Page 52 of Divine Obsession

Today was going to be very different.

I didn’t knock.

The door swung open, and Johnson’s head snapped up from the paperwork cluttering his desk.

“Natalia,” He cleared his throat. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

“Clearly,” I said, stepping inside and closing the door behind me with a muted click. “I’m surprised you’re not better prepared, considering I show up whenever I feel like. Which, at this rate, is about as often as you fail to do your job.”

He sighed, leaning back in his chair. “We’ve been working–”

“Don’t,” I cut him off, taking a step closer to the desk. “Don’t say you’re doing everything you can. Because if you were, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

Johnson rubbed his temples like I was causing him physical pain. “I understand you’re frustrated–”

“Frustrated?” I interrupted, my voice lowering dangerously. “Mysisterhas been missing for five months.Five. And the best fucking detectives on the East Coast – the ones my family is so generously funding – havenothing. That isn’t frustrating, Johnson. It’s unacceptable.”

His jaw clenched, and I saw the flicker of fear he was trying to suppress. “It’s not for lack of trying, Miss Natalia.”

“Then explain to me why you’re still sitting here like you’re running a desk job at the DMV.”

“There’s been a…Development,” He said cautiously.

“What kind of development?”

“We recovered something earlier this week.” He flipped open a folder and turned it to me. “A fisherman near South Beach reported finding an item caught in his net. Our teamidentified it as a gold chain. Masculine, but similar to the one you described Maria wearing.”

I stared at the chain.

The chain Maria had ripped from a guy’s neck three years ago in high school, after beating the shit out of him in front of everyone for disrespecting me.

“You’re telling me,” I spoke slowly, “That all you have to show for five months of work is a chain? Something anyone could have dropped anywhere?”

“That’s not all, miss.” Johnson took a deep breath before continuing. “The chain had traces of blood on it. Not visible to the naked eye, but the lab confirmed it. We’re running DNA now, but it could take a few more days for the results.”

“Blood?” The word felt foreign in my mouth.

“It’s not definitive,” The Chief said quickly. “We’ve also traced the area, searched the docks, spoke to people who work there. It’s a long shot, but—”

“You think she’s in the water,” I said, cutting him off.

Chief paused, his silence answering for him.

I stepped closer to the desk, settling my hands on the edge and leaning in. “My family has gone to extraordinary lengths to make sure this case is a priority for everyone in this building–”

“We’re not stopping,” He interrupted me, his own frustration starting to show. “You think I don’t want to close this case? You think I don’t know how much pressure I’m under? I got all these dead bodies all over the city making it look like we got some type of bat-shit crazy serial killer on the loose, shooting people in the eyes!”

“Pressure?” I mocked him, laughing bitterly. “You don’t know the meaning of thefucking word. Let me make something very clear, Chief. My family isn’t patient. And we don’t like loose ends.”

His jaw tensed; face already multiple shades paler. “Is that a threat?”

“No,” I replied sweetly, straightening. “Just a reminder.

Walking away, I pulled the door open, throwing one last threat over my shoulder. “Find her. Or someone will find you.”

I didn’t wait for his response. I walked out of the office, my heeled boots clicking against the tile as I passed the wide-eyed officers who were undoubtedly eavesdropping. They averted their gazes, pretending to be busy with whatever mundane tasks they were doing.

Outside, the early spring air was cold against my flushed cheeks, but I barely noticed. My mind raced, replaying the conversation over and over.

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