Believe Me

14 I The Fifth Victim

  The tension was palpable in the hospital room. Emily lay unconscious, her face pale against the stark white sheets. Jason sat beside her, his hand wrapped around hers, as he whispered, "I'm so sorry, Emily. I'll find the truth." He kissed her forehead softly before stepping out, leaving Emily in the care of the nurses.

Jason's phone buzzed. It was Sarah. "Jason, I need stitches on my hand. I can't come with you to the crime scene," she said, her voice strained.

"It's okay, Sarah. Take care of yourself. I'll handle this," Jason replied, trying to keep his voice steady despite the overwhelming weight of recent events.
 
  He ended the call and drove to the location where Elena's body had been found. His mind raced with thoughts of Emily's words at the warehouse and the unsettling revelations she had made.

  Upon arriving at the scene, Jason was met with a grim sight. Elena's lifeless body lay sprawled on the ground, her face frozen in a final expression of terror. The sight was enough to send a chill down Jason's spine. As he examined the area, his eyes were drawn to a note placed beside the body. It was stained with blood, and the ink was fresh.

  Jason carefully picked up the note, his gloved fingers avoiding the bloodstains. The message read: "Emily will be next." His heart sank. He knew he needed to act fast. He carefully placed the note in an evidence bag and took a deep breath. The ink used was peculiar; it had a distinctive sheen, unlike any common ink he had seen before. This was a clue that could lead him to the killer.

Jason drove to the lab, where he handed over the note to the forensic team. "I need a full analysis of this blood and ink," he instructed, his voice edged with urgency. "Compare the blood sample to both Emily's and Sarah's."

  While waiting for the results, Jason's thoughts drifted back to the ink. It was unusual enough to warrant further investigation. He recalled a small shop in Neimers City that specialized in rare inks and art supplies. It was a long shot, but it was all he had.

  Jason arrived at the shop, a quaint place filled with the scent of paper and old books. He approached the counter, where an elderly man greeted him warmly.

"Good afternoon, officer. How can I help you today?" the shopkeeper asked, his eyes twinkling behind round spectacles.

Jason pulled out a photograph of the note. "Have you seen this ink before?"

The shopkeeper examined the photo closely, then nodded. "Yes, indeed. This is a rare ink. We had a limited supply, and it's not something you find just anywhere."

Jason felt a surge of hope. "Do you have any records of recent purchases?"

The shopkeeper shuffled to the back and returned with a ledger. "We do. Let's see... Ah, here we are. We sold a bottle of this ink just a few days ago."

Jason's heart pounded as he asked, "Do you have security cameras?"

The shopkeeper nodded. "We do. Let me pull up the footage for you."

  Jason watched the grainy footage intently. A figure in a hoodie entered the shop, purchased the ink, and turned to leave. As they walked out the door, a gust of wind blew back the hood, revealing the face beneath. Jason's eyes widened in shock.

It was Sarah.

  His mind reeled. How could it be Sarah? She had been by his side throughout the investigation. Had she been playing him all along? The pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place, each one more devastating than the last.

Just then, Jason's phone buzzed again. It was the lab.

"We have the blood results, Detective. The blood on the note matches Sarah's."

  Jason felt a chill run down his spine. Everything Emily had said was true. Sarah was not who she claimed to be. She had manipulated him, orchestrated the murders, and framed Emily to destroy her life and his. He clenched his fists, anger boiling inside him.