Page 13 of Scorched (Killer #2)

“This is a small town. Wouldn’t you know a majority of the people here?” Paul took up his fork, suddenly ravenous, his stomach aching for nourishment.

“We’re small, but we get a lot of transients from the interstate who come in for over-the-counter medications.” The sheriff shrugged. “Short of questioning all the hotel clerks and RV park attendants about whether or not they’ve seen the people in that clip before, I don’t have much to go on. ”

Paul set his cup on the table. “What about the crime scene? Did the state crime lab process it?”

“Yeah, they had a team come in and comb over the area. Because of the lack of rain, the river’s way down. Heck, it’s more like a creek. The girl didn’t float far from where he dumped her in the water.”

“Any footprints?”

“No. The guy was careful. He obviously knew to cover his tracks. The Ethernet was standard cable used by just about everyone in the industry. No tracks, no witnesses. He did it by the books, leaving no traces.”

How did he catch a killer who didn’t want to be caught?

A man trying to make a point with Elise.

He had to be in on the ground level with the sheriff’s office, investigating alongside Breuer’s finest to ensure no stone remained unturned.

Something their less experienced eyes might miss, he might pick up on.

“Do you want the FBI’s help on this one? ”

The sheriff stared across the table at Paul. “I don’t want the FBI taking over our case, if that’s what you’re askin’.”

Paul nodded. “Fair enough. But we might have more resources available that could help speed up the investigation.”

“Look, I don’t mind a little help. We’re always short-handed, what with cattle getting out of fences and domestic disputes we answer to, but I don’t want some yahoo muckin’ around and messin’ up my investigation, got that? ”

“Yes, sir.” Paul liked the old coot, despite his belligerence. “How about if my partner, Special Agent Bradley, and I work alongside you until we find the guy who did this?”

“Is Agent Bradley like you?”

“A little, only she fancies herself a Texan even though she grew up in Boston.”

The sheriff’s stern face settled into a grin. “Can’t be all bad if she wants to be a Texan. Not everyone can be one, though. It’s something you gotta live, breathe and defend.” He nodded at Paul. “Not everyone opens up to people with funny accents.”

“Like me, right?” Paul returned the sheriff’s grin. “I’ll work on that.”

“My advice to you is to get a hat.” The sheriff nodded at his on the seat beside him. Paul was saved from a response when the sheriff’s cell phone chirped, and he reached for it. “Excuse me.”

Paul ate several bites of the greasy eggs, his stomach churning over the lack of evidence he could sink his teeth into.

The sheriff listened to the caller, the smile on his face fading, dipping into a fierce frown. He set his napkin beside his plate. “You tell Mrs. Holzhauer I’ll be there in five minutes. Don’t let anyone inside the girl’s apartment until the state crime lab can get there and process the scene.”

Paul couldn’t feign indifference to the call. Every hackle he had stood at full attention .

When the sheriff disconnected, he stood, leaving the majority of his food untouched. “We’ve had another woman reported missing at the Hilltop Apartments. Ready to go to work?”

Paul rose, tossing enough cash on the table to cover the meal for both of them and a sizable tip for Mandy. “Let’s go. I’ll follow you.”

A few minutes before the last class of Elise’s day, Kendall McKenzie rushed in, followed by Alex Mendoza. “Ms. Johnson.” She stopped short and let out a relieved sigh. “Oh, good, you’re still here.”

Elise smiled at the girl. “Of course, I’m here. We have class at this time.” She laughed. “Why would you think otherwise?”

Alex nudged Kendall in the side hard enough to take the wind out of her next words. “No reason.”

It wasn’t like Alex to lie about something. “No really, why wouldn’t I be in my classroom?”

“Because my mother is going to have you fired.” Ashley Finch flounced into the room and slung her backpack on the floor beside her desk.

Elise fought not to roll her eyes.

Students filed in and took their seats just as the tardy bell buzzed in the hallway.

Elise had a job to do, whether she felt like it or not. And she definitely didn’t feel like forcing history into the closed minds of hormonal teenagers when a killer ran free in the same town. But what else would she do? Run home and hide under the bed until the danger passed?

She refused to cower. If her sister could bring criminals to justice while being personally targeted, Elise should at least be able to teach a few high school kids without running screaming.

She’d pulled out her history book and opened it to the current chapter when Caesar strolled through the door, bumped Alex out of his seat and plopped down in it.

“Hey!” Alex picked himself up off the floor and glared at Caesar. “That’s my seat.”

Caesar glanced down at the desk and back at Alex. “Doesn’t have your name on it.”

Elise inhaled, let it out and crossed her arms over her chest. “Out.”

