"I need you to stay here." Quinton instructed after learning that the person Kiara had to leave her life for was there weaving through way through the jovial clusters of party-goers. He kept his sight on the man, not wanting to lose them again like the last time. He moved to stalk his prey but his advancement was hindered. He glanced down at Kiara's hand clasped to his wrist, "I'll be right back." He affirmed but she didn't let him go.

"You can't follow him." Kiara insisted. "We need to call one of the Marshalls and get them here." Nervousness and fear quaked in her voice as she watched the hallway the man traveled down as if he was a flying cockroach that will swarm towards her if she didn't keep it in her sights.

Quinton knew he couldn't placate her any longer. He let out an exasperated breath knowing time was of the essence and he had to be completely honest with her so he could complete his assignment and she could go back to her life and the family she missed no matter how it would affect what she thought of him.

He shifted her back to the hallway so he could keep it in his purview. "I don't need to call the Marshall. I'm the Agent on this case."

She blinked at his words like she was hit was a snowball. "Agent? What do you mean Agent?"

"I work for the FBI." He started. "I'm assigned to ingratiate myself into your life to track down the...elf..." The official moniker of the individual slipped his mind in this high-stress situation. "...since you work for the museum that keeps one of their coveted paintings so we knew they'd show up there. It was just a matter of time."

"So, you've been lying to me." She released his hand, taking a step back that felt like a knife into the chest to Quinton but he couldn't prolong this conversation with her even though he didn't want to lose her. Closing the case was the most important issue at hand.

"Yes, I lied to you about who I am but that's all." He plainly told watching tears and hurt cloud her features. "I'm sorry. We can talk about it later but right now—"

"We don't need to talk." Kiara seethed. "Just go."

Quinton gave her a hard nod hiding the hurt her words inflicted upon him and retreated down to hall where the killer elf now dressed like a waiter disappeared down hoping to catch him in the act and closed this arduous case that not only cost him time but caused him heartbreak.