Page 47 of The Perfect Deception

“No. I need to check a few things at the precinct. You can drop me off there.” I need to go back through everything, comb over the case again before I’m pulled off it. I have to search for anything I might have missed. Details I brushed aside that could have been important after all.

Murder cases evolve, and what seems true in the beginning always shifts as more bodies pile up and new evidence surfaces.

I have to figure this out—for Damien’s sake and because I didn’t save Zeke. Jay and I both should’ve realized that Zeke talking to us might set the killer off, but we didn’t. And I was too distracted, and now the poor guy’s dead because of it. That’s on me. And I have to make it right.

The panties are key. I know it. Zeke didn’t have a girlfriend, and he wasn’t exactly known for his charm with women. So, where the hell did those panties come from? This killer is messing with me, taunting me, and I feel it in my gut. That instinct is the reason I’m still standing today, and I won’t ignore it.

If Damien won’t talk to me, maybe his sister Olivia will.

She might have some insight into why this is happening, and if nothing else, maybe she can convince Damien to take this threat seriously. He’s in danger, whether he likes it or not. The killer knew we were on that boat. And now the only other person we’ve talked to is dead.

There has to be something I’m missing.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Frankie

“There was only DNA belonging to one person on the panties.” Nate leans back in his chair, arms crossed, watching me with that infuriating look of his, like he’s savoring this. He’s dragging it out, enjoying how on edge I am.

He tilts his head, eyes gleaming with mischief. “Those weren’t your panties, were they, Frankie?”

I stiffen, feeling my jaw clench. My heartbeat picks up, but I shove down the frustration, not letting him see how much this is getting to me. “No,” I snap, my voice sharp. “Of course they’re not mine. Why would you even ask that?”

He shrugs, a smirk pulling at his lips. “You seemed pretty eager to know what we found. Almost like you were worried about it.”

I take a breath, fighting the urge to throttle him. “Nate, just tell me what you found, okay? I don’t have time for this.”

His smile widens, but he finally relents. “All right, all right. Relax. The only DNA on said panties is from DuBois. That’s it.”

I exhale, my shoulders loosening up a bit.Not mine. Thank God. “That’s all?” I ask, making sure I heard him right.

“Yep, that’s it,” he says, leaning back further in his chair, still looking at me like I’m his lunch. “Happy now?”

I scrunch up my face. “Ecstatic. Thanks for doing this, Nate. I appreciate it.”

“No problem. But hey,” he adds, his tone dripping with suggestion, “next time you need a favor involvingpanties, you know where to find me.”

I shoot him a look, suppressing the urge to roll my eyes. “Let’s keep it professional, Nate.”

“Always,” he says.

As I turn to leave, my phone buzzes in my pocket. “What’s up, Jay?” I answer, stepping into the elevator, feeling a mixture of relief and frustration.

“What’s up is that you’re not at the penthouse. Where are you?”

I sigh. “I’m at the Forensics Building getting some clarification on things. What’s the problem?” He doesn’t need to know why I’m here.

“Good, stay there. I’m headed to you. Chris called and asked us to stop by.”

My shoulders drop and I sag against the elevator walls. “Another body?”

“Maybe. I’ll be there in five.” Jay ends the call before I can ask any other questions and when the elevator stops at the lobby, I press the button that’ll take me to Chris’ office just one level below the lobby. “Hey Chris, you called?”

He looks up at me, surprise on his face. “That was fast.”

I shrug. “I was already here.”

Minutes later, Jay arrives out of breath with his brows furrowed into their usual scowl. “What’s up, Doc?”

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