Page 20 of Wild Embers
“She didn’t do it,” I blurt out.
“I know that,” Walker snaps back. “But you have to admit it’s suspicious that she shows up the same time Evergreen Falls has its first murder since the Bride Butcher.”
“It could be a coincidence,” I challenge.
Walker crosses his arms. “I don’t believe in coincidences.”
Honestly, I don’t think it’s a coincidence either, but I know she’s not involved. If anything, trouble followed Blake back to Evergreen Falls.
Santiago rubs a hand down his face as he sighs. “I got a peek at her sketchbook.”
I give him a confused look. “Okay. And?”
“There was a sketch of the three of us.” Santiago divulges the information like it’s no big deal. “It was really good too.”
“What does the quality of the drawing have to do with anything?” Walker bites.
Santiago squares his jaw, his annoyance apparent. “I think she’s an artist. As in on her resume, it probably says, ‘skilled as fuck with charcoal.’”
Disregarding their spat, I get back to the important question. “Are you saying that she’s been stalking us? For how long?”
“She’s beenwatchingus,” Santiago corrects. “And I don’t know how long. The drawing looked like we were outside the station.”
Walker rubs his hand over the facial hair on his chin. “I need to figure out what brought her back.”
“Weneed to figure it out, and we will,” Santiago amends for Walker as he gestures to all three of us. “Together.”
“We’ll see,” Walker says. Before Santiago can argue, Walker asks, “How did it go with Evan Lockhart?”
Santiago’s eyes light up. He likes getting information out of people. It’s like a game to him. The more they hold out, the more excited he gets, and judging by his reaction, the teacher showed Santiago a real good time.
“The sick fuck gave me all the images. I anonymously emailed them to the FBI yesterday. They’ll be able to find all the teenage girls in them and get them the help they need. Then Javi cleaned the barn.”
We caught Lockhart preying on his students. He’d give them a bad grade, then offer them a way to make it up. Four days ago, Lockhart’s garage caught fire. After the initial fire was put out, Walker and some patrol officers secured his house. They wanted to make sure no one was hurt in the home and that there weren't any other threats. Walker realized the teacher wasn't home, but his stash of images was out in the open. And that was that.
When someone threatens our town, we don’t forgive. Forgiveness is for God, and I ain’t him.
“Did you find out if he was working with anyone else?” Walker raises a brow.
Santiago’s smile is vicious. “I got a name.”
“Good.” Walker nods.
A switch in my mind flips. The urge to drag the person attached to the name to Santiago’s barn and beat them bloody rides me. It’s an itch that I can’t ignore for long, but patience hasbecome second nature to me. I know that once everything falls into place, I’ll be able to let the animal inside me free.
Clearing my throat, I begin, “Now that that’s settled.” I remove the sheet from the corpse’s face. “I have a positive ID on our barbecued body.”
“Way to bury the lead,” Walker snarks. “Who is it?”
“Derek Holt,” I answer.
Walker looks down at the charred man. “The hell? How did you get an ID so fast?”
I retrieve an evidence bag from the box and hand it to Walker. “His accountability tag was in his pocket.”
Walker examines the burnt stainless steel, squinting at the inscription on the metal.
Derek Holt
