Criminal Hearts

Chapter 29: Unraveling Truths

Sophia stared at the darkened screen of her phone after her call with Ethan ended. Peter Latham was gone, slipping through their fingers like a shadow. The longer he stayed off the grid, the more dangerous this game became. And it was a game—one Latham was playing with them. The thought of his next move sent a chill down her spine.

Her eyes flickered to the crime board, where the faces of the victims, including Lucy, seemed to watch her. The familiar tightening of her chest returned, a suffocating reminder that they weren't just dealing with theory—they were fighting against something darker, more twisted. Something that had already claimed one of their own.

Sophia stood abruptly, needing to move, to shake the feeling of impending dread that clung to her like a second skin. She walked over to the board, staring at the cluster of evidence. Peter Latham. Professor Allenby. The connection was tenuous, but the weight of suspicion was growing. Was Latham acting alone, or was he part of something deeper, more sinister?

In the dimly lit car, Ethan sat silently as Harris drove through the cold night. The city seemed to press in around them, the streets quieter than usual, as if the world knew something dark was brewing.

"You still think Allenby's the guy?" Harris asked, his voice barely cutting through the tension in the air.

Ethan's eyes narrowed as he watched the darkened buildings slip by. "He's hiding something. I don't know if he's directly involved, but I can't shake the feeling that he knows more than he's letting on."

Harris grunted, gripping the steering wheel tighter. "And Latham? You think they're working together?"

Ethan hesitated, his mind racing. "It's possible. Allenby had motive, access. Latham was his assistant for years. Maybe Latham's the one pulling the strings now, or maybe he's doing this for Allenby. Either way, I've got a bad feeling about this."

The streets grew darker as they approached the university. Ethan could see the outline of the campus buildings looming in the distance, the shadows around them seeming to twist and shift in the cold night air. Something felt wrong. Off. And that sense of dread only deepened the closer they got to Allenby.

"You're right to trust your instincts," Harris said, breaking the silence. "Lucy trusted you, too. She followed her gut, and now..." His voice trailed off, thick with emotion.

Ethan clenched his jaw, the guilt settling like lead in his chest. Lucy had believed in him, even when his theories seemed far-fetched. She had trusted him, and now she was gone, murdered by the very monster they were hunting. And he hadn't been able to save her.

"We'll get him, Harris," Ethan said, his voice rough. "For Lucy."

Back at the precinct, Sophia was lost in thought, her mind spiraling through the connections, the endless loops of evidence. A cold sense of unease had settled in her bones. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were missing something crucial, something dark and insidious hiding just beneath the surface.

Her phone buzzed, and she glanced down at the screen. A text from Ethan: "Heading to talk to Allenby. I'll update you."

Sophia frowned, a knot of worry tightening in her chest. She wasn't convinced Allenby was directly involved, but there was something about Latham that felt... unhinged. The further they dug into his past, the more the lines blurred between predator and prey. Was Latham acting on his own twisted motivations, or was he following orders from someone else—someone like Allenby?

The thought made her stomach churn.

Before she could dwell on it, her phone rang, the screen flashing with an unknown number. Her heart skipped a beat. She hesitated, then answered.

"Taylor," she said, her voice sharp.

"Sophia?" The voice on the other end was soft, almost trembling.

Sophia's blood ran cold. "Who is this?"

"It's Emily," the voice replied. "Lucy's sister."

Sophia's heart clenched painfully. "Emily... I'm so sorry."

There was a long pause on the other end, a silence thick with grief. "I didn't know if I should call you," Emily said, her voice breaking. "But there's something you need to know. Something Lucy was looking into before she... before she was killed."

Sophia's pulse quickened, her fingers tightening around the phone. "What is it?"

"She mentioned a name," Emily said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Peter Latham. She was investigating him, but she didn't have enough proof to bring it up officially. She thought he was connected to the murders."

Sophia's breath caught in her throat. Lucy had been onto Latham before they even suspected him. "Did she say anything else? Anything at all?"

Emily hesitated, her voice trembling. "She said he was dangerous. That he... he was watching her."

Sophia's stomach twisted. Lucy had been right, and now, her silence had cost her everything. The realization hit Sophia like a punch to the gut. Lucy had been following Latham, had been closing in on him, and he had known. He had been watching her, waiting for the right moment to strike.

"Emily," Sophia said, her voice thick with emotion, "I promise you, we're going to catch him. We won't let him get away with this."

Meanwhile, Ethan and Harris stood outside Professor Allenby's office, the cold air biting at their skin. The campus was eerily quiet, the buildings looming like dark sentinels in the night. There was something unnerving about the stillness, as if the shadows themselves were waiting for something to happen.

Ethan knocked on the door, the sound echoing down the empty hallway. A moment later, the door creaked open, and Professor Allenby stood in the doorway, his face a mask of calm indifference.

"Detective Cole," Allenby greeted, stepping aside to let them in. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company tonight?"

Ethan stepped inside, his gaze sweeping over the office. It was pristine, too perfect, like everything had been meticulously staged. He could feel the tension humming beneath the surface, a dark undercurrent that made his skin crawl.

"We're following up on some information regarding Peter Latham," Ethan said, his voice sharp. "You worked with him for years. Do you know where he is now?"

Allenby's expression didn't change, but there was a flicker in his eyes, a brief flash of something cold. "I haven't spoken to Peter in quite some time," he said smoothly. "He left the university under... difficult circumstances."

Ethan stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. "Difficult how?"

Allenby smiled faintly, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Peter had... problems. He was brilliant, but unstable. Obsessive. He became convinced that people were following him, that he was being watched. It affected his work, his relationships. Eventually, he had to leave."

"And you haven't heard from him since?" Harris asked, his voice thick with skepticism.

"No," Allenby said, his tone cool. "I haven't."

Ethan wasn't buying it. There was something too polished, too rehearsed about Allenby's answers. "You're hiding something," Ethan said, his voice dropping to a dangerous tone. "You know where he is, don't you?"

Allenby's smile faded, and for the first time, a shadow passed over his face. "I don't know where Peter is," he said, his voice lower now. "But if he's involved in this... then I suggest you find him quickly. Because if he's anything like I remember, he won't stop until he gets what he wants."

Ethan stared at him, his pulse quickening. There was something darker at play here, something far more twisted than he had imagined. Allenby might not be directly involved, but he knew more than he was saying.

"Thanks for your time, Professor," Ethan said, his voice cold. "We'll be in touch."

As they left the office, Harris glanced at Ethan. "You believe him?"

Ethan's jaw clenched. "No. He's hiding something. And we're running out of time."