Page 6

Graves

Present.

I’ve been here for hours and he still hasn’t shown up. I can’t take this. I don’t know what to do. I’ve accidentally slipped into unconsciousness a handful of times, and it threatens to sink its claws in once again.

Victoria’s wailing cries still haunt me. Having to relay to her that Mallory’s missing, and there were signs of a struggle, is not something I wanted to do, but she wouldn’t stop calling. I don’t blame her; if the roles were somehow reversed, I’d do the same.

Night has faded away to morning, and as the sun climbs in the sky, the blistering heat of the day rises with it. I need a better plan. I have to monitor the mill, look for Mallory, and sleep at some point so I can form coherent thoughts. I’m being torn in too many directions. I can feel my psyche fraying around the edges. A constant thread being pulled, pushing me closer to a person I may not be able to come back from.

“Son.” My uncle’s weary voice crackles through the radio. I can barely understand his broken words because of the distance between us. I click the receiver button. It indicates to him that I’m listening but not responding. It’s like a code, one click for “yes” and two clicks for “no”.

“Any new developments?” he asks.Click click.“Have you slept?”Clickclick.“You’re not gonna do that girl any good if you can’t even stand on your own two feet.”Click.“I’m bringing you the motion alert cameras and sensors.”Clickclick.“We will set them up together and come up with a plan that will actually work.”Click click.“Stop telling me no, boy.”Click click.“Listen you stubborn little shit, you can’t do this alone, let me help.”Click click.“I can’t have you go through what I do every fuckin’ day. It will kill me, Lennox. It will kill you.”Click.

He’s right, I know he is. If Mallory dies, then I will die right alongside her. The only reason my uncle didn’t end his life is because of me. Although, he would never admit it.

“You get out there and scout the best place for this hardware, so when I get there set up is quick.”Click.“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”Click.

Fifteen minutes… That means he was already on his way here with everything before he contacted me. He knew I’d need the heads up to compose myself before dealing with him. I emerge from the hunting blind I erected in the woods. Its camouflage print makes it almost imperceptible unless you know it’s there. I’m hoping the unknown subject will be too busy with a very alive Mallory to notice it hidden amongst the trees. I know my little siren won’t go down without a fight.

My frazzled mind races with information from the previous cases as I survey the area. Before taking Mallory, the killer was escalating in all areas. The span of time between each kill was decreasing, and he was experimenting with his torture methods. My stomach roils from the fear of what Mallory could be experiencing. My only solace lies in the fact that he will bring her here to kill her, and when he does, I’ll snap his fucking neck. I would much rather find out where he is and have the upper hand, but every plan I come up with puts Mallory’s well-being at risk.

My uncle’s Crystal Creek police cruiser pulls into the mill lot, gravel crunching beneath its tires. The car jolts to a stop, sliding on the loose rocks, when he spots me emerging from the rear of the building. He’s out of the vehicle and racing across the dirt to me, wrapping me in his comforting embrace like so many times before. I collapse, a silent sob racking my body as we both crumple to the ground.

“Let it out, son, let it all out.” He pats my back like I’m a child with a skinned knee, not a twenty-nine year old man who just lost the love of his life to a serial killer. His rhythmic motions lull me to a place where the emotions begin to ebb away, receding back into the ocean of my mind. Time to toughen up, Graves.

I clear my throat in a gruff masculine way and raise my head from his chest. His warm chocolate eyes assess me in that way only a parent’s can. Picking apart every piece of me in the most caring way possible. Hold it together, Nox. I take a deep inhale, he nods, and I return the gesture. The breath hisses out of me and a calmingsensation overcomes me. I feel more clear-headed. Evidently, dealing with the feelings is better than suppressing and ignoring them. Who knew?

“Let’s get this done,” he commands. Yet again, knowing what I need in this moment. A task to focus on, a purpose, because otherwise I’ll nosedive into a dark place.

“I want to see the scene.” My uncle’s captain persona slips perfectly into place as he opens the door to his vehicle and slides into the driver’s seat. I round the front of the car and climb into the passenger seat. We finished setting up all the devices rather quickly, and I’m eager to get to the next step in whatever plan he has brewing.

“Okay, you know where she lives,” I reply, gesturing in the direction of her house with a wave of my hand.

“Are you going to be okay going back there?”No.

“Yes, let’s go.”

“Maybe I should go alone. I’ll do a better sweep without worrying about you.” Concern laces his words but all I feel is annoyance.

“I’m not going to lose my shit, uncle.” He eyes me carefully. I can tell he doesn’t believe me.

“Where is your truck, I’ll drop you off.”

“Absolutely fucking not.”

“I’m not asking, Lennox.” He drops the register of his voice, forcing authority into his tone.

“I don’t fucking care. You are not leaving me behind to do this.”

“Do you have your department laptop?” he asks, changing the subject completely.

“What the fuck? Of course not. Why are you stalling?” I snap.

“Where is it?” Why does this matter?

“At home.”

“Go get it.”Uhh, no.