. I know how goodhiscock feels inside me.

Every time I felt ashamed for how I secretly wanted more from Jackson than he … Ididn'tknowI'dalreadyfeltit all. But he knew it all along. I should be livid with anger at how twisted it is. I opened my heart to him, and he used it to trick me.

My cheeks redden at the memory, but I try to suppress it. Ican'tafford to make Jackson suspicious.

He turns back to me butdoesn'ttake his usual seat, instead leaning against the edge of his desk.There'sa half-smirk playing on his lipsthatmakes me shiver with heat just as much as cold.

"How can I help you, Ava?"

His voice carries an edge, the faintest trace of a growl. To my dismay,there'sa flare of heat in my core. If I thought his betrayal was going to stop mybody'sdesperation for his, I was dead wrong.

"I wanted to say I'm sorry for yesterday," I answer. "I accused you of being in contact with Hyde with no evidence."

"Iappreciate your apology. I stilldon'tknow where you got that idea."

"That'sactuallywhat I wanted to talk about today. Hyde."

His lips twitch upward."Of course. I know how much you enjoy that particular topic."

I ignore his taunt. I need a way to steer this to where I want it to go without raising suspicion."Ican'tstop thinking about the case.I'mworriedit'saffecting me mentally."

I'mtrying to find a way to get him talking, but thisisn'ta lie.

"How long have you been feeling this way?"

"Since the first murder."

"And how exactly do you feel?"

I list off the emotions on my fingers."Scared. Upset. Anxious."

"Ithought you were enjoying working on the case. When we spoke before, you seemed almost thrilled by the prospect of chasing this killer down."

I resist the urge to fidget with the pendant around my neck."I was. I thought Hyde might be a worthy opponent for me. A psychopath with anartist'seye."

"Your opinion of him has changed?"

I shrug dismissively."I'mstarting to thinkhe'sjustthe same as any other perp. A freak who kills just to fuel his ego."

Jackson'seyes glint. Am I getting to him?

"Would you still say the same if you knew his victims deserved to die?"

I raise my eyebrows. "You sound like you're sympathetic toward him."

"Not necessarily. But someonehas to dole outjustice to those beyond thelaw'sreach."

I lean forward in my chair."I told youhe'sbeen stalking me, Jackson. He said any man who gets close to me will die, but Idon'tthinkit'strue."

My voice is rising in intensity.Jackson'sjaw is clenched tight.

"If he wanted to protect me, he would. Buthe'sjust a coward. Hewon'teven show his face. How could a man like that ever dare to actually kill for me?"

My heart is racing as Jackson spits out his reply."He killed your foster brother for you."

The breath hitches in my throat.

Yes, he did. Butyou'renot supposed to know that, Dr Keller.

He immediately catches himself, his eyes narrowing.

Fear and elation surge through me. It's not a full confession, but it's a deadly slip-up.

"How did you know that, Jackson?"I ask, feigning innocence.

He smiles, recovering himself seamlessly."Hawkins called me earlier to discuss the case. He gave me some details about the latest murder."

I resist the urge to revealHawkins"ignorance about my connection to Frank.

"Isee,"I reply carefully."You know, typically whensomeone'sfamily member dies,it'snormal to offer condolences, not imply I should be grateful to their killer."

Jackson'sface carries none of its usual empathy."You told me how Frank hurt you. You cried in my arms over it, in fact. Should I feel remorse that Hyde killed him?"

A sheen of sweat has broken over my skin."Where were you that night, Dr Keller?"

His eyes flash, locking onto mine. I bite my tongue; have I gone too far?

Jackson pushes away from his desk. My heart smashes against my ribs as he closes the distance between us, stopping in front of where I sit."I was at home. Safe and sound, away from the freak haunting our city. The coward."

His gaze leisurely travels down to my neckline, lingering on the pendant."Youdon'tusually wear jewelry."

Dread clenches inside me, but I force myself to sound casual."GuessI'mtrying something new."

His fingers close around the pendant, grazing against my skin.

