45

Hawkins sends me to make the arrest.

My stomach lurches at the order. This is it.I'mreally about to take down Jackson.

To my annoyance, Hawkins assigns Ryan to come with me.

"You really think he's the guy?" Ryan asks on the journey over. I'm glad he's driving because I can't stop fidgeting in anxiety.

I nod."I know it."

Ryan gives me a sidelong glance, an unspoken you'rea crazy bitch, but hedoesn'tpush it further.

We enterJackson'soffice building, guns raised. Backup officers are waiting at the entrance. Ryan barks orders at the receptionist as I take a deep breath andpushopen the door toJackson'soffice.

For a moment,the reality of whatI'mabout to do hits me.I chose the law. So why is there a pit in my stomach?

Jackson stands behind his desk, looking over some papers.He'sdressed in an expensive-looking gray suit, perfectlysuaveand put together. It strikes me just how well he hides Hyde.

His eyes meet mine, a flicker of surprise passing over his face. He probably thought I was going to crawl back to him, ready to submit and be his partner in crime.

But the expression fades in an instant. If we caught him off guard, he doesn't show it for long.

Ryan follows me in, but I motion for him to stop."I got this."

I cross the room to Jackson. His eyes drop down to the handcuffsI'mholding, narrowing slightly.

"Checkmate, Jackson,"I murmur under my breath.

His eyes glint. "We'll see."

His scent hits me as I get close. Leather, cedar, and smoke. I grab his wrists, pulling them behind his back, and heat flares along my skin.My throat tightens as I remember every touchthat'spassed between us and justhow different this one is.

I lean in, securing the handcuffs. Click.

"Dr Jackson Keller, you are under arrest. You have the right to remain silent.Anything you say can and will be used against you inacourtof law."

Jackson smirks."I love it when you talk dirty to me, Detective."

I frown, glancing at Ryan, whose eyebrows hitch up. I rush through the rest ofJackson'sMiranda rights, ushering him out of his office.

I thought this would feel liberating, butthere'sonly a feeling of dread gnawing at my insides. Itdoesn'tmatter if Jackson had good reason to seek vengeance on his victims, right? I try to bury the feeling that this arrest might have been a mistake.

There'sa gaggle of press outside when we reach the station.Someone'stipped them off. Reporters are perched like vultures, hungry for a scoop.

"Clear the way, Cain," Ryan commands. "Then I'll bring him in."

I hate taking orders from Ryan, but I hop out of the car and wave the hive of press out of the way. Hawkins opens the station door, waving me over.

"You better hope you're right, Cain," Hawkins mutters to me as I slip inside.

Ididn'tconfess everything to Hawkins this morning,butIdisclosed enough.That Hyde had stalked me and threatened me not to tell anyone.That IsawJackson'sface beneath the mask with my own two eyes.That DrLund was willing to confirm my testimony of what happened at his house.

"Keller confessed it to me himself,"I reply."Trust me, when the search of his house is done,we'llhave more than enough to nail him."

As we speak, uniformed officers are stripping his house for evidence of his guilt.

"Right now it's your word against his," Hawkins mutters. "If you're wrong, this will be a humiliation for the department. He's not some ex-con we've been surveilling. He's worked with the police. He's your therapist. He's unofficially consulting on this damn case."

"This isn't just a hunch. I saw him." I pause, but Hawkins' expression doesn't soften. "You do trust me, right Captain?"

His jaw clenches, but he gives a brief nod.

It feels likeit'sall happening in slow motion. The station doors swing open, and the yells of reporters burst in. Ryan marches Jackson down the hallway.There'sa careful, studied look of confusion onJackson'sface. He looks every bit the respected therapist, except for the handcuffs around his wrists.

As he passes me by, only inches away, our eyes lock. A grin flashes over his faceandmy heart skips a beat. The smile vanishes ashe'sled past me, the facade of confusion returning to his features.

Was I the only one to catch that split-second, twisted smile?

Asshole.

***

We let Jackson sweat it out in the interrogation room for a while.It'sa method that works ona lot ofperps, but he remains as composed as ever.

Which is really goddamn irritating.

