The Bound Between Us

Chapter 843

Hank listened intently, jotting down notes as Jason explained his detective tricks.

"So, Jason, where do we even start looking for the first victim?" Hank glanced up from his notepad.

Jason paused, thinking it over. "Let's check with every precinct, see if there are any missing person reports. We'll roll the timeline back about a month before we found the first body-so we're looking for people who vanished around six months ago."

"Why go back a whole extra month?" Hank asked, genuinely puzzled.

Jason tapped Hank on the head with his chalk. "If you killed someone, wouldn't you be nervous? You'd lay low, wait to see if the cops caught on before pulling the same stunt again."

Hank grinned. "Yeah, I'd definitely want to see if I'd gotten away with it before trying again."

"Exactly. So let's check those records," Jason said, just as his phone rang. It was Monica.

Monica was waiting outside the station, leaning on her car. Jason came out, smiling. "Hey, Monica, what brings you here?"

She gave him a playful wink, resting her arms on the window. "Just checking if the legendary Detective Lucas has eaten yet. Want to grab dinner tonight?"

Jason let out a sigh. "Tonight's no good. I have to solve this serial case-chief's on my back, and the city's on edge. Once it's over, I owe you a big dinner."

Monica pouted. "It's always another case with you. When will it ever end?"

Jason could tell she was disappointed. He glanced around, saw no one was watching, then leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. "I'll try to get off early, swing by your place tonight."

He was good at sweet-talking, and Monica couldn't help but smile. "Fine. I'll wait at home. Don't let me hold you up, superstar. Bye!"

"Drive safe, and no drinking," Jason called as she started her car. Monica just waved out the window.

Monica headed to her favorite spa, feeling bored and in need of some pampering. While getting her facial, she called Anastasia. "Ana, what are you up to? Come to my shop for a facial, then let's go for hot pot tonight."

Katelyn, her mother-in-law, and the twins, Emmie and Nancy. Herman

help

chuckled, glancing at Katelyn, who was pushing a double stroller. "I'm with my mother-in-law right now. My mom's picking up my dad from

check," Monica said,

chatted for a bit, then Katelyn called Anastasia

eyeing the latest baby clothes. "Mom, we have so many clothes at home, most of them still with tags. Babies grow fast—maybe

frugal habits, so Katelyn's love for luxury always felt a bit much. Every

our family

much as glanced at a toy, Katelyn bought it. She'd even bought land to build a

would backfire as the

called. He was nearby and asked Katelyn to watch Joseph's son, Daria,

her to accept Joseph's child. She still hadn't come to terms with Joseph, her husband's son from another relationship, and now

even worried if I'll be nice to

mother, he clung to Anastasia. Despite her

down, buddy," Anastasia said, holding Daria's hand as he

me," Daria whined, hugging her

with a

When Emmie and Nancy get older, they'll be jealous if someone tries to steal Mom. And if Daria grows up to be ungrateful like Julie,

He's two. Let me carry him-kids copy us.

Anastasia replied, hinting for Katelyn

blank slates. What they become depends on what we

single dad, he couldn't give Daria a mother's attention. Most days, Daria stayed at Salstrom

scooped him up, and he snuggled

for afternoon tea by

in the nanny's arms, and Anastasia finally

was