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"Jake,"she said urgently into her phone, her eyes scanning the thinning crowd aspeople were ushered out of the exhibit. Panic-stricken faces passed by, butnone matched the wiry figure from the security footage. "Get here as soonas you can."
"Alreadyon my way," Jake replied, his voice tight with concern.
Fionaended the call and plunged into the sea of terrified museum-goers, instinctsguiding her through the chaos. Her gaze darted between faces, looking foranything - anyone - that seemed out of place.
As theexhibit emptied, a tall, well-built man caught her eye. He stood at the edge ofthe crowd, his expression unreadable. But something about him was familiar.That cleft chin...
Fiona'sheart skipped a beat; she recognized him. He had been there when the last bodywas found, hovering in the background. She distinctly remembered seeing himyesterday.
Herbreath caught in her throat as she stared at him, adrenaline coursing throughher veins. If he already saw the exhibit yesterday--and knew what hadhappened--why would he come back again today/
With afinal glance at the grisly scene behind her, Fiona steeled herself and began toweave through the remaining onlookers, determined to confront the man. She hadto know - and more importantly, she had to stop him if he was the monsterresponsible for this.
AsFiona approached, the man's eyes locked onto hers, sending a shiver down herspine. The game of cat and mouse had begun, and there was no turning back.
Fiona'sheart pounded in her ears as she approached the tall man, each step feelingheavy and uncertain. Her instincts screamed at her to maintain a safe distance,but the need for answers drove her forward. She watched his eyes narrow as shedrew closer, and she sensed he knew she was coming for him.
"Hello,"she said cautiously, trying to keep her voice steady. "I couldn't help butnotice you were here yesterday too."
Theman's brow furrowed, a wary smile creeping onto his face. "Yeah, I was. Ilove bugs. Always have. Fascinating creatures, don't you think?"
"Sure,"Fiona replied, watching his face closely for any hint of deceit. "But whywould you come back after yesterday?"
He heldup his hands defensively. "Hey, I didn't know it was going to happen again.Like I said, I'm here because I'm into entomology. Nothing more."
"Whatis your name?" Fiona asked, shaky with dread. The man held a defensiveposture, but Fiona wasn't buying it. He was here both times. It had to meansomething. Was he trying to hide right in their faces?
The manhesitated a moment as if considering his options. Then, with a resigned sigh,he said, "My name is Gavin. Look, I don't know what to tell you...yesterday got spoiled for me, so I came back today. Believe me, if I'd known thiswas going to happen again, I wouldn't have come back."
"Cananyone vouch for your whereabouts during both murders?" Fiona pressed,refusing to let go of her suspicion.
"Look,agent or officer or whoever you are-- I can't prove I wasn't involved any morethan you can prove I was. I just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrongtime."
Fionastudied his face, searching for any sign of guilt or fear. But all she saw wasa calm sincerity that frustrated her even more. He seemed like a nice enoughguy, but something about him still set her on edge.
Justthen, Fiona turned to see Jake breaking through the crowd, along with a groupof officers who were clearing the people away and already boarding off thescene. Jake spotted Fiona, his eyes wide, and ran over to them.
"Jake!"Fiona called out as her partner arrived on the scene, his eyes immediatelymeeting hers. "
"Hey,what's going on?" he asked.
"Shethinks I killed this guy," Gavin said, almost too casually.
Jakeshot Fiona a frown. "Why, Red?"
Fiona knewwhat Jake was thinking--Gavin didn't match the description of the man seen inthe footage at all. But still, he was here both times, and Fiona couldn't letthat go. Maybe there was something they'd missed. Or another explanation.
"Hewas here yesterday, too," Fiona said. "At the times of bothmurders."
"Alright,"Jake replied, eyeing the man with suspicion before approaching him. He extendedhis hand and introduced himself. "Agent Jake Tucker. Mind if I ask you afew questions?"
"Ofcourse not," the man answered, shaking Jake's hand firmly. "I'm happyto help in any way I can. Like I was telling her, I came again today because mytrip yesterday got ruined, and I wanted to make up for it. If I'd known it wasgonna happen again; I never would've come back."
Jakenodded, eyeing the man with a skeptical gaze. "Can you tell me what youwere doing during the time of the murders?" he asked, his voice stern andcommanding.
Gavinshrugged. "Just exploring the exhibit, looking at the bugs. I'm a big fanof entomology. I wasn't really paying attention to much else."
Fionawatched the man's face closely, searching for any sign of a tell. But Gavin'seyes were steady, his expression affable and open. Something about the man'scalm demeanor didn't sit right with her. Gavin seemed too relaxed, almost as ifhe had rehearsed his answers. It was almost like he wanted them to believe hedidn't have anything to do with the murders.
