Ethan picked up the call.
177Please respect copyright.PENANA1DCvozaRHz
"Hello...Ethan?", said Ivory, her voice strained.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAmwcs1ogDge
"Ivory, I can't believe you called me after so long", said Ethan.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAIjvXJm8iid
Ivory paused trying not to cry again. And Ethan probably felt that pause.
177Please respect copyright.PENANATLS3Anq5S2
"Ivory, Is everything alright?", asked Ethan carefully.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAAVVmd1Cep4
"Do you have time? C-Can you meet me...please?", asked Ivory, her voice couldn't hide her pain anymore.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAnHd2xMZsez
"Yeah, sure, Is this Saturday fine? Are you okay? Did something happen?", asked Ethan.
177Please respect copyright.PENANArPbmtyyzIO
"Yes, I'll tell you everything when we meet", cried Ivory.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAWFCajqZbsd
"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.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAFlMv7szS1l
"Thank you, Ethan", said Ivory trying her best to stop crying.
177Please respect copyright.PENANA57mQNipbrA
________________________________________________________________________________
177Please respect copyright.PENANAPvHDQM0VWb
On Saturday at that coffee shop :
177Please respect copyright.PENANAo94AVhi16l
"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.
177Please respect copyright.PENANA4Ewl45REpP
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.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAhp5aCzw6X7
After what felt like an eternity, she finally spoke.
177Please respect copyright.PENANA7gIj8heZjF
"Mark's dead", her voice barely above a whisper.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAI2rJoAymcr
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.
177Please respect copyright.PENANArzQHmPzP7H
"H-How?", he swallowed hard.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAbho12ySPap
"He was killed...His heart was missing when I found him...", Ivory trailed off choking on her own words.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAQiMDyh1LlA
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.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAjw4Gc0PIZ2
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.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAlHTV11vwOS
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.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAeQYR4QrfFb
So, who hated him enough to do this? And why in such a cold deliberate way?
177Please respect copyright.PENANAOYKUHwLQD5
Something didn't add up.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAbGT9xezs6f
"You said his heart was taken out?", Ethan asked carefully.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAGeZfIYly8G
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."
177Please respect copyright.PENANAEocquPhHaN
Ethan looked into her sad but hopeful eyes and he knew that he couldn't say no to that.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAH5IhzHSUZS
"I will help you", said Ethan.
177Please respect copyright.PENANABZSLnbNTT2
"Thank you so much, Ethan", said Ivory.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAaNcuUfN3KE
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.
177Please respect copyright.PENANABH1deRyPKF
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."
177Please respect copyright.PENANAy5LWR0OgBq
"Someone completely unrelated?" Ivory asked, the part of her already knew where this was heading - She just wasn't ready to admit it.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAjjrM1Mfwi8
Ethan nodded. "Yes, maybe an organ trade or a ritual", He said but his voice lacked conviction.
177Please respect copyright.PENANArc1QuHp2nA
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."
177Please respect copyright.PENANARzw2p8pP0p
"That's just one possibility, Ivory. Besides, I honestly don't think that's what really happened", said Ethan thoughtfully.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAJTpRNni8Dq
"What do you mean?" asked Ivory.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAeaf4qkFALy
"Organ traffickers don't usually pick men like Mark. They go after people no one notices - the vulnerable, the isolated", said Ethan.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAdaCsbqcah7
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."
177Please respect copyright.PENANAkfQ4nC4SGl
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."
177Please respect copyright.PENANAuxyzhyNu95
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."
177Please respect copyright.PENANAgzawKvus9O
"B-But why?" Ivory stuttered.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAT5V23RVh3F
Ethan shook his head softly. "I don't know yet but we will find out", he said pressing his hand on hers.
177Please respect copyright.PENANA40LnW9zNcV
"Can I see the place where it happened?" asked Ethan.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAJQiCOb8XFy
"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.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAocq2IBaeJu
Ethan nodded following her out of the coffee shop.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAEJm6qc5ElJ
________________________________________________________________________________
177Please respect copyright.PENANAQqfuTATOUF
At Ivory's house:
177Please respect copyright.PENANAV9SBPq1n30
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.
177Please respect copyright.PENANALIlbK33l5x
"Do you have the autopsy report?" Ethan asked suddenly.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAjZAWb5ZoYO
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."
177Please respect copyright.PENANAFLXALXF5nH
"It's okay", Ethan said taking the report.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAdAKfFR8iU0
He studied the autopsy report carefully before speaking, "This is the work of a professional", his voice serious.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAsxD5UcJzB4
"How are you so sure?" asked Ivory.
177Please respect copyright.PENANANG3KQAwy0A
"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.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAj6vmMAdlI7
"So, they kept the heart...?" Ivory asked.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAlnjs3fkbo7
"Most probably, yes, they kept it. Otherwise, they won't have any other reason to remove it that carefully", replied Ethan.
