Page 60 of He Sees You

Single car, ran off the road into a tree.

No signs of foul play.

But Cain had just moved back to town five years ago.

My phone buzzes.

A text from an unknown number.

I open it to find a photo of Jake Bauer's personnel file.

Highlighted in yellow: three excessive force complaints. Two sexual harassment warnings. One sealed juvenile record.

The message below reads:Your father never saw this version. The official file was cleaned. Ask yourself why.

I delete the message, but the implication remains.

My father, the good sheriff, the protector—what else doesn't he see?

What else has been hidden from him?

Or worse, what has he chosen not to see?

The clock on the café wall reads noon.

Twelve hours until midnight.

Twelve hours to decide if I'm brave enough to fall completely into the darkness I've been writing about my whole life.

But really, the decision's already made.

It was made the moment Cain kissed me and I kissed him back.

When I tasted copper and wanted more.

When I chose the monster over the man.

CHAPTER NINE

Cain

She comes to me in darkness, as I knew she would.

I watch from the window as Celeste parks her car at the edge of my property, far enough from the cabin that someone driving by wouldn't notice it.

Smart girl.

She's learning to think like someone with secrets.

Midnight was the time I gave her, and she's prompt—another sign that she's already mine.

The uncertain don't arrive on time; they hesitate, circle, debate.

But Celeste walks straight to my door like she's coming home.

She doesn't knock.

Uses the key I gave her, and lets herself in.