Chapter 17: Danger Lurking
205words
"This necklace..." her voice still unsteady, "is the exact one I was wearing when they pushed me overboard. My parents gave it to me."
Jack nodded solemnly. "I recognized it immediately."
Zoe studied him carefully. "You knew he would give me this necklace, didn't you?"
Jack didn't bother denying it. "Michael collects trophies from his conquests. It gives us more evidence against him."
Zoe composed herself. "He practically confessed to my murder tonight. If we could get him to fully incriminate himself..."
"Too risky." Jack cut her off firmly. "He's killed before and won't hesitate to do it again. We don't need to rush this."
Zoe met his gaze unflinchingly. "But this might be our best chance to get concrete evidence."
Jack moved to her side, hesitated briefly, then said quietly: "It's not worth the risk."
His words resonated deeply within her. Looking up, she saw something in Jack's eyes she'd never noticed before.
Meanwhile, in her luxurious penthouse, Mia pored over the private investigator's report, her expression darkening.
"Who are you really, Zoe Taylor?" she muttered, her finger tracing over a close-up photo of the distinctive birthmark on Zoe's wrist.
