The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman)

"Herman, don't let your emotions call the shots," Jason said, concern etched on

his face. "The enemy's lurking in the shadows while you're out in the open. How

are you supposed to fight back? We could be dealing with someone you'd never

even imagine."

Jason had spent more than a few nights puzzling over how Anastasia could've

ended up on the wrong side of someone so dangerous. With her background and

temperament, it just didn't add up.

Whoever was behind this wasn't just ruthless-they were obsessed with

destroying Anastasia. What could possibly drive someone to set such an

elaborate trap?

Herman, for his part, was still coming up empty. He'd replayed every grudge and

every old feud in his mind, but no one fit. No one seemed capable of this level of

malice.

"If we follow the trail from Ben's death, the person pulling the strings will show

themselves eventually," Herman said, his voice sharp as ice. "When they do, I'll

make sure they pay-a real eye for an eye."

Jason opened his mouth to reply but paused, noticing something different in

Herman's demeanor. "Did you get your memory back?" he asked quietly.

Herman nodded, his gaze heavy. "Yeah. The night Anastasia got hurt, it all came

back."

Jason let out a slow breath. Anastasia had waited so long for this, for Herman to

remember-but it had to happen under the worst circumstances.

He took a sip of tea, trying to gather his thoughts. Then Herman spoke up again.

"Do we know who claimed Julie's body after she died? Is there any way to check

that?"

"Julie's body? Wasn't it Devin who took care of that?" Jason frowned. He hadn't

paid much attention-after the case was closed, Julie died in prison, and he'd

always assumed Devin had handled it.

"No," Herman said, shaking his head. "Anastasia had Nelson look into it. The

person who claimed Julie's body used a fake ID. The name was made up-

doesn't even exist."

So the real person behind it never

showed up; they must have sent

someone else. Herman had even

asked Dailey to quietly question the

prison staff. The only thing they

remembered was that the person

who picked up the body was around

forty, with forgettable features and a

fake name.

If Devin had sent someone, why go to all the trouble?

Herman was starting to wonder if Anastasia's troubles were tangled up with Julie.

Devin didn't have the guts or the pull to destroy Anastasia. Who would go this far

for Julie? Herman couldn't figure it out.

He'd already checked everyone Julie knew when she was alive, and nothing

suspicious had turned up. Joseph wouldn't go against him just for Julie's sake,

either.

Jason frowned, thinking hard.

"Prison's supposed to be strict about

these things. They always check IDs.

How did someone just waltz in with

a fake and take the body? Unless...

maybe someone on the inside was

paid off. Brown Corporation went

under, and people in the prison

might've started looking out for

themselves. Plus, everyone knew

Julie was sick-nobody wanted to

catch anything. Maybe they were

just happy to get rid of her and didn't

look too closely."

"Nothing happens without leaving a trace. There's a clue somewhere," Herman

said, tapping his finger on his cup. "Ben was the one who signed the paperwork

for Julie's release. Now our two leads are crossing."

Jason stared at his tea. This was getting messier by the minute.

"Herman, you need to prepare

yourself," he said quietly. "I can't be

sure my transfer to Einsberg had

anything to do with Anastasia's

case, but if it did, we're in real

trouble. Whoever's behind this is

even more powerful than Mr.

Taylor-and he practically runs

Riverdale's police force."

If the person they were up against had that kind of reach, there was no telling

what might happen next.noveldrama

Herman's expression hardened, his eyes cold. "Whoever hurt Anastasia should be

ready for payback."

Jason could only sigh. No matter how much he tried to warn him, Herman was

determined to do whatever it took for Anastasia.

As a cop, Jason wasn't afraid of powerful people-but he didn't want to see the

Salstrom family get caught in the crossfire.