Page 21

21

Theo Neville

June 2025

Wednesday — 2:26 pm

T heo scrolled through the countless pictures on Sylvie’s phone, doing his best to keep his nausea in check. The haunting images of Sally Pearson’s severed head resting atop a jagged stalagmite were utterly sickening—the act was inhumane. The sheer brutality defied comprehension and would undoubtedly leave another mutilated scar on Brook’s soul.

“We need to get back down the mountain,” Theo said without addressing the photos. Sylvie had taken them during the hour he had spent rigging a way for her to climb out of the ice cave. “You need a chance to warm up, and we need to touch base with Bit.”

Theo had managed to pry loose some of the outhouse’s longer boards that hadn’t collapsed from rot. Fortunately, there were two planks, though weathered, that had been sturdy enough to support Sylvie’s weight. It had taken some manipulation and careful balancing, but she had finally been able to climb out of the cold environment.

Her teeth were still chattering as her body struggled to fend off the deep chill from spending nearly two hours underground. The ride back down the mountain, with the cool wind and uneven terrain, wasn’t going to be pleasant for her.

Theo resisted the urge to adjust his eye patch. There were times when he experienced phantom pain, although in his case, it was usually just a sensation that made him want to rub the area free of irritation.

“I hate to leave the scene unsecured,” Sylvie said reluctantly, managing to get through an entire sentence without her teeth chattering. Theo had removed his jacket and tied the sleeves around her in an effort to help contain her body heat. “I guess it’s pointless to try to cover up our visit.”

“Do we really think Jacob would trust anyone with Sally Pearson’s head?” Theo asked with skepticism. “Not for a moment do I buy that plan.”

“Maybe,” Sylvie murmured as she used her shoulder to push up her glasses. It was obvious from her tone that she had her doubts. “I keep trying to process the logistics. How does someone transport a human head from Illinois to Alaska without detection?”

“Cooler with ice, most likely.” Theo finally finished studying all the images on Sylvie’s phone. He pressed the small button on the right-hand side before handing it back to her. “Constantly refreshed, of course. He would have needed to avoid commercial flights, though TSA has missed worse.”

The area surrounding the cabin remained unnaturally quiet.

Occasionally, Theo could make out the distant call of a few birds, their notes sharp against the stillness. Very distant. Sylvie had been right about this place—the land contained a palpable sense of evil.

“According to Brook’s profile, Jacob meticulously plans each move. Nothing is spontaneous. He would have worked out transportation well in advance. He was young, Theo. Really young.” Sylvie suppressed a shiver as her body fought for warmth. “He killed Sally seven years before we can pin him to Alaska.”

“Youth is irrelevant when interacting with someone of Jacob’s intelligence. His IQ is exceptionally high,” Theo pointed out as he shifted his stance to study the deteriorating cabin. “For all we know, he was here in 2007, living off the land. There were several summers unaccounted for in his timeline.”

“I honestly don't think this is about his 'work,' as he calls it.” Sylvie brushed a strand of blonde hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear. She had lost the hair tie that usually kept the strands contained at the base of her neck. “This is about Brook.”

“How do you mean?”

“I think Jacob took Sally’s head as a keepsake. Not of the murder itself, but because of Brook's reaction to discovering her best friend bleeding out in a cornfield while her brother held the knife. He wants her to relive that moment.”

“I guess that tracks with the fact he used to leave her those Harry Potter books when he would pass through the city. It's not about the books themselves—it's about reminding her of their shared childhood, then perverting it."

“Exactly. Everything he does is designed to torture Brook specifically. The murders are just the means, not the end.” Sylvie finally gestured to the ATV. “We should head back to civilization. Contact Bit, and then call in a forensics team.”

Sylvie untied the sleeves of his jacket.

“Put it back on,” Theo directed when she would have handed it over to him. “I’ll be fine. I worked up a sweat taking apart that outhouse anyway.”