177Please respect copyright.PENANA4ve2VlcATr
Ivory stood there in silence for a moment, the weight of his words still sinking in before her thoughts were interrupted by Ethan.
177Please respect copyright.PENANA9dS609BUDb
"Could I get some water?" asked Ethan.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAfc8luxThH8
Ivory gave him a soft nod and turned without saying anything.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAutlW2f3vcy
He followed her to the kitchen - both of them needing a moment away from the heaviness still hanging in the air.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAmTWxLxF9Oz
_______________________________________________________________________________
177Please respect copyright.PENANAGt2lYav2hQ
In the kitchen:
177Please respect copyright.PENANAyj9O7Dz2Vp
As soon as they stepped into the kitchen, they froze.
177Please respect copyright.PENANA7lURoITzQo
A bouquet of daisies tied with nothing but threads was lying on the counter - fresh, delicate and completely out of place.
177Please respect copyright.PENANALI4FyHH13Q
Ivory stepped forward and picked up the bouquet, her hands slightly trembling. She turned them over searching for a note, a name, anything.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAyplNX28KvA
There was nothing.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAvzf6EbDr5x
Her stomach sank. Someone had been there.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAiUsE97NUbT
Ivory looked back at Ethan, holding his gaze for a second longer than necessary.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAOBv1EfX5lo
"Nothing", she swallowed hard. "No tag. No sender."
177Please respect copyright.PENANAPTxo8Uc4D7
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."
177Please respect copyright.PENANAmUw2UF1175
She placed it down on the counter.
177Please respect copyright.PENANA7wRnest4l5
Ethan stepped closer, scanning the area. The surface was clean and everything else was undisturbed. Nothing looked out of place.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAJK7GRQEM9E
"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."
177Please respect copyright.PENANAvhDAOVZ5ql
Ivory gave a short nod. "I was in here before I left. Grabbed something to eat. I didn't see any flowers then."
177Please respect copyright.PENANAF3OidmZyXw
"Hm... Daisies", Ethan said thoughtfully.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAQyzll20pAA
Ivory looked at him, "What about them?"
177Please respect copyright.PENANA5sjEa6GHug
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."
177Please respect copyright.PENANACOaimRE23K
Ivory's breath caught as something clicked in her mind.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAKu64hPGXVN
"I... I love daisies", She said slowly. "They are my favourite."
177Please respect copyright.PENANAK84hw8GtV7
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."
177Please respect copyright.PENANAbzWPHzJck8
He paused and looked directly into her eyes before asking, "Do you still grow them?"
177Please respect copyright.PENANAaZQlSGSAmt
Ivory shook her head. "Not anymore. I stopped after I moved in with Mark. He hated the smell."
177Please respect copyright.PENANAuNbaY7S4iP
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.
177Please respect copyright.PENANA43OSS0MAaU
Ethan lingered in the memory for a moment longer, then straightened slightly and his expression shifted back to being focused again.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAmRRbX3R9jN
"It's not random", he said. "Whoever left this knows you well enough to know you like daisies."
177Please respect copyright.PENANAyajpqYEpQp
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?"
177Please respect copyright.PENANAx5MKtvRWgp
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.
177Please respect copyright.PENANA791gyzyImG
Nothing particularly stood out. But...
177Please respect copyright.PENANAjHYElXYFzS
"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."
177Please respect copyright.PENANA3KwjgzbBnP
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."
177Please respect copyright.PENANAnsJrJs0gjb
Ethan let out a slow breath, his gaze drifting out the window.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAG1eL0mPPxz
"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."
177Please respect copyright.PENANAgWzPcH2xjV
But his brows furrowed, the tension in his voice shifting.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAw4KX7ukgYj
"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."
177Please respect copyright.PENANAZANMY5gnl1
He shook his head faintly, feeling uneasy.
177Please respect copyright.PENANA4uuQ7UrjZb
"It looks like a bait."
177Please respect copyright.PENANAi3D4dfk0XJ
Ethan's gaze lingered on the bouquet, then drifted to the window again, his mind ticking through possibilities.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAdxw3lnNcLU
Maybe the presence of another man - him - so soon after Mark's death had triggered something.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAqTRni2q8p9
A reaction. A warning in the form of flowers.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAQxxFLifsBe
The murder hadn't just been about taking Mark out of the picture. It was deliberate and personal.
177Please respect copyright.PENANA17Ah4w7LNh
A message - both to Ivory and anyone else who dared to stand too close.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAlC3pU3tzgt
As if he wanted to say, 'I am watching. Stay away.'
177Please respect copyright.PENANAwYBvz9DI4B
Ethan sighed heavily, letting that possibility sink in.
177Please respect copyright.PENANAhFouQFm85x
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
ns216.73.216.141da2


