Back at the precinct, I couldn't shake the feeling that Marcus held the keys to this case. Every interaction with him left me with more questions than answers. His calm demeanor hinted at secrets buried beneath the surface.
I spent the morning piecing together bits of information, examining every detail from last night's encounter at The Tangle. Something was off, and I knew I had to follow my instincts, even if it meant venturing into risky territory.
"Detective Gray," Allen interrupted my thoughts. "We've got an ID on the guy from the footage."
My heart skipped a beat. Finally, a lead. "Who is he?"
"Fellow named Aaron Hayes. Has a record for petty theft and bar brawls," Allen explained, his voice tinged with interest. "Nothing major."
The name didn't ring a bell, but it was a start. "Let's bring him in for questioning," I suggested. "Maybe he saw something."
Allen nodded, already moving to make the necessary calls. My thoughts circled back to Marcus. Was Hayes just a pawn in whatever game Marcus was playing?
Later, as I prepared to question Hayes, my phone buzzed. Another message from Marcus. *Meet me. Urgent.*
I hesitated. Was this a trap, or did he actually have something important to share? Either way, I needed to find out.
I told Allen about the message. "Watch my back, will you?" I asked, not entirely joking.
"Always," he promised with a smile that reassured me.
Arriving at the meeting place, an abandoned warehouse near the harbor, I felt a chill run down my spine. The setting was cliché, but maybe that was the point—just another layer of Marcus's complex web.
Marcus waited inside, leaning casually against a pillar, the faint light casting shadows across his face. His expression was as unreadable as ever.
"Kate," he said, his voice echoing in the empty space. "Thanks for coming."
I stood my ground, measuring every word. "You said it was urgent."
"It is," Marcus replied, stepping closer. His eyes locked onto mine, searching for something. "There are things happening that you need to know about."
"Then start talking," I urged, trying to mask my frustration and suspicion.
He hesitated, as if weighing his next words. "The man you're looking for, Aaron Hayes—he's not your Puzzler. But he knows things."
"Things like what?" I pressed, trying to push deeper into his guarded mind.
Marcus glanced toward the door, ensuring we were still alone. "Things about me. My past... connections."
"Why are you telling me this?" I asked, shocked by his sudden openness.
His eyes softened for a moment, a flash of vulnerability. "Because I know you're close, Kate. And I don't want you getting hurt."
The admission took me by surprise, but it didn't change the facts. Marcus was hiding something big—maybe even his own role in these killings.
"I need the truth, Marcus," I insisted, my voice firm.
He reached out, a hand almost brushing mine before he pulled back. "I've told you what I can. Be careful, Kate."
With that, Marcus turned, disappearing into the evening shadows. I watched him go, my mind spinning with possibilities and the scent of danger thick in the air.
As much as I wanted to believe there was still good in him, my instincts screamed that Marcus was at the center of this tangled web. I had to be careful not to get caught in his game—and to find the truth before anyone else got hurt.