Page 100 of Symphony for Lies

Zane cleared his throat.

I glanced at him, but before I could say anything, Bella asked, “And who’s the brooding man next to you?”

“I’m Zane Cole,” he greeted smoothly, voice edged with something sharp. “The boyfriend of someone who has a habit of throwing herself into danger.”

I rolled my eyes.

Unnecessary. So unnecessary.

Bella’s lips twitched. She glanced at Nathan, who raised a brow with a knowing smirk.

“Ah,” she hummed like she had already figured something out.

Nathan leaned forward slightly. “So, he’s not thrilled about this investigation, huh?”

Zane shrugged, but the tension in his shoulders didn’t ease.

“Alright, Amelia.” Bella set her cup down, picking up a notepad and pen.“Tell me everything.”

And so, I did.

Her expression didn’t change much as I spoke, but her eyes softened.Like she wasn’t just listening. She was reliving her own ordeal.

Nathan’s arm slid around her waist, his fingers brushing along her side. A small, protective movement.

“Do you have any proof that Mr.Lane is innocent?”Bella finally asked.

“No,” I admitted. “Not exactly. But it doesn’t feel right. There are too many loose ends, and he doesn’t fit the pattern. I’ve known him for years. He wouldn’t do this.”

Bella set her pen down.There was a long, heavy pause before she hesitantly said, “Knowing someone for years… doesn’t mean you know them.”

A cold sense of apprehension curled in my stomach.

“One of the killers in my case…” Her voice faltered just for a second.“…was someone I trusted with my life. Someone I never, never would have suspected. It was a shock that I didn’t see coming.”

Disheartened, I looked away from the screen.

“Neither did I,”Nathan exhaled sharply.

A heavy silence settled over us all.

And then I felt Zane’s eyes on me. When I glanced up at him, his expression was unreadable. But I knew what he was thinking.

“Looking back, there were signs,”Bella admitted.“Tiny details. The way he moved, the way he spoke, little moments that didn’t quite add up.”

I swallowed.

“But maybe you’re right,” she continued.“Maybe he isn’t the killer. Someone left a note for you, after all. Which means—”

“—he might not be working alone,” Nathan finished grimly.

Bella nodded.“If that’s the case, then someone is still out there. And that’s not good.”

A slow, crawling dread curled around my ribs.“What should I do?”

“Find the connections. The killer follows an old pattern,but there’s always one unique detail. Something personal. A fingerprint. Something only they would add.”

“My wife is wrong. Stay the hell out of it,” Nathan interjected. “You’re young. You shouldn’t put yourself in danger.”

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