CHAPTER 31

Luna arrived at the agreed meeting spot, a quiet café tucked away from the town’s busy streets. She spotted Sophia sitting at a corner table, her expression tired but determined. Luna approached, dropping her bag onto the floor as she slid into the seat across from Sophia.

Sophia looked up and immediately noticed the tension on Luna’s face. “Rough day?”

“You could say that,” Luna replied with a weak smile, leaning back in her chair. “Lucas showed up right after you left my house. He saw you leaving and demanded to know everything.”

Sophia sighed, running a hand through her hair. “I’m sorry, Luna. I shouldn’t have come to your house like that. I didn’t mean to cause trouble between you two.”

Luna shook her head. “It’s fine. Lucas and I… we’ve been at odds for a while now. This was just another excuse for him to play the overprotective brother.” She paused, taking a deep breath. “Let’s not waste time on that. What’s the plan? Any leads on the killer?”

Sophia straightened in her seat, her gaze locking onto Luna’s. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” She hesitated for a moment before continuing. “The curfew isn’t working the way we hoped. The killer is still out there, and now that his targets are harder to find, he’s turning his rage toward law enforcement. The murder of Greg Harper wasn’t random—it was deliberate.”

Luna’s stomach churned at the mention of the slain officer. She had seen the reports, but hearing Sophia confirm the calculated nature of the attack made it all the more chilling. “So, what do we do?” she asked cautiously.

Sophia leaned forward, her voice low and steady. “We set a trap. We give him exactly what he’s looking for.”

Luna frowned, unsure where this was headed. “What do you mean?”

“I mean you, Luna,” Sophia said, her tone serious. “We need someone who fits his profile to draw him out. Someone who can get his attention and lead us straight to him. You’ve been brave enough to help us so far, and I know it’s a lot to ask, but…”

“You want me to act as bait,” Luna finished, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sophia nodded. “I wouldn’t ask this of you if there were any other way. But the killer is escalating, and if we don’t stop him now, more lives will be lost.”

Luna stared at her, the weight of the proposal settling heavily on her shoulders. She felt a mix of fear and determination swirling in her chest. “Sophia, this is insane. What if something goes wrong? What if—”

“It won’t,” Sophia interrupted, her voice firm. “I won’t let anything happen to you. You’ll be under constant surveillance. We’ll have officers and agents stationed nearby, ready to intervene at a moment’s notice. This isn’t just about catching a killer, Luna. It’s about saving lives. Your bravery could end this nightmare for good.”

Luna looked down at her hands, her mind racing. She thought of the people who had already suffered—the victims, their families, even Greg Harper’s widow and children. She hated the idea of putting herself in danger, but she hated the idea of letting the killer roam free even more.

“I don’t know,” Luna said finally, her voice shaky. “It’s a huge risk. What if I’m not strong enough? What if I mess up?”

Sophia reached across the table, placing a reassuring hand over Luna’s. “You’re stronger than you think. I’ve seen it. And you won’t be alone. We’ll guide you every step of the way.”

Luna met her gaze, searching for any hint of doubt. But Sophia’s eyes were steady, filled with a quiet confidence that Luna found strangely comforting.

“I’ll do it,” Luna said after a long pause, her voice steady despite the fear bubbling inside her. “But you have to promise me one thing.”

“Anything,” Sophia said.

“You keep Lucas out of this,” Luna said firmly. “If he finds out, he’ll lose his mind, and I can’t handle that on top of everything else.”

Sophia nodded. “Agreed. Lucas won’t know a thing.”

Luna exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of her decision settle in her chest. She had just agreed to walk straight into the jaws of a killer, and there was no turning back now.

“When do we start?” she asked.

“Tomorrow,” Sophia replied. “We’ll go over the plan in detail and make sure everything is in place. Just remember, you’re not alone in this. We’ll be with you every step of the way.”

Luna nodded, but as she left the café and walked home, a knot of anxiety twisted in her stomach. She knew she was taking a dangerous gamble, and she could only hope it would pay off before it was too late.

Lucas paced outside the small, modest house, the sound of children’s laughter muffled by the thick walls. He had been standing there for a while, unsure if he should proceed. But the thought of Luna’s involvement in something so dangerous pushed him to act. He knocked on the door, his knuckles striking the wood firmly.

A few moments later, the door opened, and Carla appeared. She froze in the doorway, her eyes widening in surprise.

“Lucas?” she said, stepping outside and quickly shutting the door behind her to keep the noise of the children from spilling out. “What are you doing here? You can’t just show up like this. I’m working.”

“I know, and I’m sorry,” Lucas said, his voice laced with urgency. “But I need to talk to you. It’s important.”

Carla crossed her arms, clearly annoyed. “You can’t just keep barging into my life whenever you feel like it. My mom already warned you, and now you’re showing up at my job? What if the family I’m babysitting for sees you? They’ll think I’m not focused!”

“Carla, please,” Lucas said, lowering his tone but stepping closer. “This isn’t about me. It’s about Luna. I don’t know who else to turn to, and you’re the only one she listens to.”

Carla sighed, glancing back at the door as if expecting someone to step out and reprimand her. “Make it quick,” she said, her tone sharp but her eyes softening.

Lucas exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “Luna is in trouble. I don’t know all the details, but I’ve seen enough to know she’s hiding something. She’s working with that detective—Sophia Green. I saw her leaving Luna’s house earlier today.”

Carla’s face remained stoic, but Lucas could sense the flicker of recognition in her eyes.

“She’s putting herself in danger, Carla,” Lucas continued. “This whole thing, this case, it’s not just some game. There’s a killer out there, and Luna is getting involved in ways she shouldn’t. You need to talk to her, make her see reason. She won’t listen to me, but she might listen to you.”

Carla hesitated, her brow furrowing as she processed Lucas’s words. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said defensively, looking away. “Luna hasn’t said anything like that to me.”

“Don’t lie to me, Carla,” Lucas said, his voice firm but not unkind. “I know you’re her best friend, and I know she tells you things she doesn’t tell me. Please, if you care about her as much as I do, you’ll help me stop her before it’s too late.”

Carla looked back at Lucas, her expression conflicted. “You’re asking a lot of me,” she said softly. “Luna is stubborn, and if she’s already made up her mind, there’s no changing it. You know that as well as I do.”

“Then try,” Lucas pleaded. “Do whatever you can. If something happens to her…” He trailed off, his voice cracking slightly. “I can’t lose her, Carla. She’s all I have left.”

Carla’s resolve seemed to falter, and she let out a heavy sigh. “Fine,” she said. “I’ll try to talk to her. But I can’t promise anything, Lucas. You know how she is.”

“That’s all I’m asking,” Lucas said, his shoulders relaxing slightly. “Just try. Thank you.”

Carla nodded, glancing back at the door. “You should go before someone sees you. I’ll handle it.”

Lucas nodded, stepping back. “Thank you, Carla. I mean it.”

Without another word, he turned and walked away, his mind still racing with worry. Carla watched him go, a sinking feeling in her chest. She knew Lucas wasn’t exaggerating, and the thought of Luna being involved in something so dangerous terrified her. But convincing Luna to back down would be no easy task.