Patrick watched her from across the room, a cup of tea in front of him. Nessa glowered at him, causing him to smirk. They were in the secretary's break room and Nessa was trying her best not to be irritated by his presence. Gloria said he visited once in a while but this area was supposed to be for staff, not management.

"You don't like me, do you?" Patrick asked.

"And I thought I was the psychic one," Nessa said sarcastically.

"I can see why my brother likes you. You're different. You're cute. Funny.. And a donut licker."

Nessa refused to continue the conversation. Instead, she changed the topic, "Jason isn't here today?"

"He had to go down to the police station."

Nessa's brows rose. "You don't suppose it has anything to do with the murders, do you?"

Patrick shrugged, getting up to walk toward. He reached in front of her to grab a donut from the box opened in front of her. She sat at a small table in the middle of the room. Patrick took a bite of the sweet treat and held the donut towards her. Nessa grimaced and gave a slight shake of her head.

"I thought you liked donuts." Patrick smiled.

"So, you don't care if it's about the murders?" Nessa asked suspiciously, changing the topic back to Jason, Knox's assistant.

"It's not that I don't care but Jason just isn't the type to murder."

"What do you mean?"

"He doesn't have it in him. He's too soft."

Nessa frowned. "And you aren't?"

The corner of his mouth tugged upward. "Not to brag, but I am known for—"

Nessa held up her hand. "Stop. I can only handle so much BS a day."

"Well you wanted to know if I was worried."

"Obviously, you aren't. I'm surprised you aren't more worried about your brother. What if someone is trying to frame him?"

Patrick looked around and lowered his voice, "What if someone isn't?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You don't know Knox as well as you think you do."

"What makes you think I think I know him?" Nessa asked, her brows lowering.

Patrick smirked. "I think you think You? You're funny, Nessa. You're his girlfriend but you don't know him well, do you?"

Nessa's eyes narrowed. "I admit I don't know everything about Knox, but I know enough about you."

Patrick sat down and leaned forward. "And what is it that you know about me?"

"I know you play second fiddle to Knox. I know you're jealous of him. And I know you think you're strong enough to kill women if what you said earlier about Jason is true."

Patrick's smile faltered. "You think I'm jealous of Knox?"

"Aren't you?"

"My brother couldn't even cope with a woman leaving him at the altar and I'm supposed to be jealous of him?"

"You sound jealous."

"I would never be jealous of a drunk," Patrick sneered.

"The fact that you called your brother a drunk and exposed his secret proves you are jealous. I have to admit, I expected you to wait a while before showing me your true colors. Being jealous is nothing to be ashamed of. Being a murderer is a different story. It's not right to kill, Patrick."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Are you murdering those women?" Nessa asked.

Patrick stared at her for a moment before a bark of laughter escaped his lips. "You almost had me going there for a moment. You're just trying to goad me."

"More like expose you," Nessa muttered.

"I'm not murdering all those women," Patrick said, raising his hands in front of him in a gesture of innocence.

"But you are jealous of Knox."

Patrick leaned back in his chair. "You're acting like a real champion for my brother right now."

Nessa said nothing.

"That's good. He needs someone to be on his side. Listen, I'm sorry for saying what I did earlier. You're probably right. I am jealous and calling him a drunk is the only thing I could think of to put him down. It's his low hanging fruit and its the easiest to pick."

"You owe that apology to your brother, not me."

Before Patrick could respond, Gloria came rushing into the small break room, "Nessa, Mr. Marsden is back. He wants to see you in his office right away."

"The Tin Man has returned," Patrick joked.

"You know about his nickname?" Nessa asked, surprised.

"Of course!" Patrick grinned, his jovial side returning. "Who do you think came up with it?"

He was loosening his tie when he pointed to the door. "Close that."

Nessa nodded and made sure the door was tightly shut. "Is everything okay? I told you not to meet with him."

"What is wrong with your family?" Knox asked.

It wasn't the question she expected to hear but it was one she had asked herself time and time again.

"Where should I start?" she asked.

"Your father is a moron! Why in the world would he think Tate Montgomery is a better man than I am for you? I'm richer, smarter, and better-looking!"

Nessa swallowed the laughter that wanted to burst forth. "Is that why you're upset? Because he told you he liked Tate better?"

"I used to think you were just some spoiled brat who didn't want to accept her lot in life but now I get it. Now I understand why you've always felt like you weren't good enough. That man is determined to have things his way. He's impossible."

