Daphne sighed as she came down the stairs her apartment. I couldn’t tell him. I was too afraid he would hate me for suspecting his sister. She let out another heavy breath as she twisted her key in her mailbox and pulled out the mail. As she was walking out of her apartment, she rifled through the envelopes, until she found one that once again, did not have a return address.

  Her heart dropped in her chest, remembering the glittery explosion that had happened in her apartment. Again?

  She unlocked her car, throwing the additional mail into the passenger’s seat before gingerly opening the envelope only marked with her name “Daphne Woods.”

  She pulled the fold of the envelope open, wincing a little, expecting glitter to come pouring out. Nothing happened.

  Daphne peered into the envelope and found only a folded sheet of paper, folded up into the same shape that the glitter bomb note had been in.

  It’s her. Daphne held her breath as she removed the sheet from the envelope. Rose sent this to me.

  Daphne carefully began unfolding the letter. It was, once again, handwriting free, and a single typed page.

  You think you and your little Tanpopo are safe? Think again. I’ve been watching you for a while now. You’re just as much of a waste of space as your mother is, bitch. I hope the las thing you remember is choking on your own blood. DIE!

  Daphne shivered, ice filling her stomach. This is a straight up death threat.

  “Choking on your own blood.” The words on the page caught her eye. Last time, Rose was successful. The last thing I do remember was how I couldn’t speak and was drowning…my life essence on the pavement.

  Daphne reread the letter, panic starting to fill her mind as her heart started racing. How the hell does she even know about Tanpopo? Daphne looked up at the apartment deck that was hers, towering above her car. Is she spying on me somehow?

  Her throat was dry, but she tried to swallow anyway, causing her throat to emit a strangled sound. Surely, she wouldn’t harm Tanpopo, would she? Daphne’s stomach swirled at the idea that Rose may have gotten her hands on Tanpopo after Daphne had passed away in the previous timeline. No. Daphne shook her head. I can’t let that happen. I have to do something.

  She pulled out her phone. Do I dare call Asher? She bit down hard on her lower lip. What if he doesn’t believe me? Will me telling him that I suspect my killer is his twin sister…change our relationship?

  Daphne rubbed her forehead, pressing her fingers tightly into the skin. If he was accusing Maggie of having killed me, I wouldn’t want to believe him either. Surely, he won’t believe it if I suggest it could be Rose.

  She looked back up at her deck again. But what other choice do I have? He’s the only one who could possibly believe that I came back from the past. He’s the only one who knows that I was murdered before. What else can I do but do my best to rely on him?

  Daphne choked a little at the thought of how long Rose may have been stalking her and watching her apartment. How long has she been planning this vendetta against me? How is it that she’s been plotting against me but Asher has no clue?

  Daphne swallowed hard. Is it possible that Asher has never even mentioned to Rose that we’re together? I suppose it wouldn’t be that surprising if he hadn’t mentioned that we were together since we got together only recently. Surely, she would have protected our relationship if she knew we were together… Daphne swallowed hard. Who am I kidding? This is a person who has literally killed me before. I shouldn’t be so delusional to think that she would care if her brother hated her or not. Dating Asher is not going to protect me. I have been in danger, and I continue to be in danger. She shook her head at herself. Just because things have changed doesn’t mean that the outcome has changed. She could even attack sooner this time because I’m dating her brother.

  A shiver ran down Daphne’s spine. She clenched her hands into fists. I’ve got to tell him my suspicions. Even if he doesn’t believe me…even if it causes a fight…He at least doesn’t want me to die. I have to trust that his desire for me to not die will be able to outweigh the fact that I think it’s his sister.

  Daphne grabbed her phone again, unlocking it and dialing Asher’s number.

  It only rang once before Asher picked up. “Daphne?” he asked, his voice sounding shaky.

  “It’s me again,” she said.

  “Was your car stolen again?” Asher asked. “I’ll be right there.”

  “No, no,” Daphne replied quickly. “It wasn’t. Instead, I got a death threat in the mail.”

  “From your killer?” Asher asked, his voice beginning to sound panicky.

  “I think so,” Daphne replied. “It’s formatted the exact same way the glitter bomb letter was.”

  Asher sighed heavily. “I told you that we needed to get you out of that apartment as soon as possible.”

  Daphne was shaking. Talking to Asher was only ramping up her fears, because she knew he was right.

  “I know, I know,” she replied firmly. “I’ll get started on it this week and have something by the end of the week. But that’s not what is important right now.”

