Chapter 3 THE UNRAVELING

[ARIA POV]

It wasn't there yesterday.

I know because I looked at this desk for about twenty

minutes last night, memorizing every scratch, every

paperclip, every smudge of ink. I was looking for

something out of place but i didn't find it then.

Now there's a crane on my corner a white and Perfect one with wings that are sharp enough to cut but i didn't touch it.

The pen in my pocket feels really hot for no reason.

I step closer.

The folds are flawless, no creases from hesitation.

The person who created this knew the pattern by heart.

I pull the Montblanc from my pocket and hold them side by side same weight, Same engraving, I don't even know if I'm overreacting or I'm just doubting him because of the pen maybe I should just calm down for now.

But I don't even know which is which anymore.

I check my phone and pull up Ethan's calendar.

Morning: Writing. Afternoon: Coffee shop research.

Evening: Home by 6.

Coffee shop research.

He says that like it's normal. Like sitting in a

crowded place watching people is what writers do.

Maybe it is.

Maybe that's all it is.

I put the phone back into my pocket and look at the

crane again.

He always made all these cranes but this I don't know if he did or not and if he did. But when?

I was in the kitchen this morning and he was also in kitchen with me. I heard the chair scrape and the drawer open and close.

I thought he was just getting a pen.

My hands were shaking, so I headed down to his study.

The door's already open, its always left opened actually he doesn't hide anything from me atleast

That's what he told me once.

"I'm an open

book, Aria. Literally.

I used to think that was funny.

I sit at his desk and t he chair still smells of his collagen and old paper and something else I can't even name also the top drawer's unlocked. so i pull it open.

there were pens, notebooks, Sticky notes and a half-empty pack of gum also a stack of white squares paper pre-cut perfectly measured.

I count them and there were Nineteen to my surprise instead of twenty because I personally bought him a pack last month if i could remember very well because he kissed my cheek and said I always knew what he needed and now one is missing.

How come?

I close the drawer and open the next one.

They were just manuscripts, Old drafts, printed pages with red ink slashed through entire paragraphs.

I flip through them.

Nothing jumps out Just his usual stuff Crime

scenes, Detectives Killers who think they're artists.

I'm about to close it when I see the blotter on his

desk.

There's a mark.

Small and dark red.

I lean in to see and its blood

Still wet and fresh maybe its from him when he has a nosebleed or something

I look at my own hands to be sure its not from me but no cuts and no scratches.

I think about the crane and the sharp folds. The way

Paper can slice skin if you're not careful.

I got a goosebumps orghhhh!! I can't even imagine

I pull an evidence bag from my jacket i always carry

few, that's just a force of habit of mine.

I go back to my desk and pick up the crane, and it fits perfectly in the bag. I seal it, hold it up to the light, then I unseal it.

What am I doing?

If I log this, they'll ask questions. Where'd you

find it? Why didn't you mention it earlier? Does it

connect to the case?

And then they might trace it to our apartment, to me and I'm not even sure if Ethan is involved, I'm still doubting, this might all be a coincidence

I seal it again still looking at it to be sure so I don't make any mistakes I will regret later in future and just when I'm still looking at the seal my phone rings

It's Marcus.

I look at his name on the screen and I intentionally let it ring twice before I answer.

"hey Marcus

"You coming in or what, Kane?"

"No I don't think I can Marcus"

"Why? What happened?"

"Victim six just dropped.

What!!!!?

My blood goes cold.

"Where?"

"Different city but same motel chain with same setup bird and everything.

I close my eyes.

" And when was that?"

"Last night. Between midnight and two the local PD just

Called it in.

Last night Ethan was home I checked he was already asleep when I got home from work

ohhh my God what's really happening im I going crazy?

"Kane? You there?"

"Yeah. I'm here.

"So you're coming in?"

I look at the crane in the evidence bag and look at the

pen on my desk. I checked the time and it's almost noon.

Tomorrow night Seven p.m. Lighthouse Books.

He'll be there. Signing books Smiling for photos and meeting with his fans.

I can go and watch him to see if there will be any suspicious moves

"Kane are you there?"

" yes i'll be there in twenty minutes.

I hang up.

I stand in the middle of the apartment and try to

breathe.

Six victims now.

Six women—no, five women and one man.

All were killed the same way and all posed the same way and left with a bird and now there's one on my desk.

I look at the evidence bag in my hand.

If I turn this in, I'm accusing him. If I don't, I'm

hiding evidence.

Either way, I'm lying.

I think about Room 406. The blonde woman and the pen in my pocket.

I also think about Ethan this morning the way he smiled at me and said  "You'll figure it out babe you always do.

The way he said it more like he was daring me.

I put the crane back on my desk and leave it there. Exactly where he left it.

If he's the real killer and i wasn't just making things up because of the pen i saw at the crime scene room 406 then is defined watching and he'll know i found it.

He'll know I didn't turn it in and know that I'm playing his games now.

I grab my jacket and head for the door.

Before I leave, I look back one more timeand there it is the crane sits on my desk, white against dark wood.

Innocent, beautiful and innocent but might also be dangerous.

I close the door behind me and never bother to ook back.