"You're preaching to the choir here," Nessa reminded him. "People think I'm crazy for not living the life of a pampered rich girl but all that luxury comes with a price tag— my life."

"He tried insinuating he could do my business harm. As if I wasn't strong enough to handle anything he could throw my way."

"Surely you can," Nessa said.

"Obviously. Nessa, I'm sorry."

"Sorry? For what?"

"Not believing you. Not understanding you. I get it now," Knox admitted. He sat in his chair and loosened his tie.

Nessa released a low exhale of breath. "Thank you."

Knox got up and walked over to Nessa, grabbing her shoulders. "I think we should do it."

Imaginary pictures of them naked and on his desk flashed in her mind.

Knox smirked. "I can see the glazed look in your eyes but I'm not talking about sex. I'm talking about finding the killer."

"What?"

"Nessa, I'm asking if you'll help me. Whoever is killing those women wants to frame me. They want me to suffer."

"Y-you really think so?"

"Yes."

"What if that person is someone close to you?" Nessa asked.

"Are your ghost friends giving you a hint?"

Nessa shook her head. "No."

"We just need to figure out who would want me to go to prison for murder."

"That could be anyone." Nessa sighed.

Knox's phone dinged, indicating a message. He pulled out his phone and cursed.

"What is it?"

"Chissy. She texted me again. She wants me to come to the old hotel location."

"That's strange. What do you suppose she wants?"

Knox stared at his phone. "She said she has something important to tell me and wants to meet in three hours."

"Are you going to go?"

"I think so."

"Well, be careful. For all we know Chrissy is murdering everyone because you didn't like her."

"Hey, about your dad—"

"Don't worry about it," Nessa said. "Eventually, he'll realize I'm not with Tate anymore. Although, if you just talked to him, I'm sure he'll convince my mother you're horrible. I'll leave in a bit to explain things to him."

Knox began rearranging the pens on his desk. "Well it's not like we're really going out..."

"No, of course not," Nessa agreed.

"Unless you wanted to," Knox said softly.

"You want to date me for real? The woman who talks to ghosts and dressed like a dinosaur because of a job?"

"You also dressed like a hula dancer," Knox reminded her. "I wouldn't mind seeing that again."

"I told you before, I'm not going to act as a replacement for Jessica," Nessa reminded him.

"I know and I'm not asking you to be a replacement. You're too special for that. I think you and I giving it a go might be a good thing."

"Why?"

Knox walked around his desk and took a few steps closer to her. "We've both been burned by love."

"So have a ton of other people," Nessa reminded him.

"We have chemistry," Knox said.

"That's debatable."

"You've seen my ass," He smiled, reminding her of when she pantsed him two years ago.

"That's not a reason to date."

"You liked my ass," Knox said with a laugh.

Nessa groaned. "Stop!"

"Fine." Knox cleared his throat. "I like you. I can't stop thinking about you. One minute I'm mad at you, the next I'm worried, and then I start wondering what you're doing. It's not normal the way you live rent-free in my head."

"Are you calling me a squatter?" Nessa asked.

"No, I'm okay with you taking up residence in my thoughts. I like you there even if it drives me crazy. I like you, Nessa. Is that good enough for you to date me?"

Nessa pursed her lips and shook her head. "No, but it's a start."

Jason, Knox's assistant fidgeted in his chair as Detective Chavez smiled at him.

"So, you were sleeping with the boss' lady?"

"It was a brief affair. It didn't mean anything and again, I'd much rather it if you kept this secret to yourself."

"Afraid you'll lose your job?"

Jason shook his head. "No. The thing that happened between me and Jessica meant nothing. Knox doesn't know about it and I'd rather he didn't. It would open up a can of worms."

"I like worms," Detective Chavez said.

Jason rolled his eyes. "I slept with her but I wasn't the only one."

The two detectives waited as Jason continued.

"It was pretty common knowledge Jessica messed around. It was like a game to her. Like she wanted to see how much Knox loved her. He knew but he didn't care. He was going to marry her anyway. If you really want to find out who's killing those women, the person I'd look at first is Jessica." 

"But Jessica's been missing."

"Is she missing? Or is she just hiding?" Jason asked. "Jessica used to be insanely jealous of anyone Knox talked to. As much as she cheated on him, she didn't want anyone else to have him either. It was ridiculous. I used to joke with him that if she ever died, she'd come back and haunt him just to keep women away. If there was a way for a ghost to be jealous and attack the women her ex-lover met with, Jessica would do just that."