  Asher sighed heavily. “You’re right,” he said. “Do you still have the other note? We should go to the police station and report them both.”

  “I do,” Daphne replied, putting her hand over her heart, trying to steady herself. “But would you be willing to drive me?” she asked, her voice small.

  Asher paused on the other side of the phone. “Of course,” he said.

  “Thank you,” Daphne whimpered. “I’m afraid things have changed enough that the killer may end up striking sooner rather than later.”

  “A lot has changed for sure,” Asher agreed. “Lock your car and stay in it. I’ll be right there, okay?”

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  “Okay,” Daphne whimpered back. She hung up the phone, locking the doors of the car.

  She’s definitely going to strike soon. Daphne pulled her coat tighter around her to calm her shivers. I was foolish to think I’d have the whole amount of time I did before as soon as I started changing things.

  It took the entire wait from getting off the phone with Asher until the moment he arrived for Daphne to calm her shaking. Even still, as she buckled her seatbelt in Asher’s car, her hands were still slightly unsteady.

  “Are you okay?” Asher asked as he began pulling out of Daphne’s apartment parking lot.

  “No,” she admitted, grasping her shoulders.

  “Did something like this happen before?” he asked.

  “I’m not sure,” Daphne admitted. “I didn’t check my mailbox often enough the first go around.”

  He sighed. “That’s unfortunate.”

  “It is,” Daphne agreed. “I would have at least known someone was stalking me if I had checked my mailbox and found something. At least I wouldn’t have had to figure out that I was murdered in the first place.”

  Daphne looked over at him. His lips were pursed, and he was gripping the steering wheel tightly enough to whiten his knuckles.

  “Speaking of that…” Asher said, his eyebrows furrowing. “Have you come up with any suspects yet?”

  Daphne gulped, still hesitating. I need to tell him, she reminded herself. He’s the only person who is on my side.

  “I…do,” she muttered, looking out her passenger window.

  “Did you figure out who it is?” Asher asked, his voice filled with anticipation.

  “I…think so,” she answered. “Your suspicion that your father is Viola’s father was the last clue I needed.”

  “Who is it?” Asher asked. Daphne turned to study his face. His lips were pressed together firmly, but his eyebrows were raised high into his bangs.

  “…I’m a little nervous to tell you,” Daphne admitted.

  His eyebrows drew downward. “Why?” he asked, glancing at her for a brief moment before returning his eyes to the road.

  “Don’t you remember me telling you that the killer is most likely related to my mother’s affair partner?”

  Asher’s face drained of color. “We should try to get a DNA test right away to confirm my suspicions,” he said. “There’s still a chance that Viola isn’t my father’s child.” He paused, and Daphne watched his Adam’s apple bob several times rapidly. “Just so you’re aware…I had no clue about my father’s possible affair up until yesterday. I had no clue that there was even a possibility that he could have a secret daughter or anything like that.” He paused again, and his eyebrows knitted tightly together. “Please, Daphne, you have to believe me,” he pled.

  Daphne shook her head. “I’m just not sure how to reply,” she said. “That’s the only reason I’m not saying anything. I believe you. I figured you had no clue it could possibly be your father, based on the reaction you had to Viola yesterday in the first place.” She let out a heavy breath. “Besides, even if the killer did come back to the past with us, why would you tell me if you were actually the killer?”

  “That’s a fair point,” Asher agreed, his face visibly loosening.

  “I trust you, Asher,” she said. “We’re in this together. You haven’t given me a reason not to trust you, and until you do, I am just going to keep trusting you.”

  “Thank you,” he said. “I appreciate you for saying that. In that case, though…”

  “You have a sister,” Daphne pointed out. “Just because you didn’t know about the affair doesn’t mean that she didn’t.”

  Asher shook his head rapidly. “No, no, there’s no way. Rose would never kill someone.”

  “And now you know why I didn’t want to tell you,” Daphne replied, pursing her lips again and looking back out the passenger side window.

  “Why do you think it’s Rose?” Asher asked.

  “Why do you think it’s not Rose?” Daphne shot back.

  “That’s too extreme,” Asher said. “She wouldn’t go that far. I know her better than you.”

  “You know what she said when I first met her?” Daphne asked, raising her eyebrows. “She told me ‘the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.’ She then procedure to accuse me of stealing Landon from her when he chose to break up with her. You were the one who defended me from her when she was making a scene about that.”

  Daphne saw Asher’s face pale a bit as he turned into the parking lot of the police station.

