Page 9 of Scorched (Killer #2)

Elise threw herself into the normal routine of homework with the boys, grading papers and then fixing dinner for her small family. The work should have helped her to calm down after Paul’s revelation and pending return.

But she couldn’t help what her mind kept conjuring. A woman floating in the Guadalupe, blond hair streaming out beside her, hands and feet tied in Ethernet cable. Every time the image surfaced, a cool chill she couldn’t attribute to the new air-conditioning shook Elise’s body.

When she finally dropped into her chair at the dinner table to eat the boys’ favorite, mac and cheese, her shoulders were stiff and her appetite nonexistent. She forced a smile, determined to act like normal. “How was your day, Luke?”

Luke gave her a cheesy grin and spoke around the food in his mouth. “I got four stars today for helping clean the classroom.”

“Very good, Luke. I’m sure Mrs. Dobratka was impressed with your thoughtfulness.”

He nodded, stuffing another heaping forkful of orangey macaroni into his mouth, half of it falling back to his plate.

“Smaller bites, big guy.” Elise turned to Brandon. He’d been quiet since he’d gotten off the bus, following her around the small house, if not physically, then with his penetrating gaze. Sometimes, she thought he could see more into situations than an eight-year-old should.

“How about you, Brandon? How was your day? Did Ms. Tingle give you a spelling test today?” She placed a small bite in her mouth and pretended enjoyment.

Her oldest son set his fork beside his plate and gave her a narrow stare. “Why was that man here again?”

Glad for the little bit of food in her mouth, Elise chewed slowly before answering. “Paul is an old friend. He didn’t know we lived here until yesterday. I guess he just wanted to come visit.”

Brandon lifted his fork and stabbed at the food on his plate. “I don’t like him.”

“Why?”

“He made you cry.” The boy’s brows drew together in a fierce frown.

It was times like these when he looked most like his father.

Elise prayed that he wouldn’t take after the man.

“I told you, I cried because I was happy to see him.” This was only a partial lie.

She had cried because she was scared out of her mind, but she’d been delighted to see Paul when he’d shown up yesterday.

Maybe a little too glad. He’d been her pillar of strength when she’d really needed him.

He was a man any girl could easily fall in love with.

Any girl but her. She couldn’t trust her instincts.

“Isn’t he the man from where we used to live?”

Brandon’s words broke into Elise’s thoughts, and she set her fork down, fighting back a jolt of nervous tension.

Since they’d left North Dakota, she hadn’t talked with the boys about anything that had happened.

She’d only told them that their father had died and that they were going to start a new life with new names.

Brandon hadn’t asked questions at the time.

If Elise wasn’t mistaken, her oldest son seemed relieved that he didn’t have to suffer his father’s abuse.

The man had leaned toward obsessive-compulsive behavior in the way he’d demanded perfection from his boys.

They hadn’t been allowed to run and play in their own home.

Once free of his father, Brandon had taken a long time to loosen up and remember that he was a kid.

Looking at the young man across from her, Elise recognized the same little boy who’d sat straight in his chair while his father blasted him for dropping his fork on the floor.

Elise had tried to interfere with the harsh lectures once and had her face slapped so hard she’d hit the wall behind her. Every time she stepped in the middle, their punishment became harsher, and Brandon became more resentful.

How much did Brandon remember? And how much talk had he overheard when they’d been in the evacuation shelter? Did he know his father had been a killer?

“Yes. We knew Paul from where we used to live.” She hoped his questions would end there. “Want some more?” Elise jumped to her feet and grabbed the pan from the stove.

“Did he know our father?” Brandon asked. “Was he his friend?”

Elise’s hand shook and she set the pan back on the stove before she dropped it. “No, Brandon. He didn’t know your father and he wasn’t his friend.”

Brandon sat staring at his food for a long moment. “I don’t like him.”

“He only wants to make sure we’re okay and take care of us.”

Her son straightened in his chair. “I’m the man of the house. I’ll take care of us. I promised, remember?”

