Page 96 of Kiss of Deceit

Of the 103 people who have been released, thirty-four have reoffended. They are now serving their new sentences on the premises of Winterlake.

The country’s average of released individuals who reoffend within the first three years is about seventy percent. While this program is still relatively new, our rate of reoffenders is thirty-three percent. Much lower than the national average.

If implemented, it could help decrease the rate of reoffending across the nation. There are still multiple hurdles with this. Many questions would need answers.Would all crimes be included in this program? Would those convicted of murder be included? Would the families of those who were murdered have a say in the decision?

Those choices are not mine to make. I am here to study the inmates chosen to reside in Winterlake. It is my belief that this program could work nationwide if planned very precisely and funds are set aside.

We allow Winterlake to run as any normal small town should. We do not intervene unless absolutely necessary. Up until a few months ago, we never had a reason to cut the program. However, there is an inmate who is killing others in town. If the subject is not apprehended, this entire experiment could be put in jeopardy.

I will send for help if it continues to escalate.

Sincerely,

Natalie Harris

I stared at the screen,the room spinning around me. My heart was hammering against my ribs as I read parts of it again. This entire town…was an experiment? It wasn’t possible. My chest heaved as I grabbed the edge of the desk to steady myself.

Did that mean every person I met here was a convicted criminal? The image of Adella’s jail tattoo popped into my mind. The way people here spoke about this town rang in my ears. My blood ran cold. It made sense now. Lucas, Tristin, the killer…so much evil in one place. I was fucking surrounded by it.

My fingers ached from how hard I was grasping the desk, and I pulled my arms back unable to stop the tremble taking over my body.

Kole.

Was the man I opened up to—who knew more about me than anyone else—a bad person? Was he a criminal like everyone else here?

I grabbed the mouse, exiting out of the email draft and looking at the three-color coded files. Low, medium, and maximum. Now that I had context, I quickly realized it was the crime level. I held my breath as I clicked on the green file. After it loaded, pictures and names filled the screen. I recognized a few, my gaze stopping on Hallie’s picture. The sweet girl who worked at the coffee shop had a criminal record. I clicked on her name, and it pulled up all the information about her.

She arrived here six months ago. Crime was felony accessory to armed robbery. Her sentence was three years. Beneath that was personal notes from Natalie about the therapy sessions with Hallie. I shook my head in disbelief. No wonder she spent so much time at the clinic. She wasn’t just helping, she was doing therapy with every person in this town. I skimmed the paragraphs, easily deducting that Hallie got caught up in all this because of a guy she was in love with. He was serving twelve years for his part in the crime.

I scrolled through the pictures and names, nerves swallowing me. The one face I was looking for wasn’t here. I went to the yellow file next, my search halting when I saw Adella. Her eyes were bright, her smile wide even though she had a busted lip and bruised cheek. Her sentence was eleven years for involuntary manslaughter.

As much as I wanted to read about her crime and everyone else’s, I was running out of time. I scrolled to the end of the file, cursing under my breath.

I paused for a moment before clicking on the red file. My hesitation had me looking at this page slowly. Lucas’s face appeared and a couple pages down was Tristin’s. Both were serving life for murder.

My gaze stopped on the next familiar photo. The blood drained from my face as I stared at Kole’s eyes. In his mugshot, he looked so different from the man I came to know. His dark eyes were cruel. The frown on his lips menacing. I glanced down, almost scared to know.

Capital murder. Two life sentences.

There was more text, but the words blurred before me. I fell back, the chair rolling a few inches. My chest was tight, making even short breaths a task. He was a murderer. The one person I was falling for was a monster. Possibly the same kind I hunted. What have I done?

“Hey. You almost done?”

Panic smothered me as I peeked over the computer to see Kole leaning against the now open doorframe. His soft smile was a stark contrast from the vindictive sneer on his mugshot. Dread coiled my limbs as we stared at each other. Maybe he had a reason for what he did. I was a killer who had somewhat of a conscience. Maybe he did too. I could confront him.

No. What if he was somehow connected to the person who was on a murdering spree in this town?Don’t trust anyone.Natalie’s last words echoed in my head. I couldn’t tell him that I know. Not yet. I needed more information. Anything I did now would be irrational. I was too close to him to make a rash decision.

“Isn’t that Natalie’s desk?” he commented, tilting his head.

“Yeah, it is,” I muttered, clicking out of all the files. “My computer wasn’t working. I’m all done.”

“Good. Matt just got back. Let’s go home.”

I stood up, sliding my shaking hands into my pockets. I focused on my breathing, making sure I was acting calm and collected. I walked past Kole, barely acknowledging Matt before pulling open the exit door. Once we were outside, Kole slid hisarm over my shoulders, pulling me closer. I stiffened on instinct, and his hold loosened immediately.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, concern lacing his voice.

“Sorry. My ribs are throbbing,” I lied through gritted teeth. “I think I just need to lay down.”