  “Her comment suggests that while you may not have known about your father’s affair and the child he and my mother had together, Rose did, provided Viola is truly your father’s daughter.”

  “Maybe she knows,” Asher agreed. “But that doesn’t automatically make her your killer.”

  “True,” Daphne agreed. “It just seems the most probable.” She sighed. “My mother told me that she and Vivian were best friends in college until Vivian, quote, ‘took everything from her.’” Daphne shook her head. “If Rose knows something else, that we don’t know, it’s even more likely that she is the culprit. She’s the best suspect we have with less than a month to go.”

  Asher turned off the car, his face dejected. “I now understand why you got so defensive when I was accusing Cy,” he murmured. “I can’t even imagine Rose doing anything like that.” He ran his right hand through his hair and looked over at Daphne, his eyebrows drawn downward. “You’re not going to report it to the police are you?” he asked. “Please don’t…”

  Daphne scowled. So, he would pick his sister over me then? I knew I shouldn’t have told him my suspicions.

  “Don’t worry, I’m not planning to,” she replied sharply to Asher. “What am I supposed to say? I was killed and traveled back in time to find my killer? The police aren’t going to believe that. It will just make me look like I’ve lost it instead. I have no concrete evidence that it’s her.”

  Asher nodded, his face still sullen. “You’re right,” he agreed. “It would be really unwise to say anything to the police like that.” He cleared his throat. “In the meantime, I’ll get a DNA test for my dad and Viola, and work to find the evidence that Rose is innocent.”

  Daphne’s stomach was in knots, feeling like she’d been punched. I knew he wouldn’t believe me. I’m accusing his only sibling of trying to kill his girlfriend. That can’t be an easy pill to swallow.

  “Suit yourself,” she said, getting out of Asher’s car. She shut the door behind herself.

  He probably won’t follow me after that conversation. I don’t blame him if he doesn’t, either.

  Daphne strode into the police station. “How can I help you?” the greeter asked behind a plexiglass window.

  “Hi,” Daphne said with a grimace. “I need to talk to someone about making a report for having received threatening letters.”

  “Okay,” the greeter said with a small smile. “Let me see if there’s someone free who can help you.”

  “Thanks,” Daphne replied.

  The greeter made a quick phone call. Asher still hadn’t come into the police station, and Daphne felt her heart slowly sinking deeper into her chest. I guess I’m on my own with this one. I wish he hadn’t pushed so hard for me to tell him before we got here.

  “Miss?” the greeter asked. Daphne turned back to them. “It sounds like someone is available. They’ll let you in momentarily.”

  “Thanks,” Daphne said before turning and sitting in one of the chairs in the waiting room.

  A few moments later, someone brought her back to a desk. She sat across from a gentleman who looked to be about in his forties. He had blond hair and was rapidly balding.

  “How can I help you today, Ms. Woods?” he asked, handing her back her driver’s license.

  “I have received a couple of threatening letters in my apartment mailbox,” she replied, pulling the letters from her coat pocket. “Sorry for the glitter, one of them was a glitter bomb.”

  The officer took the letters from her and gingerly opened them up, quickly reading through them. “I see,” he murmured as soon as he was finished. “Do you mind if I take photocopies of these?”

  “Not at all,” Daphne confirmed.

  The officer walked away for a few minutes as Daphne twiddled her thumbs. I imagine there’s not going to be a whole to they can do for me. She shivered a little, the station feeling chilly. I suppose I’m going to need to make it a priority to find a new apartment this week since we’ve kind of gone into stalker territory now.

  Daphne swallowed hard as the officer returned, handing her back the letter and putting the paper copies on his desk. “In the system, it says that you recently had your vehicle stolen and the culprit was found to be your brother. Do you think that these letters may be related to that?”

  Daphne shook her head. “I don’t think so. It’s not impossible, but I don’t think my older brother would wish ill on my mother. They have a very good relationship.”

  The officer nodded, and then sighed. “Unfortunately, with only these two letters, there is not a whole lot I can do for you. It was good for you to come in and get it documented, though should it evolve into anything more than a couple of threatening letters.”

  Daphne nodded, frowning. “Thanks,” she said. “I figured that might be the case.”

  “But, Ms. Woods, speaking from other cases like yours that I’ve seen…it sounds like you may have a stalker. I’d highly recommend finding a new place to live if that is a feasible option for you.”

  “Thank you,” Daphne said with a small smile. “I will prioritize it.”