Ethan picked up the call.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2u1jb0q9K2
"Hello...Ethan?", said Ivory, her voice strained.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuTG6KDdM0
"Ivory, I can't believe you called me after so long", said Ethan.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKmMbG6MBv
Ivory paused trying not to cry again. And Ethan probably felt that pause.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQ4zFAcW78
"Ivory, Is everything alright?", asked Ethan carefully.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyT66NOm0Dk
"Do you have time? C-Can you meet me...please?", asked Ivory, her voice couldn't hide her pain anymore.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILEdpbd0UC
"Yeah, sure, Is this Saturday fine? Are you okay? Did something happen?", asked Ethan.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYY9yQ67hlN
"Yes, I'll tell you everything when we meet", cried Ivory.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttKQfmGGjJ
"Hey shh... I'll meet you this Saturday at that coffee shop where we used to hang out. And whatever it is, it will be okay", said Ethan in a soothing voice trying to calm her down.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDc55yDnPen
"Thank you, Ethan", said Ivory trying her best to stop crying.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNB9p3N9Jsj
________________________________________________________________________________
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhgA0iOAeA
On Saturday at that coffee shop :
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmq2Ddf7D4H
"Ivory, what happened? You called me after so long and you sound like a disaster struck you. Please tell me what happened?", asked Ethan placing his hand over Ivory's.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9blqtBK16
Ivory stayed quiet for some time making Ethan even more worried. He had never seen her this silent. Her face was drained and exhausted now unlike their phone call a few days ago where she was barely controlling her sobs. Her eyes still held tears, the kind that didn't spill anymore but clung on like they had nowhere to go.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZGztU90U6
After what felt like an eternity, she finally spoke.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIQMjyfo1V
"Mark's dead", her voice barely above a whisper.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPjF7XAYWH
When she said the name-Mark-it was like dust from an old book hitting his lungs. Of course he remembered him. Tall. Charming. Her shadow in college. He still remembered her laugh echoing down the steps. Mark's arm slung around her causally while he walked ten steps behind.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbgKl3EYyl
"H-How?", he swallowed hard.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WB8WABSx9
"He was killed...His heart was missing when I found him...", Ivory trailed off choking on her own words.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOV90XnDhrn
Ethan stayed silent for a while taking in the brutal murder of Mark. He wasn't thinking about the case first-not yet. He was thinking of her.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNOvrT5z1d
Ivory...her husband was gone. Back in college, she and Mark had been the picture of a happy couple-always wrapped up in each other. But now suddenly, Mark was gone. No one deserved to go through this. Especially not her.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqy0vC0O7s
But what didn't sit right was that Mark wasn't the kind of man you'd expect to find dead in such a brutal way. He used to be well liked and the kind of guy who'd leave you smiling just by talking to him.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbE9jbHqQ0X
So, who hated him enough to do this? And why in such a cold deliberate way?
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzH75b6J1Xk
Something didn't add up.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3DZOLkJjf
"You said his heart was taken out?", Ethan asked carefully.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnnJMaCyMW
Ivory nods. "With extreme precision. The police said that the autopsy report revealed that no other internal organs were damaged", she paused before continuing, "It's been over a week now and they have no leads. You're my last hope Ethan."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBb6G5Ozs5
Ethan looked into her sad but hopeful eyes and he knew that he couldn't say no to that.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvhTt8xwPd
"I will help you", said Ethan.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SSYGVYbGH
"Thank you so much, Ethan", said Ivory.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1lw5fMGis
Ivory told Ethan everything she saw, careful not to leave anything out. She described here she had found Mark's body and the scene looked like-how nothing was stolen, how silence in the room felt unnatural. Every detail, even the slightest flicker of memory-she gave it to him.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4ZmCfrw10
Ethan nodded deep in thought. "The murderer had a clear motive or wanted to give a message, that's for sure. But what? You said everyone your husband knew was investigated and came up clean... that makes this even more complicated. Maybe someone from the past or someone even completely unrelated could have done this."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYht96Pb04
"Someone completely unrelated?" Ivory asked, the part of her already knew where this was heading - She just wasn't ready to admit it.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8KEfkBnmc
Ethan nodded. "Yes, maybe an organ trade or a ritual", He said but his voice lacked conviction.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiUcFAVI2p
She let out a breath that felt more like giving up than breathing. "The police suspected the same thing - but there's still no evidence."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdL6Et6osK
"That's just one possibility, Ivory. Besides, I honestly don't think that's what really happened", said Ethan thoughtfully.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1CmrE51Qy
"What do you mean?" asked Ivory.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswudVa9RHy
"Organ traffickers don't usually pick men like Mark. They go after people no one notices - the vulnerable, the isolated", said Ethan.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryBVim6dMb
He glanced at her. "But Mark had you. A wife who reported his death within hours. Friends. Colleagues. He had a routine, a life that left traces everywhere. That kind of visibility? That's dangerous for people running illegal operations."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68eQvr25kx
He paused before continuing, "And they certainly don't leave bodies behind - not like that. If it were them, they'd take everything they could. Liver, kidneys, corneas... Not just one organ. They would not take risks for a single heart."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTOD09mhp0
He sighed thoughtfully, "This wasn't random or opportunistic. It was planned and whoever did this, knew what they were doing - and they were not afraid of being seen. More like they wanted to leave an impact. It was personal."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWjW8k3iwu
"B-But why?" Ivory stuttered.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieG7TxhjV1
Ethan shook his head softly. "I don't know yet but we will find out", he said pressing his hand on hers.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4XZxq1ndP
"Can I see the place where it happened?" asked Ethan.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mw5iKq50T
"Yeah, sure. The seal was taken off recently. I didn't touch anything... after that incident, I barely stepped into that room", said Ivory, her voice shaking slightly.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgi2e2OMZl
Ethan nodded following her out of the coffee shop.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWhDIUalKh
________________________________________________________________________________
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHJXhWykbA
At Ivory's house:
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlcSc7PNF4
Ivory showed Ethan the room, she didn't even change the bedsheet. Ethan looked around the room taking in every detail as if he was trying to picture the scene when this all happened.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsInxtiwOdx
"Do you have the autopsy report?" Ethan asked suddenly.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaaHAdVtxc
Ivory nodded, opening the drawer and handed him the papers. "They said I had the right to know since I am his wife", she said softly, "But I couldn't make much sense of it."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfluvK8kC8Z
"It's okay", Ethan said taking the report.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOe8zroNsa
He studied the autopsy report carefully before speaking, "This is the work of a professional", his voice serious.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxTMpY7BwK
"How are you so sure?" asked Ivory.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDme0aHPS58
"No jagged tissue or tearing - even the coronary arteries are untouched. This was done with precision using the right tools. A kitchen knife or something like that can't make such clean cuts", said Ethan.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7WQnDaQ9Q
"So, they kept the heart...?" Ivory asked.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLokC889tX
"Most probably, yes, they kept it. Otherwise, they won't have any other reason to remove it that carefully", replied Ethan.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5suZQ5CXM
Ivory stood there in silence for a moment, the weight of his words still sinking in before her thoughts were interrupted by Ethan.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0LhnBYxId
"Could I get some water?" asked Ethan.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1mKqEgI1K
Ivory gave him a soft nod and turned without saying anything.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyHMIRLRQj
He followed her to the kitchen - both of them needing a moment away from the heaviness still hanging in the air.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqyHhpcSsm
_______________________________________________________________________________
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIqHfo3xgo
In the kitchen:
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJR4aiRilyF
As soon as they stepped into the kitchen, they froze.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvW6LUHal0F
A bouquet of daisies tied with nothing but threads was lying on the counter - fresh, delicate and completely out of place.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQC333kZhAM
Ivory stepped forward and picked up the bouquet, her hands slightly trembling. She turned them over searching for a note, a name, anything.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhoqrAkwFC
There was nothing.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NmOj2TRBA
Her stomach sank. Someone had been there.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWihxhPgQcC
Ivory looked back at Ethan, holding his gaze for a second longer than necessary.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRea5Gqu5s
"Nothing", she swallowed hard. "No tag. No sender."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfcKrdTI4E
Ethan's expression darkened slightly. "Put it down", he said gently yet firmly. "Let's not add any more fingerprints. I'll have forensics check it."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaBm42nvoI
She placed it down on the counter.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBg9oSvO0F
Ethan stepped closer, scanning the area. The surface was clean and everything else was undisturbed. Nothing looked out of place.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAF6K6srpM
"Before you left, did you check this counter?" Ethan asked, his eyes still fixed on the bouquet. "I need to know if it was already here, or was placed when you were out."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoiRERpjNO
Ivory gave a short nod. "I was in here before I left. Grabbed something to eat. I didn't see any flowers then."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjhJAnlEFT
"Hm... Daisies", Ethan said thoughtfully.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1J6TusUQMZ
Ivory looked at him, "What about them?"