Caesar’s dark brows rose into the long, unruly hair hanging down in his eyes. “Who, me?”

“Now.” Elise’s eyes narrowed into slits.

“And what are you going to do if I don’t leave?” His mouth twisted into an irritating smirk. “Your boyfriend isn’t here today.”

Elise didn’t bother arguing with the young man. She spun on her heel and marched to the intercom attached to the wall. Before she could punch the button, Caesar was on his feet and across the room.

His big hand clamped down over the keypad, blocking her from making the call to the office. “What are you going to do now?” he challenged.

She made a move to step around him and head for the door.

He blocked her exit, the wall of his body effectively trapping her inside the classroom.

“Very well.” She glanced toward the students who watched with varying expressions on their faces.

Some had wide-eyed looks, shock and fear rooting them to their seats.

Her glance returned to Caesar. “Someone go get the principal...and security.” She refused to show fear. Bullies like Caesar thrived on fear.

“Do it and you won’t live to graduate,” Caesar warned.

The classroom remained silent. No one moved toward the door.

Elise rolled her eyes. “Good grief, Caesar, what do you really think this little power game you’re playing is going to buy you?”

“A little satisfaction.” He flicked his finger at the vee in her blouse.

“If you want a real man to keep you warm at night, you need to get rid of that boyfriend of yours. Besides, a pretty teacher like you shouldn’t be sleeping around.

Word gets out to the school board, and you might not have a job anymore. ”

Her frown deepened. “What do you know about...” She clamped her teeth down on her bottom lip.

Had he been spying on her? Hanging around her house?

She’d assumed Caesar was relatively harmless for the most part.

As the class bully, he pushed people around, but she hadn’t heard of him breaking any laws or seriously harming anyone. Would he, now that she’d made him mad?

Movement caught Elise’s attention. Alex and Kendall had eased toward the door and stood poised for flight. With his back to them, Caesar couldn’t see them slide out and race down the hall toward the administrative offices.

“Hey-” Ashley began.

“Caesar, what’s this really about?” Elise asked, desperate to keep Caesar’s attention.

“I don’t like being pushed around.”

Elise snorted. “But you don’t mind pushing others around. That makes a lot of sense.”

“What do you know? You’re a white girl in a white man’s world. You don’t know nothin’.”

“You don’t know anything,” Elise corrected automatically.

“What are you, my English teacher now?”

Elise sighed. “No, but if you don’t tell me what’s really wrong, you’ll only end up in trouble every time.”

“I don’t care. Why should I?” He stepped closer to her. “School’s just stupid.”

The hairs on her arms raised and she fought to keep from moving backward. She had to take a stand, even if she got hurt in the process. Bullies like Caesar pushed and pushed until they hit a brick wall. She meant to be his brick wall .

“Well, you’re not scaring me, Caesar. You need to leave the class and let me get on with teaching the people who want to make something of their lives.”

He jerked his head toward the others. “You think history is going to get them out of this town?”

“Maybe not directly, but it might help them to make better decisions, like when to pick a fight and when not to.”

Footsteps echoed from the hallway. Officer West, the Breuer police officer assigned to the high school, Principal Ford and a couple of the bigger coaches hurried toward Elise’s classroom.

Caesar glanced over his shoulder and snorted. “You got lucky, teach.” He faced her, his eyes narrowing. “This time. You won’t always.” Then he vaulted across a desk, opened a window to the outside and jumped through.

The police officer burst through the door.

Elise pointed at the open window. Caesar had dropped to the ground and taken off running.

The officer followed Caesar out the window, his belt catching on the metal window frame, slowing him down.

Students erupted into chatter. Principal Ford dismissed all but one of the coaches while Elise collapsed into her chair.

The rush of adrenaline that had kept her toe-to-toe with Caesar receded, leaving her drained.

“Ms. Johnson, Elise?” The principal leaned over her. “ Why don’t you and I take a break. Coach Ueker will sit with your class.”

Great. Three times in the past two days her abilities as a teacher responsible for a classroom of teenagers had been in question. Was Principal Ford about to fire her? If so, what would she do for a job? How would she pay the mortgage?

“Principal Ford, Ms. Johnson didn’t do anything to make Caesar mad.” Bless Alex. The kid might be half the size of Caesar, but he had a heart.

“It’s okay, Alex. I’ll explain what happened to Principal Ford.

Everyone, open your books to page...” She stared at her desk and the book lying open where she’d intended to begin the class lecture.

“Page 242. I want you to start reading there and answer the questions in the back of the chapter. I’ll be back shortly. ” She hoped.

Elise stood, her legs shaking beneath her, and followed the principal to her office.