Chapter 25: "A Dangerous Suggestion"*
Several days had passed with little progress on the case, and Marie was beginning to feel the frustration building within her. She sat on the worn leather couch at her sister Lee's place, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of her coffee cup as she vented her frustrations. The weight of the investigation, the pressure of getting nowhere with Kevin, and the constant threat looming over her head were starting to feel unbearable.
Lee, with her sharp, no-nonsense demeanor, listened quietly at first. She had always been the most pragmatic of the Kanker sisters, and after years of dealing with men in her own life, she had developed a certain cynicism toward them. The suggestion that was about to come from her lips was rooted in that very experience.
"Look," Lee said, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms. "You're spinning your wheels with this guy. It's time to take a different approach."
Marie frowned, confused. "What do you mean? I've been questioning him, watching his properties. I'm doing everything by the book."
Lee rolled her eyes. "That's the problem. By the book isn't going to cut it with guys like Kevin. He's a politician, Marie. He knows how to dodge questions and give the runaround better than anyone. But if you want him to start talking, really talking, you're going to have to think outside the box."
Marie raised an eyebrow. "And what's your idea of thinking outside the box?"
Lee smirked, leaning forward as if about to share a secret. "Go on that date with him."
Marie's face immediately tightened. "You've got to be kidding me. There's no way I'm going on a date with Kevin. He's dangerous, Lee."
"I'm not saying you're going to marry the guy, Marie. I'm saying you go on the date and wear a wire. Flirt with him. Show him a little skin, bat your eyelashes, do what you have to do. If Kevin's that into you—and from what you've told me, he's obsessed—he'll be dying to impress you. And if you play it right, he'll spill the beans about his partners. Men are easy to manipulate when you use your feminine wiles."
Marie stared at her sister, incredulous. "You can't be serious. Kevin isn't some regular guy. He's already shown he's capable of violence. And what if he figures out I'm setting him up? He's not stupid."
Lee waved off Marie's concerns with a flick of her hand. "You give men way too much credit. They're predictable. Trust me, once he's got you in a nice dress, laughing at his terrible jokes and giving him that 'come hither' look, he won't even think twice. He'll start talking because he'll want to impress you. And you've always been good at making guys fall for you."
Marie leaned back on the couch, her mind racing. She didn't like the idea at all. The thought of getting that close to Kevin again, of letting him think he was winning her over, sent a chill down her spine. But Lee had a point—Kevin was obsessed with her, and he had been pressing her for a date since day one. If she went along with it, there was a chance he might let something slip, especially if he felt like he had her wrapped around his finger.
"I don't know, Lee," Marie said, her voice hesitant. "It seems too obvious. If I suddenly change my tune and start flirting with him, he might get suspicious."
"Only if you overthink it," Lee said, leaning back in her chair. "Look, you don't have to do anything you're uncomfortable with. But if you're really serious about cracking this case, you need to get closer to the source. And Kevin's the source. He's too cocky to think you'd ever turn on him. Play it cool, make him think he's winning, and he'll let his guard down."
Marie stared at the ceiling for a moment, her mind turning over the idea. Could she really do it? Could she pull off an act like that, knowing what Kevin was capable of? The idea of manipulating him, using his attraction to her against him, made her feel uneasy. But as much as she hated to admit it, Lee was right—Kevin's arrogance was his biggest weakness. If she could make him think he was in control, maybe he would slip up.
"I'll think about it," Marie finally said, standing up and grabbing her jacket. The thought of putting herself in that situation made her stomach churn, but the desperation of the case was weighing on her. "But I'm not making any promises."
Lee smiled, clearly pleased with herself. "Just remember, men are simple creatures. They're all about the chase. Let him think he's caught you, and you'll get what you need."
As Marie left her sister's house, her mind was still spinning. The idea of wearing a wire and seducing Kevin to get him to talk felt like walking straight into a lion's den, but at this point, with the case moving slowly and another body possibly turning up any day, she was running out of options. Could she really outmaneuver him like that? Would it be worth the risk?
She wasn't sure, but as she walked home, she couldn't shake the idea from her head. Maybe Lee was right—maybe it was time to stop playing by the rules.
