40. Chapter 40
Wren
I step out of the shower, wrapping a towel around my body.
The bathroom mirror is fogged, my reflection a pink-haired blur.
I wipe a clear patch with my palm, studying my face.
The bruises from my fall have faded to yellowish smudges, and the stitches at the lower back of my head itch beneath my damp hair near my hairline.
I dress quickly in comfortable clothes—loose jeans and one of Jace's t-shirts that hangs to mid-thigh. My throat feels raw this morning, the result of speaking so much and last night's... activities. Worth it, though. So worth it.
When I emerge from the bathroom, I find Jace already set up at the dining table, laptop open, fingers flying across the keyboard. He glances up, his eyes softening when they land on me.
"Feel better?" he asks.
I nod, padding barefoot to the kitchen to make tea. I need a rest today. I watch Theo struggling with his tie, muttering curses under his breath. The sight makes me smile—this powerful, confident man, undone by a simple strip of fabric.
I abandon my tea preparation to help him, batting his hands away and taking over. His eyes meet mine as I adjust his collar, something warm and intimate passing between us.
"Thanks," he murmurs, pressing a kiss to my forehead.
"You look nice," I sign, stepping back to admire my handiwork.
"Not as nice as you," he replies, his eyes traveling appreciatively over my casual attire. "Even in Jace's ratty old t-shirt, you're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."
I roll my eyes at the flattery, but warmth blooms in my chest. I'm about to return to my tea when my phone rings, the sound startling in the quiet apartment. No one ever calls me—they all know I don't speak.
I grab it from the counter, my stomach dropping when I see Maya's name on the screen. Something's wrong. Very wrong. She never calls, only messages.
My thumb swipes to answer, but before I can even try to force out a greeting, Maya's voice blasts through the speaker, high and hysterical.
"Wren? Oh my god, Wren, are you there? Are you okay? Please tell me you're okay!"
The panic in her voice sends ice through my veins. I fumble with the phone, hitting the speaker button so Jace and Theo can hear.
"She's here, Maya," Jace says, immediately abandoning his work to join me. "She's fine. What's happened?"
"Oh thank god," Maya gasps, her voice breaking. "I was so worried when you didn't message last night like you said you would but I figured maybe you just fell asleep early, and then I got to work this morning to open up and—" She breaks off with a choked sound.
"Maya?" Theo prompts, moving closer to the phone. "What's going on?"
"It's Marcus," she says, her voice suddenly dropping to a whisper. "He's... oh god, he's dead. Someone killed him."
My legs go weak. Theo's arm wraps around my waist, steadying me.
"What do you mean, killed?" Jace asks, his voice sharp with tension.
"I mean murdered," Maya says, a hysterical edge creeping back into her voice. "Slaughtered. Not just stabbed or shot or whatever. He was... he was torn apart."
I feel the blood drain from my face. Theo guides me to a chair, his hand warm on my back.
"There was so much blood," Maya continues, her voice shaking uncontrollably.
"Everywhere. All over the café. And his.
.. his hands were cut off. Just... lying there on the counter.
" She pauses, and I hear the unmistakable sound of her gagging.
"Oh god, I'm sorry. The fingers are gone too.
They're not... they're not attached to the hands anymore. "
Theo and Jace exchange a look over my head, something dark passing between them.
"I'm sorry," Maya gasps after a moment. "It's just... I've never seen anything like it. I can't get the image out of my head."
"What about the police?" Theo asks, his voice carefully controlled. "Have they been notified?"
"They just left," Maya confirms. "They were here for hours. I had to tell them that Wren was closing last night. I'm so sorry, Wren. I didn't want to drag you into this, but they asked who was on shift and—"
"It's okay," Jace reassures her. "You did the right thing."
"There was something else," Maya says, her voice dropping even lower. "A message. Written on the wall behind the counter. In... in his blood."
My stomach churns. I grip the edge of the table, knuckles white.
"What did it say?" Theo asks, his hand tightening on my shoulder.
"'He touched what wasn't his to touch. The punishment fits the crime.'" Maya's voice breaks on the last word. "What does that even mean? What did he do?"
Jace and Theo exchange another loaded look.
"Maya, listen to me," Jace says, his voice steady. "Stay where you are. Don't talk to anyone else about this. We'll—"
A sharp knock at the door cuts him off. We all freeze, staring at each other.