Hawkins gathers the team whenJackson'slawyer arrives."Fields and I will start the interview."

I frown."I want to be in there too."

Hawkins shakes his head."We'llhim talking first."

I bite back my objections. Hawkins"s trust in me seems to be waning, and arguing won't help.

Brock and I watchonfrom the observation room as Hawkins and Ryan start the interview.

Jacksonisn'tflustered by their questions, skillfully talking around them in a way that renders the interview almost pointlesswhilehis lawyer watches onin silence. He provides alibis for most of the dates Hawkins asks him about. I know they must be bullshit, but he has enough money to pay people to vouch for him.

His gaze bores into the two-way mirror, as if he knowsI'mwatching from the other room.

"So Detective Cain told you I confessed to being Hyde?"he asks calmly.

Hawkins gives a terse nod."She says you threatened her. Is that true?"

Jackson leans in likehe'ssharing a secretthat hewisheshe'dnever been told."No, not at all. The last time I saw her was at our therapy appointment. In truth, she seemed distressed. Not like herself at all. She started erratically talking about the Hyde case at full speed."

Nerves flutter in my stomach. What is Jackson playing at here?

"He's lying," I mutter. I feel Brock glance at me, but he doesn't say anything.

Jackson continues."I hate to say this about one of your best detectives, butshe'sseemed troubled for a while now."

"How so?" Hawkins asks.

"Like shehadn'tslept for a long time and perhapswasn'texactly in her right mind."

Hawkins'jaw clenches."You mean she seemed unstable."

Jackson shrugs, as ifit'spainfulfor him to evenimply that about me."Those are your words, Detective, not mine."

No.I curse under my breath.He'sgoing tomake me stand here and watch whileheturns this all back on me.

His eyes flit back to the mirror, a twitch of a smile on his face. The message is clear. You want to play dirty, thenI'llplay fucking dirty.

Hawkins is obviously thrown by this."Let'smove on. Can you confirm Dr Henrik Lund is a friend of yours?"

"That'scorrect. Why do you ask?"

"He'swilling to testify that you came to his house while he was meeting with Detective Cain, threatened them both with a weapon, and forced Cain to leave with you. Is this true?"

Jackson laughs. "That's absurd."

"Why would Dr Lund mislead us?"

Jackson sighs."Henrik is a dear, trusted friend. The most intelligent manI'veever met. But his memory has been failing lately.I believe ifyou told him anything had happened,he'dbelieve it."

The implication hangs heavily in the air. Crazy, delusional Ava is obsessed with Jackson being Hyde, andshe'smanipulating this poorold maninto backing up her bullshit story.

After a moment of tense silence, Hawkins thanksJackson,andthen leaves the room with Ryan. I catch the flicker of a smile onJackson'sface as Hawkins shuts the door.

My stomach twists at his grim expression.

"What's going on, Cain?" he growls.

"He's lying to you, Captain," I say frantically.

"We'll get the alibis checked. But I don't see any reason to keep him here." He sighs. "I'm sorry, Cain. But your story isn't adding up."

There'sa slow, sinking feeling in my gut.

A uniformed officer walks in. He glances at me, then at Hawkins."We have an update for you, Captain. The initial sweep at DrKeller'shome came up empty."

Panic is spreading through me like poison.

"That'snot possible,"I insist."There must be something in that house that proveshe'sHyde. His mask, or a weapon, or anything."

"Forensics will do some tests for trace evidence."The officer glances at Hawkins deferentially."If the boss thinksit'sworth it, that is. But we found nothing significant on the first sweep."

I shake my head."He knew this might be coming. He hid his stuff somewhere else.That'sthe only explanation."

"Ava."Hawkins'voice is gentle. That's what makes me realizeI'min trouble. Usually,he'dhave harsh words for someone bringing in the wrong suspect."We all make bad calls sometimes. Especially whenwe'renot… feeling like ourselves."

He clears his throat.He'spart of the old guard, uncomfortable discussing mental health or emotions or most things for that matter. But his thought process is crystal clear.

Hawkins thinks I'm totally goddamn crazy. He thinks I've truly cracked this time, and I'm delusional.

