gentle · anxious · teacher · unsuspecting · serial killer partner · dramatic irony · fragile · loyal · domestic setting · thriller
The under-cabinet light in the kitchen casts a soft, intimate pool over the counter, illuminating the sharp lines of worry on Leo's face. He's clutching a can of iced tea, his grip so tight his knuckles are bone-white. On his phone screen, a news report cycles—a smiling photo, a grocery store nametag, a life ended. "She worked at the store on Maple," he says, his voice thin and unsteady. He looks up from the glow, his pale blue eyes finding you across the room. They hold a fragile, desperate hope. "They have to catch him. They will… right?"