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIF9a2uIwBt
He glanced at the bouquet before looking down at her. "It's winter. You don't find fresh daisies in shops during this time of the year - not unless someone really went out of their way."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXKNgkfjQX
Ivory's breath caught as something clicked in her mind.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpTkqUoH21
"I... I love daisies", She said slowly. "They are my favourite."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbogHmYArar
Ethan's brow lifted, a memory surfacing. "Yeah, I remember." His voice softer now though his expression had turned more thoughtful. "You liked them back then too. You even grew them in your dorm."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtErPc5AIA
He paused and looked directly into her eyes before asking, "Do you still grow them?"
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpk8QOKTYqX
Ivory shook her head. "Not anymore. I stopped after I moved in with Mark. He hated the smell."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TaGOyjDnQ
Ethan didn't respond right away. He remembered how she used to wear daisies in her hair during college with the same quiet ease. Somehow, it always suited her. And how she never put them on when Mark was around - because she loved him enough to care.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHvJSlkFeb
Ethan lingered in the memory for a moment longer, then straightened slightly and his expression shifted back to being focused again.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHidpl4CZiy
"It's not random", he said. "Whoever left this knows you well enough to know you like daisies."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3VlzritrS
He looked at her face carefully. "Has anyone ever seemed too interested in you? Overly sweet? Trying to get close? Or maybe..." He paused, his gaze steady. "Anyone following you? Even just a shadow? A silhouette - something that didn't seem right?"
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGV13Dn42F
Ivory brows furrowed as she tried to think, replaying fragmented moments in her mind of the past few days - faces or passing glances. Anything that could raise an alarm.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdN2geiY7pj
Nothing particularly stood out. But...
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7sc1Qpk6s
"There were times", she said slowly, "When I thought I saw someone... maybe just a shadow at the corner of my eye... or the feeling that I was being followed."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7jOSrLCN4
She shook her head softly. "But I never gave it much thought. Life was busy and exhausting. I never got the time to understand the danger. Maybe because I didn't believe that it was real."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3S8waDAgb
Ethan let out a slow breath, his gaze drifting out the window.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9cjOl6I5z
"It's possible", he said slowly, "That someone had been watching you. Maybe even had a hand in Mark's death. And now that he's gone... maybe they don't feel the need to hide anymore."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi20h33QAgZ
But his brows furrowed, the tension in his voice shifting.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FZWB7iIEc
"Still", he added, almost to himself. "After pulling off something that meticulous... why suddenly leave a trace? A bouquet? It's too exposed, too easy to follow up on."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9M2g3Cv2Am
He shook his head faintly, feeling uneasy.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdhZy1BAtl
"It looks like a bait."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4ttd2Xva6
Ethan's gaze lingered on the bouquet, then drifted to the window again, his mind ticking through possibilities.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQ9cN2Q7Su
Maybe the presence of another man - him - so soon after Mark's death had triggered something.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoY1rwKbXte
A reaction. A warning in the form of flowers.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Woadc345u
The murder hadn't just been about taking Mark out of the picture. It was deliberate and personal.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdO7D3W5nVY
A message - both to Ivory and anyone else who dared to stand too close.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpTSqjZgIg
As if he wanted to say, 'I am watching. Stay away.'
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuts3f63N4
Ethan sighed heavily, letting that possibility sink in.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcH7XkIGSM
AUTHOR'S NOTE: HOPE YOU LIKE MY NEW CHAPTER. LEAVE COMMENTS FOR SUGGESTIONS AND REVIEWS. {THIRD CHAPTER : Ethan... T-That shadow... Is that...him? *Ivory's voice trembles} YEAH, THAT'S THIRD CHAPTER GUYS!!!! STAY WITH ME TILL THE END. AND FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM FOR REGULAR UPDATES. MY INSTA ID: myra.sagaa
ns216.73.217.39da2
and then Add to home screen.