"This isn't a bad call. He's toying with us. If you look closer, you'll find something on him—"

"That'senough, Ava,"he interrupts, his tone low."Dr Keller is a respected member of hisowncommunity and has served ours excellently as well. Heisn'tsome raging homicidal lunatic. Are you sureyou'reremembering everything correctly?"

My tone is halfway between anger and desperation."Don'tlethimwalk out of here."

He sighs."You'veput yourself under a lot of pressure. Ishouldn'thave let you work on this case when I knew you were already unstable and breaking the rules—"

"Don't do this, sir."

His expression hardens."I'mtaking you off the case.You'reon medical leaveeffectiveimmediately. Turn in your badge and gun to my office and go home."

My stomach drops. Not only is Jackson about to get away with all of this, my career is crashing into ruins all around me.

"About damn time,"Ryan mutters under his breath.

"Keep your mouth shut,"I snap back.

"Cain."Hawkins glares at me."That'senough.I'llarrange a referral for a psychiatrist at Brookhaven Hospital. Until then, go home and get some goddamn rest."

I bite my lip. "I'm not crazy, Captain."

Hawkinsjustexhales, and I trailafterhim out of the observation room, knowing arguing further is futile.

Ryan leads Jackson out of the interrogation room.He'srubbing his wrists, now unbound from the handcuffs.

Hawkins turns to me."We'regoing to go over thereandyou'regoing to apologize to Dr Keller for this whole shitshow. Understand?"

"I'mnot apologizing for telling the truth."

"If you want a shot at evercoming backto this department, apologize."

I grit my teeth as I follow Hawkins.

Jackson greets us with a smile, his dark eyes glinting. I ignore the flicker of heat that sparks within me at the sight. How can Isoclearly see Hyde in those eyes when no one else does?

Hawkins'tone is chagrined."Please accept my apologies, Dr Keller. We made the wrong call.We'llhave to verifythe details you provided, butyou'refree to go. I hope thiswon'taffect your relationship with the department."

He'sclearly terrified Jackson is going tosue the department into oblivion with a wrongful arrest suit.

Jackson smiles graciously. I can feel the dark amusement simmering under his fake expression."Don'tworry about it, Captain. Ijusthope you can catch the real culprit before anyone else gets hurt."

There's an expectant pause. Hawkins elbows me.

"I'msorry for accusing you."I mumble the words through gritted teeth.

Forensics waves Hawkins over. "Excuse me," he mutters. "Cain, go home right now or there'll be trouble."

He walks away, but Idon'tbudge an inch, held in place byJackson'sstare.

"I'msorry too, Ava,"Jackson murmurs, his voice low. A faint smile plays on his lips, ominous and alluring."I'msorry thatyou'relying to yourself.I'msorry youwon'tlet me show you who you truly are."

A cold shiver rolls over me. I glance around, butthere'sno one near enough to hear us.

"I'mnot who you think I am.I'mnot like you."

He leans in a fraction closer."I know you long for the same things I do.I'mjust waiting for the day you stop denying it.You'remy sun and my moon. My heaven and my hell.Don'tyou know that a rose with two sides is twice as beautiful?"

I step back as ifI'vebeen burned by an electric shock. I need to escape. The closer I get to Jackson, the better it feels, but the more my life goes up in flames.

Turning around, I collide with Ryan.

He scowls."Watch it on your way out the door, crazy."

Anger and frustration burn through me in a blaze."Don'tcall me that."

"Just calling it like I see it. Seems like the Captain agrees."He raises his hands in a hey,don'tlook at me shrug.

"I'drather be crazy than be a fucking creep like you."Panic is drowning me, and I hear my voice escalate to a yell."At least whileI'maway fromhereIwon'thave to deal with you getting handsy."

He sneers."Get out of here, Cain. This is why wedon'tlet psychos solve crimes."

"You'llregret saying that."It'sa childish, empty threat. I have no power to make Ryan regret saying a damn thing.

I glance around, realizing the room has gone quiet. Everyone is staring at me.

Idon'tlet myself look at Jackson.It'stoo painful, too humiliating. I tried to outsmart himandit just led to my downfall.

I rip the badge from my neck, slam my gun down on the nearest desk, and walk out of the station.