“Don’t you find it odd that the sketchbook wasn’t displayed with Sally?” Sylvie asked as Theo walked to the back of the ATV. He took his time securing the contents and ensuring the sketchbook, still wrapped in its plastic, was safely tucked inside. “I mean, it was hidden under a loose floorboard. Why?”

“My guess? The sketchbook is more personal...to him. More intimate.” Theo cleared his throat. “The display of Sally's head was a shrine—something he could show to Brook if he ever brought her here. Hell, maybe that was his intent with this trip all along.”

“It is the month of June,” Sylvie pointed out, both of them understanding the significance of the month…the same month that Jacob had murdered Sally and left behind their childhood town. Sylvie glanced at the cabin with interest. “How far do you think those passages go into the mountain?”

“I skipped geology in high school.”

“You did not,” Sylvie countered with a small smile. Theo figured he hadn’t eased her concerns, but it had been worth a try. “I’m just saying it’s possible the cave runs through the entire mountain.”

Theo walked to the side of the ATV, mentally calculating the time it would take with the various passageways—tunnels that Jacob would have had to know like the back of his hand.

“It could take around eight to ten hours, more or less,” Theo speculated as he swung a leg over the leather seat. “Jacob mentioned that Lusa’s remains were buried, right? Likely, Brook has already summoned the full forensics team and has been on site for some time now. Still, we should inform them about the potential of an ice cave entrance.”

Theo made himself comfortable before gesturing over his shoulder.

“Hop on, and let’s get you some hot tea. It will take a while to make the calls and get a team up here with the right equipment.”

Sylvie rested a hand on Theo’s shoulder, but she didn’t immediately join him on the four-wheeler. She was staring at him with both disbelief and understanding.

“You think Jacob gets some kind of sexual gratification from looking at the sketchbook,” Sylvie exclaimed, preventing Theo from starting the ATV. “The drawings aren’t just a souvenir. They are for his private enjoyment.”

“We can talk more once we get you checked out,” Theo said, urging her to settle in behind him. He hadn’t mentioned it before, because she would have waved off any concern. The fall she had taken hadn’t been a light one by any means, and he had caught her wincing a couple of times, which suggested she had a headache. “You going to be okay on the ride back?”

“Just sore muscles and bruised pride,” Sylvie muttered with a single glare. She grimaced while zippering his jacket to contain more of her body heat. “I’m not looking forward to bouncing around on the back of this thing, but Bit is probably ready to send in the National Guard.”

“We'll take it slow on the rough patches,” Theo promised, though they both knew the entire mountain qualified as a ‘rough patch’. “Let’s go.”

He waited until she had made herself comfortable behind him, remaining silent about how long it had taken her to swing her leg over. Her muscles were definitely sore after that fall, but he was more concerned about the possibility of a concussion. He would eventually suggest that someone drive her to the hotel in Blackpeak, but not until they returned to Silverton. She would have only argued with him had he mentioned it now.

As Theo prepared to start the engine, something caught his attention. A distant sound, faint but growing steadily louder. Theo tilted his head, straining his right ear to identify it.

“Do you hear that?”

Sylvie went still behind him, her hands resting on his back.

“Is that a helicopter?”

The rhythmic thump-thump-thump became unmistakable, echoing off the surrounding terrain and growing louder with each passing second. They both looked up simultaneously, scanning the gray sky for the source.

“There,” Theo said, raising his arm to indicate the helicopter's location. The clearing around the cabin allowed them to observe the chopper as it approached above the towering trees. “It seems Bit did arrange a rescue, although the helicopter won't find a suitable landing spot. At least the pilot can communicate that we’re safe.”

Both Theo and Sylvie raised their hands to signal that they were unharmed. As he lowered his arm, a flicker of motion just inside the dense tree line snagged his attention. He tensed, ready to start the ATV’s engine if the local wildlife deemed that they had overstayed their welcome. Before he could utter a single warning to Sylvie, the sharp crack of a gunshot could be heard over the rhythmic sound of the helicopter overhead.