Page 83 of Duty Unbound

“Most of our cameras are at the exterior doors and public areas,” Jace replied, pulling up a diagram of the camera layout. “We don’t have coverage in the dressing rooms for privacy reasons.”

“But we do have one camera backstage, covering the preshow area,” Logan interjected.

Jace nodded. “Let me pull up that footage.”

The video appeared on the main screen, showing the backstage area before tonight’s show. We watched as dancers gathered for their preshow circle, all wearing their elaborate masquerade masks for the opening number. Nova stood in the center, her own mask glittering under the lights.

“There,” Logan pointed. “That’s Clark rushing in at the last minute.”

We watched as the masked man apologized and joined the circle—it looked like he deliberately headed toward Nova. When Nova called Mel over, Clark made space and reached for Mel’s hand. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary on first viewing.

“Anything unusual?” I asked, squinting at the screen.

Jace shook his head. “Not that I can see. He’s in costume and mask like everyone else.”

Just then, my phone rang. “Cross.”

“Sir, it’s Peterson from hotel security,” a voice said. “We accessed Clark Arici’s room after getting authorization from management. You need to get up here.”

“What did you find?” I asked, already on my feet.

“We found Clark,” the security officer replied. “In his closet. Tied up and gagged.”

The news hit me like a fist to the face. “Is he alive?”

“Yes, sir. Appears he was knocked unconscious. There’s a bump on his head, but he’s breathing. We’ve called an ambulance.”

“I’m sending Logan to escort him to the hospital,” I said, motioning to Logan, who was already grabbing his jacket.

I hung up and turned to Logan. “Clark isn’t our suspect—they just found him bound and gagged. Go with him to the hospital, make sure he’s safe, and find out everything he remembers. Who approached him, what they looked like, when it happened—everything.”

Logan nodded and headed for the door. “I’ll keep you updated.”

After he left, I turned to Jace, adrenaline pumping through my veins. “That wasn’t Clark in the circle.”

Jace’s head snapped up. “Not if they just found him tied up in his room. So, who was it?”

“Play the footage again,” I instructed.

We watched the video again, this time with different eyes. The impostor moved with confidence, took his position without hesitation, moving directly toward Nova as he came in.

“Slow it down,” I said, leaning closer. “See what details we can pick up.”

Jace complied, and we studied the impostor’s movements frame by frame. In the bright stage lights, I could make out a glimpse of pale skin where the mask didn’t cover, brown hair visible at the temples, and a slim but athletic build.

“He’s about five ten, maybe 175,” Jace noted. “Caucasian male from what little we can see.”

I watched the figure take Mel’s hand during the circle, and a surge of protectiveness coursed through me. “This bastard touched her,” I said, my voice tight with controlled anger.

It shouldn’t matter, but it did. I didn’t want Nova’s stalker anywhere near Mel.

“Okay, so that’s our stalker,” Jace said, rewinding the footage again. “The impostor joins the preshow circle, then what? He never went onstage. Never makes a play for Nova.”

“He only needed the costume and mask to get backstage access,” I said, pieces falling into place. “It gave him access to the wig. That’s all he needed. And to get close to Nova.”

We watched the footage again. No one even questioned that was Clark. If he had wanted to hurt Nova, he could’ve done it. But what he wanted to do was scare her. Show he could get close to her.

And that he wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty.