Page 95 of Behind the Shadows

Frantic, I tugged the sheets off the bed and peeled the comforter back.

That’s when I saw it.

A small square, face down on my pillow.

It wasn’t there earlier.

My breath caught in my throat as I reached for it. Flipped it over.

A picture.

Me.

Asleep. Turned toward the wall. One arm curled under my pillow. Hair tangled. Neck exposed.

The timestamp in the bottom corner: 12:13 a.m. Two nights ago.

I hadn’t been with Kip. I’d been alone. And yet, in the photo … a shadow hovered near the foot of the bed. Barely visible in the corner of the frame.

Watching.

I dropped the photo. Stumbled back. My skin went cold, but I didn’t scream.

I picked it up again. Folded it slowly. Carefully. Slipped it into the pocket of my hoodie.

No panic.

No tears.

Only the sharp, clean edge of rage.

“You don’t get to haunt me anymore,” I whispered into the empty room. “Next time, I’ll see you coming.”

40

KIP

The next three days passed without another message from the Pied Piper. I’d insisted on staying with Holland because even though she said she was okay, I knew she was upset. Her moods tipped fromwhat the fuck is happeningtoI’ll hunt the motherfucker down. What she didn’t understand yet was that the Pied Piper was smarter, darker, and a lot more cunning than she realized. Maybe since she was his daughter, she could outmaneuver him.

After I’d explained more to her about the Pied Piper and the ties to Death and Ella, I’d told her I needed to bring them and Dope into the loop. At first, she’d said no, but then she’d agreed that we were stronger in numbers.

“Hey,” she said, approaching me from behind and sliding her small hands down my chest. She kissed the top of my head.

I leaned back in the kitchen chair, but didn’t take my attention off my phone screen. “Hey yourself.” I nodded to my cell, watching. “She hasn’t moved since yesterday.”

“Is that normal or do you think she’s gone?”

“I think she’s gone, but I need to go make sure. Cynthia will be back from vacation in a few days, so I need to make sureeverything is in its rightful place, including evidence that we were there.”

“That shouldn’t be a problem.” Holland straightened. “I was there without you, then we both set the scene for her to die.”

“I wanted it to look like we were there with her, and she wasn’t alone.” I patted Holland’s arm. “I should go.” I stood, the kitchen chair sliding back, and she moved away.

Dark circles framed her blue eyes, and her red hair was piled on top of her head in a messy bun that begged me to pull it down. Even in her baggy sweatshirt and black yoga pants, she was beautiful.Mine. Every fiber in my being refused to leave her, but I had to make sure Mother was dead. I considered taking Holland with me, but I needed to do this on my own. I would ask if Ella might be able to keep her company while I was gone. Ella along with Holland could handle any shitshow. Ella was as lethal as Death when she needed to be.

“I’ll see if Ella can swing by and keep you company.” I retrieved my phone from the table and tapped the screen, not waiting for Holland’s response. It wasn’t an option for her to say no anyway.

The phone rang, and on the third ring, Ella answered.