Page 62 of Raven's Curse

Buck chewed on his thumbnail, eyes darting back and forth. “I decided to switch to a digital camera after you took all my stuff. Now, I just print out the important ones, but I still have my backup.”

“I didn’t take your stuff. It got destroyed along with your RV.”

“Same difference.” He shifted restlessly, hands fisting and releasing at his side. “See? I don’t have anything.”

“Don’t have anything?” Greer walked over to one of his boards. Blue strobes colored the fog, the driver’s door hinged open. Clear enough she knew if she looked closely, she’d see the bloody handprint. “Jesus, Bucky, this is Eli’s cruiser. Exactly how we found it.”

“I…” Buck cringed when Chase took a calculated step closer. “I… I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I know you didn’t hurt Eli, but did you see who did?”

“No, I…” He banged his head with his right hand. “I’ve been following the lights. That’s all.”

“What lights?”

“The ones that have been popping up all over town and in the woods. First, at that old crazy hospital. Then, out by the park. I’ve seen them from my boat, too, along the coastline. Up in the forest.” He leaned closer. “They’re back.”

“Who’s back?”

Buck looked around, then pointed to the sky. “Aliens.”

Greer yanked off a bunch of the photos, sorted through them before stopping on one shot. The trunk, wide open. The Bronco’s headlights catching a silhouette in sharp relief. Tall. Muscular, a rifle slung across his back. She didn’t recognize him, but something about the image felt familiar. Either the shape of his body, or the stance.

Chase moved in beside her, took the photo gently from her hands. The muscle in his temple jumped as he clenched his jaw, muttering a bit under his breath. He held the image out to Buck. “Do you know who this is?”

Buck snagged his bottom lip. “He’s part of the lights.”

“Did you see him at the other places you saw the lights?”

“Yes, but…” Buck checked his six, again. “He disappears.”

“Where were the lights last night?”

Buck frowned, then pointed to one of the other images. “The old prospector cabin. That’s why I parked close by. I wanted to get proof he’s preparing for an invasion.”

Chase nodded. “And is he?”

“Why else would he take Eli?”

Greer edged in next to him. “So, you did see the guy take Eli.”

“No, I…” Buck banged his hand against his head, again. Harder. “I heard Eli shouting, and I was going to go after him, but then you two showed up, so I stayed hidden. I’m supposed to track. Take notes. Look for hidden threats. But I don’t engage unless...” His voice trailed off, eyes slightly unfocused.

Chase tapped the photo. “When did this guy come back?”

Buck blinked a few times. “After you followed Eli. He only stayed for a few minutes, then left.”

“Which way did he go?”

Buck shrugged. “He just… vanished.”

Chase groaned, shaking his head.

Greer changed places. “Let’s focus on the lights. How long have you been seeing them?”

Buck toed at the floor for a few moments. “Since I started photographing Saylor.”

“That was nearly a year ago. Why didn’t you tell me all this last month?”