I dig my nails into my palms, fighting the shiver his brief touch sends down my chest.He'stouched much more intimate parts of me before, but always through those rough black gloves.

"What is this made from, Ava?"

I shrug."Idon'tknow. Ijustbought it at the mall because I thought it was cute."

He examines it between his fingers."It looks cheap. Breakable. A woman like you deserves something of much higher quality."

His fingers flex.There'sa splintering sound. Slowly, he opens his palm. The pendant lies cracked in two.

My stomach sinks. The recording is gone, crushed beneathhispowerful fingers.

"See? Breakable."

I bite down on my lip.

His eyes meet mine. For a moment,we'relocked in a stand-off.

No. No. No.

Fear floods me. He knows I suspect him. He knows I came here seeking a confession.

He lowers the fractured pendant back to my chest, his eyes glossed over with black. I wish I could look away, butit'smesmerizing. Heat pools between my thighs, but I try to fight it off.

There'sraw hunger in his dilated pupils. He blinks, refocusing on my face, as ifhe'steetering on the edge of losing control.

That's it.

I need a different tactic to crack open his fa?ade, and I know what he desires most.

"Can I tell you a secret, Jackson?"I ask.

He nods."Be my guest."

I lower my voice to a hushed whisper, not breakingmyeye contact with him."I told you that Hyde has been following me. But Ididn'ttell you everything."

He leans in,an animalisticlook in his eyes. His fingerstense,as if he wants to use those hands on mybody,right goddamn now.

"Tell me, Ava. What exactly did you and Hyde get up to when no one was looking?"

"We didn't just talk. He never took off his mask, but he pinned me against the wall. He touched me."

It'sa gambit, but the relief of confessing this truthI"vekept bottled up for weeks is still intoxicating.

"He coerced you?"

I shake my head, my eyes not leavingJackson'sfor a split second."I wanted it.I'mashamed, yes. But I wanted all of it."

His tongue swipes across his lower lip."Why are you telling me this, Ava?"

"You're my therapist. I'm supposed to tell you everything, right?"

"Then tell me how it felt."

I feela jolt of surpriseat his words, but I keep talking."It… It felt so good. Ican'tforget it.I'llnever be able to."

I can see the raw lust in the tight set of his jaw, as ifhe'sbarely restraining himself. But after a few seconds, he regains his composure.

He clicks his tongue, tsking me."You'rein trouble, Detective Cain. You followed your heart instead of the rules. What if both end up broken?"

His words hit me like a slap.

"Maybe I'm already broken," I mutter.

"Maybeit'stime you and Hyde saw each other face to face. No masks."

I suppress a gasp of surprise. The back of my neck prickles. Where ishetaking this?

"Maybe I do,"I respond cautiously."But how can I findhim? When do you think Hyde will strike next?"

His lips curl upward."How would I know a thing like that?"

My voice is nearly shaking."You studiedhisprofile based on the crime scenes. Your guess should be as good as mine, right?"

"Maybeit'llbe sooner than you think. Maybe even tonight."His gaze lingers on me, weighing heavily on my skin."Maybe at the stroke of midnight, his hands will be covered in blood. Butofcourse,you'llhave to find him first."

Fear grips my throat."Where do you think I could find him?"

"Aman like him must only find peace among the dead."His cold grin widens."ButI'mjust speculating on the mind of a depraved psychopath."

I rise to my feet and slip past his body. He circles me, as ifthere'san invisible chain connecting our bodies. He takes a step closer, and I jolt as I hit up against his desk behind me.

"If I were speaking to Hyde right now,"I breathe,"I'dtell him to give up and turn himself in."

He takes another step toward me."I thinkhe'dtell you to be careful which games you play, Detective."

He'stoo close. Every inch of my body is simmering with heat and fear.

"Time's up, Ava."

I brace myself for an attack, my knuckles going white.

But hejustlifts his wrist, gesturing to the silver watch wrapped around it.

Relief and terror flood me. The double meaning of his words hangs heavily in the air between us.

I quickly slip away from him, heading to the door without looking back as his voice followsafterme.

"See you again soon, Detective."