Chapter 26: "The Bait"*

It had been a week since Marie left her sister's house with Lee's dangerous idea festering in her mind. The thought of manipulating Kevin, of flirting with a man she despised, had haunted her in the days that followed. Yet, as the days wore on and the case continued to stall, the idea began to take shape. She had no better leads, no more solid evidence, and the clock was ticking.

Sitting at her desk in the police station, surrounded by the monotonous task of filling out paperwork, Marie tried to push the discomfort of what she was about to do out of her mind. The soft hum of phones ringing and low chatter filled the station. She had to focus. The sooner she got through this mountain of forms, the sooner she could get back out in the field.

Then, the sound of footsteps approaching pulled her from her work. She looked up, and there he was—Kevin. His perfectly tailored suit and slicked-back hair were almost laughable in the fluorescent lighting of the police station, like a snake slithering into an aquarium full of mice. He made a beeline toward the sheriff's office but stopped when he spotted Marie.

"Marie," Kevin purred, his voice oozing confidence as he leaned against her desk. "Fancy seeing you here. Been thinking about you."

Marie felt her stomach turn. She didn't want to do this—didn't want to look at his smug face, hear his slimy voice. But Lee's words echoed in her mind: *Men are easy to manipulate.* She took a deep breath, summoning every ounce of control, and smiled up at him, her expression softening just enough.

"Is that right?" she said, her voice light, letting a hint of amusement creep into her tone. "I didn't think I was on your mind that much."

Kevin's eyebrows shot up, clearly taken aback by the change in her demeanor. His surprise quickly morphed into delight, a self-satisfied smirk stretching across his face.

"Oh, you're on my mind more than you think," he said, leaning in closer. "I was beginning to think you'd never let me take you out."

Marie allowed a coy smile to play on her lips. She felt sick to her stomach, but outwardly, she kept her cool. "Maybe you haven't tried hard enough," she said, her voice low, as if letting him in on a secret.

Kevin grinned like a cat that had just caught a mouse. "Well, I can certainly fix that. After I talk to the sheriff, I'll be back. Don't go anywhere."

He gave her a wink before sauntering into the sheriff's office, and Marie exhaled slowly, her grip on the pen in her hand tightening. She was walking a fine line, and she knew it. Kevin was dangerous, unpredictable, and now, she was about to step into his world. Every instinct in her body screamed at her to abandon this plan, but she knew better. If Kevin thought he had her wrapped around his finger, he might slip up, say something incriminating. And that could be the break they needed.

About twenty minutes later, Kevin emerged from the sheriff's office, his meeting apparently over. He made his way back to Marie's desk, his smile even wider now. "Told you I'd be back."

Marie glanced up from her paperwork, giving him a teasing smile. "Guess you're persistent after all."

Kevin chuckled, clearly enjoying her attention. "You have no idea." He leaned in, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "So, how about that date? Dinner? Drinks? I know a place that'll knock your socks off."

Marie hesitated for effect, pretending to consider the offer. She made a show of biting her lip slightly, as if torn between her better judgment and the pull of Kevin's charms. "I don't know..." she said, her voice soft, drawing out the words.

Kevin leaned closer, emboldened by her apparent indecision. "Come on, Marie. Just one night. You won't regret it."

Marie tilted her head, letting her eyes meet his in a way that she knew would make him feel like he was winning. "Alright," she finally said, sighing as if she were letting down her guard. "I guess one date won't hurt."

Kevin's grin was triumphant. "Perfect. How about tomorrow night? I'll pick you up at seven."

"Tomorrow it is," Marie agreed, letting the smile linger on her lips.

Kevin straightened up, clearly pleased with himself. "You won't regret this, Marie," he said, before giving her another wink and strolling out of the station with the swagger of a man who believed he had just won a prize.

As soon as he was out of sight, Marie's smile dropped, replaced by a grim expression. She felt a knot of tension in her chest, knowing what she had just set into motion. She would have to wear a wire, be careful, and keep her guard up every second of that date. Kevin was dangerous, and getting close to him like this was a gamble. But it was a gamble she was willing to take if it meant finally cracking this case.

She sat back in her chair, the weight of what she'd just agreed to pressing down on her. Tomorrow night, she'd be walking into the lion's den—and she would need to be ready for whatever Kevin had in store.