"That'll be the police," Maya says, having heard the knock, a tremor in her voice. "They said they'd be heading to your place next, Wren. To ask about last night."
Another knock, more insistent this time.
"And we’re all out of donuts," Theo mutters, a forced smile not reaching his eyes.
I ignore his gallows humor and sign quickly to Jace: "Tell Maya I'll come see her today. I'll stay at her place tonight. We can work on that project."
Jace relays the message, adding, "She will help try to keep your mind off things."
"Really?" Maya sounds tearfully grateful. "You'd do that for me?"
I nod, though she can't see me. Jace understands and confirms for me.
"I don't like it," Jace says after ending the call, his eyes meeting mine. "Staying at Maya's isn't secure. We don't know who did this or why."
"I think we have a pretty good idea of the who and the why," Theo mutters, his eyes flicking to my throat meaningfully.
I shake my head firmly. "I'm staying with her," I sign decisively. "She needs me. You can stake out her place if you want, but I'm going."
"Wren—" Jace starts.
"She's my friend," I continue signing, my movements sharp with determination. "She just found a mutilated body. I'm not abandoning her. Besides, she was already going to help me get ready for the launch party tomorrow."
The knocking comes again, followed by a woman's voice. "Ms. Maddox? This is Detective Rivera. We need to speak with you."
"I'll get it," Theo says, heading for the door. He pauses, looking back at me. "You sure about this? Staying with Maya?"
I nod firmly. "What kind of friend would I be if I left her alone after what she saw? I need to distract her."
Theo's expression softens. "That's my girl. Always thinking of others." He turns to open the door.
Jace studies my face, his expression troubled. "You know this was him, don't you?”
I nod, swallowing hard against the tightness in my throat. "Yes," I sign, my hands trembling slightly. "He must have seen what happened with Marcus last night."
Jace's expression darkens. "He's escalating. Rapidly."
Before we can discuss it further, Theo lets in Detective Rivera. "Ms. Maddox," she says, nodding to me. "I apologize for not bringing a translator with me. Things have been... hectic this morning. I hope one of your boyfriends can assist?"
I nod, gesturing to Jace, who moves closer to me.
"I understand you were closing at Grounded last night," Detective Rivera begins, pulling out a small notebook. "Can you tell me about your interactions with Marcus Donovan?"
I hesitate, then begin to sign, keeping my movements clear and deliberate. Jace translates smoothly.
"Marcus requested that I close last night to make up for some of the time I had been in the hospital.
Marcus was in his office most of the night.
After the café was empty, he came out and.
.." I pause, remembering his hands on me, his disgusting proposition.
"He made unwanted sexual advances. He grabbed me. "
Detective Rivera's expression doesn't change, but she makes a note. "And what happened then?"
I continue signing, Jace's voice steady as he translates. "I screamed. My boyfriend arrived—he was coming to walk me home. He pulled Marcus off me."
The detective's eyes flick to Jace's bruised knuckles, then back to my face. "Your boyfriend assaulted Mr. Donovan?"
"He protected me," I sign emphatically. "Marcus had me pinned against a table. He was saying vile things, demanding sexual favors."
"I see." Detective Rivera makes another note. "Were you aware that Mr. Donovan subscribed to your camming content under the username VantaBlackVoid?"
My hands freeze mid-air. The room suddenly feels twenty degrees colder.
"How do you know about my—" I begin to sign, but she cuts me off with a look.
I feel Jace stiffen beside me, his translation faltering. Theo moves closer, his hand finding my shoulder.
"I'm a detective, Ms. Maddox," she says simply, her pen poised above her notebook.
"And after this altercation, what happened?" she continues as if she hadn't just detonated a bomb in the middle of the room.
"We left. Came straight home," I sign, my movements jerky now.
"What time was this?"
I sign the approximate time, watching as she writes it down.
Detective Rivera studies me with that careful, neutral expression I've come to recognize as her professional mask. "Ms. Maddox, would you assume this is the work of the stalker you previously told me about?"
I nod, then decide to use my voice despite the scratchy pain in my throat. "Yes," I manage to say aloud.
Her eyebrows lift slightly at the sound of my voice. "Interesting," she says, tapping her pen against her notebook. "There was a message they found at the scene—'the punishment fits the crime'—that is actually the Reaper's signature phrase.
"But the Reaper is in FBI custody," she continues, watching my face carefully.
"I told you," I sign, Jace translating, "they were best friends. They started killing together." My hands are steady, but my heart is racing.