Page 78 of He Sees You

"Shut up."

"If I hadn't stopped him, Celeste would be another victim of the man you enabled."

Sterling's fist comes up again but stops inches from my face.

He's shaking, not with rage but something worse.

Guilt.

The kind that eats you alive from the inside, that makes you see every mistake in sharp relief.

"Sheriff?" A new voice. State police have arrived, two detectives in suits that probably cost more than most cops make in a month. "We need to secure the scene."

Sterling steps back, straightens his uniform. "Detectives. This is Cain Lockwood. He... interrupted the assault."

Morrison looks between us, noting Sterling's defensive posture, my calm demeanor, the blood on both of us. "Mr. Lockwood, we'll need a statement."

"Of course."

"Sheriff, given your relationship to the victim, we'll be taking over the scene."

Sterling wants to protest but knows he can't.

He's too involved, too emotional.

And now, looking at Jake's corpse again, too guilty.

The interview is conducted in the living room.

I tell my story simply—heard screams while hiking, responded, found Jake assaulting Celeste, used necessary force to stop him.

The detective takes notes, asks for details.

"The level of mutilation seems excessive for defense."

"He was trying to rape her. I was... upset."

"Upset enough to remove his genitals and sew them to his face?"

"I wanted to mark him for what he was. A predator. A rapist. The last thing he deserved was dignity."

The detective exchanges glances with his partner.

They've seen violence, but this level of ritualistic destruction is new.

"How long have you been involved with Ms. Sterling?"

"A few weeks." Not entirely a lie. I've been involved with her since I first read her writing, first recognized a kindred spirit.

"And Sheriff Sterling was aware of this relationship?"

"He was aware I existed. He wasn't pleased about it."

"Why's that?"

"You'll have to ask him."

The younger detective speaks up. "Mr. Lockwood, we're aware of your... history. The complaints from townspeople. The suspicions about your involvement in other deaths."