Page 104 of Forever Dark
“To everyone around him.”
She wiped her forehead with the back of her hand.“I just had the preacher himself in the room.”
“And he walked you right up to the edge of what he wanted you to know.”Connor’s voice stayed level.“So, stop staring at him and start at the edges.”
Tiredness made her defensive before the words were even done.“You think I haven’t considered that?”
“I think you’re too locked in on being right about Croft.”
Anger flickered.“I am right about Croft.”
“Maybe.But maybe not in the way you wanted.”
Selena let out a short breath that held no humor.“That’s supposed to help?”
“It’s supposed to get us moving.We need to try something else before another woman ends up murdered.We’re running out of time.”
The parking lot felt cold and quieter than usual.
Connor kept going.
“We go back through everyone connected to the revival.Not just Croft.The volunteers.The drivers.Security.Everyone.The regulars who follow them town to town.”He watched her face.“If the sermons are drawing these women in, somebody in that orbit is seeing them and using that to identify who to strike.The killer must learn about them somehow.Socials maybe.Or maybe he’s just talking to them at prayer meetings.”
Selena looked away.
Because he was making sense.
“I still feel Croft is at the center of it,” she said.
“Probably.”
“Then why are you talking like he’s irrelevant?”
“I’m not.”Connor’s voice tightened for the first time.“I’m talking like the people around him exist.And while we can’t get Croft, we might get something or someone else if we shake enough trees.”
“God, I hate being spoken down to by a sheriff,” she said angrily.“You know how many perps I’ve caught for the FBI?Cases far bigger and more complicated than anything you guys have seen or could even conceive of in Harlan.”
She saw something in his eyes.Hurt at the words.“I… I didn’t mean that.”She folded her arms harder.“I’m sorry.I think… I think I need rest.Just a couple of hours.”
“Selena.If things are getting to you…”
“I said I need rest.”
He stared at her.
Somewhere in that stare sat history and frustration and an understanding of her habits she had never managed to shake.He knew the difference between exhaustion and retreat.Knew when she was trying to step back and when she was trying to disappear into work by pretending not to.
“I’m not trying to prove you wrong,” he said at last.“I’m trying to help you be right.”
For a second she had no answer.
Then pride found one for her.
“I just need a few hours.Then I can come back stronger.I suggest you do the same.”
Connor’s jaw flexed once.“I’ll be here.”
The word held more irritation than agreement.
