The precinct was buzzing with the usual chaos—phones ringing, officers exchanging notes, and the scent of burnt coffee lingering in the air. Jane Michaels sat at her desk, flipping through the case files from the Ridgeview Public Records Archive. The connection between the past and the present murders gnawed at her, but nothing definitive had surfaced yet.
Marcus Hayes, sitting across from her, was casually scrolling through his phone when an envelope landed on her desk. Jane looked up to see Megan Price grinning at her.
"What's this?" Jane asked, picking it up.
"Your golden ticket," Megan said, wiggling her eyebrows. "An invite to the Ridgeview Charity Gala at the community center. Everyone who's anyone will be there—including some people who might know a thing or two about the case."
Jane scoffed. "You think the Bride Killer is going to show up for cocktails and small talk?"
Megan shrugged. "You never know. These types love attention."
Marcus leaned over. "This thing is packed with high-profile townsfolk—Pastor Alan Reed, Eleanor Marks, the mayor, business owners. Maybe someone does know something. Could be worth your time."
Jane hesitated. She wasn't in the mood for small talk or polite smiles, not when a killer was out there.
Megan seemed to read her mind. "Come on, Jane. You've been running yourself into the ground. A night out, a chance to dig around... and maybe a little fun?"
Jane sighed. "Fine. But I'm not dressing up."
Megan smirked. "Oh, honey, you don't have a choice. We're going to your place, and I'm picking your outfit."
Jane groaned, but Megan was already dragging her toward the exit.
Jane's Apartment – A Forced Makeover
Jane stood stiffly as Megan rummaged through her closet, tossing aside anything remotely practical.
"You own nothing suitable for a formal event," Megan lamented.
"That's because I don't go to formal events."
Megan pulled out a sleek black dress and held it up. "This. This is the one."
Jane eyed it warily. "It's too much."
"It's perfect," Megan insisted. "Nathaniel won't know what hit him."
Jane stiffened. "Why would I care what Nathaniel thinks?"
Megan smirked. "Uh-huh. Sure. Just put it on."
Reluctantly, Jane slipped into the dress. When she emerged, Megan whistled.
"Detective, you clean up real nice."
Jane rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips.
Ridgeview Community Center – Unexpected Encounters
The charity gala was already in full swing when Jane and Marcus arrived. The venue was stunning—elegant chandeliers, polished wooden floors, and an air of sophistication that felt almost foreign to Jane.
She scanned the room, noting familiar faces. Eleanor Marks, the nosy bookstore owner, was deep in conversation with a group of town elders. Pastor Alan Reed stood near the bar, sipping from a glass of water, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd.
Then, her breath caught.
Nathaniel Blackwell.
Dressed in a tailored navy suit, he looked impossibly polished. His usual easy charm was replaced by an air of quiet confidence. He turned—and their eyes met.
For a split second, neither spoke. Then, almost in sync, they both said:
"You clean up well."
A flicker of surprise crossed Nathaniel's face before a slow smile appeared.
"I didn't think you'd be here," he said, stepping closer.
"Funny," Jane replied, "I could say the same about you."
Before Nathaniel could respond, Eleanor Marks appeared at his side, looping her arm through his.
Jane's stomach twisted.
"You two know each other?" Jane asked, forcing a neutral tone.
Nathaniel hesitated. "Eleanor was my escort for the evening."
Jane arched a brow. "Interesting. You didn't mention that this morning when you left my house."
Nathaniel sighed. "I didn't think you'd be interested in going, given the case."
Eleanor chuckled. "Oh, sweetheart, I knew something was going on between you two! Nathaniel's been talking about you."
Jane shot Nathaniel a look, and he cleared his throat, avoiding her gaze.
"Well," Eleanor continued, oblivious to the tension, "since you're both here, I might as well tell you something very interesting."
Nathaniel's phone buzzed, and he excused himself to take the call. The moment he stepped away, Eleanor leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
A Dark Secret
"You know, Jane," Eleanor began, swirling her wine, "Nathaniel comes from a very interesting family."
Jane tensed. "What do you mean?"
Eleanor glanced around, then smirked. "Oh, dear, I shouldn't say this, but... well, it is you."
Jane narrowed her eyes. "Say what, Eleanor?"
The older woman lowered her voice. "Nathaniel's ex-fiancée—gone. Just vanished. One day, she was there; the next, poof. No one talks about it, but I always found it suspicious."
Jane felt her stomach drop. "No one knows what happened to her?"
Eleanor took a sip of her wine. "Not a clue. And the Blackwell family? Well, let's just say they have their secrets."
Before Jane could press further, Nathaniel returned. Eleanor quickly switched gears, her tone bright and cheerful.
Nathaniel frowned. "Everything okay?"
Jane forced a smile. "Fine."
But her mind was racing.
Shadows in the Dark
As the night wore on, Jane couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. A shadowy figure lingered near the entrance, just out of reach of the light.
She turned to Marcus. "See that guy near the doors?"
Marcus glanced over. "Yeah. Been standing there a while. Suspicious?"
"Very."
But the moment she started toward him, the figure slipped away into the night.
Jane's blood ran cold.
The killer was close.
And now, she had more questions than answers.