What happened to Finn Aster?

Chapter 9

Curiosity piqued, Leo rushed over to where they were digging through the sand beside Finn's secluded resting place. Clarissa pointed to a small picture deep inside her shirt, half-buried nearby, its edges slightly crumpled. Disturbed by the wave that had pulled it under the sand a bit, the picture was stained, but Leo could see it was Finn's. His heart sank.

Carefully, he opened the picture and saw Finn when she was younger, grinning with a younger version of Noah holding up a dead bunny.

At the bottom was an arrow pointing right, he turned over the picture, there was something written in Finn's handwriting. The words seemed to blur together, but one phrase stood out: "He enjoyed watching his victims fight for every breath before they finally gave out." - Finn.

He couldn't believe what he was reading. Finn, the young girl he had taken in, had been trying to tell him something.

The quote seemed to sear itself into Leo's brain, echoing with every beat of his heart.

Leo's hands trembled as he held the note. He felt a sense of responsibility wash over him, a sense of guilt for not seeing the signs sooner. Finn had been trying to tell him something, and he had missed it. He took a deep breath, trying to compose himself. He knew he had to share this with Clarissa, but he wasn't sure if he was ready to face the truth. The truth that Finn had been trying to tell him all along.

Leo thought to himself, "All the times she came to the police station to 'hang out' were to tell me that the killer was near. I thought she was just blaming random people based on their actions, but it seems she was right about one thing. It might be Isaac and Noah. Both of them might be twisted, and they can't win."
He walked over to Clarissa, the note still clutched in his hand.

"She's trying to tell me something," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "There's more to the story."
Clarissa's eyes locked onto his, concern etched on her face. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice soft.
Leo hesitated, unsure how to put into words the emotions swirling inside him. "I think Finn was trying to warn me about Noah," he said.
Clarissa's expression turned serious, and she nodded. "Let's take a look," she said, taking the note from Leo's hand.
As she read the words, her eyes widened in shock. "This is... this is monstrous," she whispered.

"We have to confront Isaac," Leo declared. "We need to press him on this. He needs to tell us the truth before it's too late—for him and for Noah."

Clarissa nodded firmly, but anxiety threaded through her words. "But we need to be careful. Isaac could still have plans, and with Noah's unstable state right now, we don't know what he's capable of."

"We have to act quickly," Leo said with anger. "We'll make sure he pays for what he's done."

As the forensics team drove away with Finn's body, Leo and Clarissa stood in silence, their eyes fixed on the departing vehicle. The air felt heavy with unspoken grief.

Clarissa drove Leo home, her gaze locked on the road ahead. Leo sat beside her, staring blankly out the window, lost in the whirlwind of emotions that had consumed his day. The hum of the engine contrasted sharply with the turmoil in his mind, and he could feel Clarissa's concern radiating from her, though she said nothing.

When they finally arrived at his house, Clarissa turned off the engine and glanced at Leo. "Hey, you okay?" she asked softly.

Leo shook his head, tears welling in his eyes. In an instant, Clarissa reached out, pulling him into a tight hug. He buried his face in her shoulder, the warmth of her body grounding him as he sobbed.

They entered the house, the familiar scent of old books and faint cologne wrapping around them like a blanket. As Leo's tears began to subside, Clarissa pulled back, her eyes searching for him. "You need to rest," she said gently. "Why don't we sit on the couch for a bit?"

Leo nodded, grateful for her support. As they sank into the couch, Clarissa wrapped her arms around him, holding him close. He leaned into her, the softness of the cushions and her warmth making him feel safe. His eyelids grew heavy, and before he knew it, he was drifting off to sleep, the exhaustion of the day finally catching up with him.

Clarissa smiled softly, content to be his anchor. She held him close, knowing he needed this moment of peace.

They slept entwined on the couch until around noon, when Leo's phone rang, its shrill tone cutting through the quiet. Groggy and disoriented, he reached for it.

"Detective Leo," he answered, his voice thick with sleep.

"Detective Leo, it's Dr. Rodriguez from the ME's office," the voice on the other end stated. "We've finished the autopsy, and I have some information to share with you."

Leo's heart raced as he sat up straight, adrenaline coursing through him. "Go ahead," he urged, his voice firm despite the heaviness in his chest.

Dr. Rodriguez's tone was gentle, yet her words struck him like a hammer. "Finn suffered extensive internal injuries consistent with blunt force trauma. She also had ligature marks on her wrists and ankles, indicating she had been restrained. But the most disturbing detail is this: she was alive for at least an hour after she was buried. Finn died from asphyxiation, but not before she passed."

Leo's eyes closed, a wave of nausea washing over him as tears pricked the corners. He struggled to keep his voice steady, but it cracked. "Thank you, Doctor."

Her voice softened. "You don't have to hide the fact that you're crying, Detective. I respect you, and I know you'll get through this. Your boss mentioned you could take a break—please do. You need it."

Leo felt a sob rise in his throat, and despite his efforts to suppress it, he surrendered. A ragged breath escaped him, and the tears flowed freely.

"Clarissa had woken up to Leo's cries, she hugged him around his waist and soothed his back."

A/N: It's not completed but soon it will be.