Mystery of Love

Chapter 1

(E/N: Edited)

Unknown POV

"N...no! Please don't... I'm b...begging you." I stammered. The masked figure brandished a knife. "You'll be sorry princess," he snarled, holding it up to my neck. It gleamed in the moonlight. "One noise and it'll be the last thing you do," he threatened. I whimpered but nodded in response.

Pulling a smelly blindfold over my eyes and gagging my mouth with a disgusting rag he shared with me, he led me into his truck. He threw me into the boot, causing me to hit my head hard. He slammed it close and drove off. I felt liquid drip down my forehead from where I hit my head. The blindfold moistened as a few tears escaped from my eyes. "Please let me be saved," I prayed in my head.

The car jammed to a stop and the familiar footsteps were heard. "Here we are, princess," he whispered in my ear. Shivers went down my spine as he lifted me up bridal style and carried me off the boot. His strong arms embraced me and I sniffed his cologne. I would have loved him. If only he wasn't crazy.

I felt my hands and legs being bound to a chair. He ripped off my blindfold, revealing a gray, bare room. "Welcome," he smirked. Even though his mask covered his face, I knew he was smirking. His hazel eyes shone with hatred, anger, and revenge.

He bent down so that our faces were inches away. "So, tell me. Where. Is. He?" he snarled. I shook my head. He removed my gag. "I...I'll never t...tell you," I stuttered. "Haha!" he laughed bitterly. "Sorry princess but if I'm not going to get it out of you..."

Stephanie's POV

"Another job well done Ms McCully," my boss, Mr Edwards, smiled weakly. I frowned. "What's going on? You're usually ecstatic after I solve a case," I pointed out. Mr Edwards nodded and sighed, his forehead creased slightly. "We've got another case," he replied. I nodded, slightly dreading the news.

After solving a case, I usually get the rest of the day and the next day off to rest. "And... I want you to meet Mr Benson," he continued.

Mr Benson? The totally arrogant and cute Mr Benson? James Benson? "No way! I'm not working with him!" I exclaimed. Mr Edwards scratched the back of his head, giving me a 'I-can't-do-anything' look.

"So! You're Stephanie McCully? James Benson," he smiled, showing his pearly white teeth. "Yes," I nodded, looking slightly disgusted. We shook hands, me rather reluctantly.

"Good," Mr Edwards said joyfully. "Since you two are... good, go to 212 Archer Road, 13292, Hillview," He informed us. We nodded and walked towards the carpark, where James' car was parked. He insisted that we take his car since it was a Lamborghini.

"So... how often do you leave cases unsolved?" he asked. "Never. I always solve them. No matter what," I replied, smugly.

"How long have you been working here?"

"3 years. You?"

"Same. How many cases did you solve?"
"82," I bragged.

"Nice. I solved 63 and left 12 unsolved,"

"Give up huh? That's not good," I shook my head.

"Yes, mum," he joked.

I laughed. I actually laughed. I don't believe it.

We arrived at the crime scene shortly after that. "Hey Steph," James called. I joined him and other policemen. We walked into some creepy old room where a girl lay on the cold floor.

I crouched down to examine her and jotted down some notes in my notebook.

Name:-
Age: Looks about 22
Hair colour: Blonde
Cause of death: Beaten and stabbed
Status: Tied to a chair before killed
Other injuries: Large wound on her forehead, abrasion marks on wrists and shin
Clues: Tyre marks in and out of the building, a chair, knife (used to stab her), rope (used to tie her to the chair)
Witnesses:-

"Watcha got?" James asked. I showed him my notebook. He studied it for a minute or two, then said, "Let's go back to tell Mr Edwards. He'll analyze the information for us," James suggested. I nodded and took my notebook. Something was very familiar about her, but her eyes were closed so I couldn't tell.

"Maybe we can find the car that made those tracks," I said, snapping a picture of the tyre tracks. "Yeah... At least we'll find out the tyre company," he replied. "You know, I kinda recognise that girl. If only her eyes weren't closed I would know for sure," he laughed slightly. "Yeah...she looks like someone I know too. Weird..." I trailed off. "But I bet it's just a coincidence," I hastily continued with a hopeful smile.

Deep inside, I prayed it wasn't the girl I know. Or the girl that he knows.

The car ride back was quieter. I bet he was silently praying too. His jaw was tense and his face, expressionless. His eyes were focused on the road ahead but there was a hint of worry in them. I also noticed how tightly he gripped the steering wheel causing his knuckles to turn white. For a split second, he looked kinda cute.

We stepped out of the car and walked to the lift lobby. Suddenly, I slipped, causing my ankle to twist. Luckily, he caught me before I fell into the floor and got anything else hurt.

My ankle was hurting like mad and the excruciating pain was almost unbearable. I couldn't walk on my own so I hobbled to Mr Edwards' office with James supporting me.

"Hey, did you see those muddy tyre tracks in the carpark? You slipped on oil and the tyre tracks led to the exact same spot but not into the parking lot," he told me. "Yeah...what if it is the same guy who killed her?" I asked rather worriedly. He shook his head. "Let's just go see Mr Edwards."

"Please sit. I've already analyzed everything," Mr Edwards gestured to the chairs. "The tyre tracks came from Michelin Tyre Company. The knife has a rare Japanese blade, the ropes are nearly unbreakable and lastly, the victim..." he trailed off.

James and I shared a look and frowned. "The victim?" We repeated. Mr Edwards sighed. "What you see will be very disturbing, for both of you. Please don't freak out," he looked from James to me, his eyes flickering between us. I squeezed my eyes shut. I was 100% worried. "Okay, I'm ready," I nodded. "Me too," James said quietly.

"Michaela McCully. She has one green eye and one brown eye which makes her so unique," Mr Edwards muttered glumly. "That's my cousin!" I almost screamed. "That's my future sister-in-law!" James exclaimed at the same time.

I couldn't control it, and I wouldn't. I sobbed my eyes out, ignoring the throbbing pain in my ankle.