Novels2Search

Heart

Ann slowly gains consciousness a few hours later. As she opens her eyes she sees Nicholas sitting next to the bed.

“Hello, sleepyhead,” Nicholas says softly noticing Ann waking up. With a comforting and genuinely happy smile, Ann looks at Nicholas.

“Hey, sis,” Oscar says as he comes closer to her. Ann has only just noticed Oscar standing in the room.

“Oz,” Ann says.

“Rest, don’t strain yourself.” Oscar says concerned as Nicholas gently holds her down to the hospital bed, making her lie down.

“What happened…to that man?” Ann asks slowly remembering a few details of what happened.

“I arrested him,” Oscar says as he looks at Nicholas. Oscar doesn’t want to worry his sister further and hence hides the fact that Rodney died.

“Ok,” Ann says as she looks at Nicholas. “Thank you for saving me,” Nicholas smiles and holds Ann’s hand as she holds his hand with the remaining strength he had left.

“Nick, can we talk outside?” Oscar asks as Nicholas nods at his words. Ann lets go of Nicholas’s hand and the two of them go out to the hallway to talk as she rests.

“Well, I believe we found Scarlet’s killer,” Oscar says.

“That guy?” Nicholas asks.

“Yes. Benjamin told me he was Scarlet’s stalker and he fits the profile. The height, stature, he even has a heart tattoo on his arm,” Oscar says.

“Heart tattoo?” Nicholas asks sounding confused.

“Yes, those were Gregory’s last words, heart tattoo,” Oscar says as Nicholas thinks for a moment. “Well I am relieved, we thought this was done by some serial killer or something,” Oscar says as he and Nicholas let out a laugh. “Now, about Ann.”

“I will take care of her,” Nicholas says as Oscar nods.

“I have to get to the station, got certain things to do,” Oscar says as Nicholas nods. Oscar has grown to trust Nicholas with his sister and so he knows she’s in good hands. As the two of them shake hands, Nicholas returns to Ann’s room and Oscar leaves.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

As Ann is ready to leave the hospital and Nicholas takes her back to her apartment. Not wanting to be alone after what happened, Nicholas lies down beside Ann as they talk.

Meanwhile back at the station, Dean and Oscar put together all the pieces and though it fits, Oscar is somehow unsatisfied with what they have found. Benjamin is also at the station as he gives an official statement about Rodney. It only makes sense in this situation that a crazy ex-stalker would try and kill Scarlet. But killing Gregory the way he did, it looked like a well-calculated plan. Looking at Rodney’s previous records, he was too reckless, leaving evidence everywhere making it easy for the police to find him. This murder seems to be executed in a manner a man like Rodney couldn’t have done it. With this worry and nothing else to go on, Oscar is ready to conclude the case but them some officers enter the room with a strange man.

“Why am I here, I didn’t do anything!” The man shouts.

Oscar and Dean look at the man and realize, this is Ronnie. The same man Mike had described is standing in front of them. Though Oscar feels they can’t go anywhere with this, he takes a chance and decides to talk to the man. Benjamin insists on being there and Oscar feels he owes Benjamin for the way he treated him before. And so on the condition, he says nothing, Benjamin is allowed to observe them questioning Ronnie.

“Look, I did nothing, I stole nothing,” Ronnie says and is interrupted by Oscar.

“That is not our concern. What we want to know is do you recognize this?” Dean shows him the hoodie and Ronnie looks a little shaken.

“No, I don’t think so,” Ronnie says nervously.

“Really, because your friend Mike was here a few days ago. He said you gave this to him,” Oscar says intimidating Dean.

“Look I found it in the dumpster and I told him to take it. Alright!” Ronnie says defensively as Dean and Oscar stare at him quietly for a moment. The silence is slowly getting to Ronnie as he tries to control his hands from trembling.

“Is there something you’re not telling us?” Dean asks as Ronnie breaks down crying.

“It belonged to him! The man who killed Harry,” Ronnie cries. “That night Harry was going to look in the dumpster for something to keep us warm. After a while, I went to see what was taking him so long and I saw him being killed, stabbed to death by a maniac The killer was wearing this and after killing Harry he threw the jacket in the trash, took his body, and left,” Ronnie says as he continues to sob.

“Why didn’t you tell the police this?” Dean asks.

“I did! they didn’t believe me,” Ronnie says unable to control is tears.

“Did you notice anything about this man? Other than his jacket?” Oscar asks.

“Yes, I barely saw it, as he left with the Harry. He came out into the light and I saw he had a tattoo on his arm. It was a,” Ronnie is interrupted by Oscar.

“A heart tattoo,” Oscar says sighing feeling they have reached a dead end yet again.

“No,” Ronnie says surprising everyone. As everyone stares at him he continues, “it wasn’t a ‘heart’ tattoo, it was a ‘art’ tattoo.” These words cause Oscar’s heart to sink, as he begins to realise he overlooked one small detail, which could now be fatal.