Elise dropped to a crouch next to his chair and pulled him into her arms. “Yes, sweetheart. You are the man of the house. It’s just that sometimes we need a little more help around here.”

“No, we don’t.” Brandon pushed her away, his lips set in a stubborn line.

As much as she wanted to agree with Brandon, the more Elise thought about it, the more she felt she needed Paul around.

If Stan really was alive, he’d be coming after her and the boys any minute.

She might as well prepare the boys for Paul’s “visit” before he showed up with his suitcase.

“Brandon, you’re the man of the house; however, Mr. Fletcher offered to stay with us for a few days.

I hope you’ll be nice to him and treat him as a guest.”

“We don’t need him around here.” Brandon pushed his chair away from the table. “We don’t need anyone. I’ll take care of you.” He stood straight, his fists clenched beside him.

Tears threatened to well in Elise’s eyes, but she refused to let Brandon see them and willed them away, though her eyes burned with the effort.

“I know you will, honey. But Paul-Mr. Fletcher...” What?

What could she say to convince Brandon that it was all right for Paul to stay several nights at their house?

Then, a thought surfaced. “He’s going to help us build a fence in the backyard. ”

“We already have a fence,” Brandon argued.

“A different fence, one that doesn’t have big gaps in it.”

“So, we can get a dog?” Luke jumped out of his chair and ran around the kitchen table, whooping. “We’re going to get a dog!”

Brandon glared at his brother. “A dog?” His glare transferred to his mother. “They make a mess.”

God, that was his father talking. Stan hadn’t let the boys have a dog, claiming they were filthy. He had to have everything in perfect order .

Elise let a smile spill across her face. A little bit of revenge filling her veins. She didn’t know why she hadn’t thought about it until now. Maybe she’d taken a little too long to loosen up after being released from Stan’s controlling ways. “Yes, Brandon. But not a dog. A puppy.”

“A puppy!” Luke ran to his mother and threw his arms around her neck. “I’m gonna tell George. We’re getting a puppy.” He raced for the back door. Before Elise could stop him, he was outside, the screen slamming back in place.

“Luke!” His words sank in, and she turned to Brandon. “Who’s George?”

Brandon shrugged. “I don’t know.”

Elise hurried to the back door and watched as Luke ran to the back corner of the yard, where the picket fence was overgrown with bushes and bramble.

The little guy yelled, “George! Guess what?”

Who was George? Elise strained to see through the overgrown hedges to the house on the other side but could only make out the roofline.

For that matter, she didn’t know any of her neighbors.

She’d been so busy moving in, getting the boys settled in school, and setting up her own classroom that she hadn’t taken the time to stroll down the block.

Elise made a mental note to get to know her neighbors.

For all she knew, Stan could be one of them.

Another chill shook her from head to toe.

Luke yelled again and again. When no one seemed to respond, he ran back to the house. “Can I tell Kenny? Can I, Mom?”

A stab of fear lanced through her. Kendall lived a block away over the top of a slight rise in Highland Street, just enough of a rise you couldn’t see her house from theirs.

Luke and Brandon had been there once when Kendall had taken them there to see her Sheltie.

They knew where it was. Would they try to go there on their own?

Elise squatted next to her youngest son.

“You’re not to go to her house without me. Do you understand?”

Luke’s eyes widened, his gaze going from his mother to where her hands pinched his arms. “I promise.”

Elise’s gaze followed his to where her hands clenched around his thin upper arms. She immediately let go, her fingers burning. Memories of Stan manhandling her ripping through her memories. “I’m sorry. I just don’t want you or Brandon leaving the house without me.”

“Even to play in the yard?” Brandon asked, stepping up beside his brother.

“Yes.” She couldn’t look into her oldest son’s eyes. She didn’t want him to see the fear in hers. “Just for a few days, anyway.”

“Is it because of him?” Brandon persisted. “The man from North Dakota?”

Elise’s heart skipped several beats before she realized Brandon was talking about Paul, not his father.

“No. Not at all. Agent Fletcher is just coming to help build the fence in the backyard.” Speaking of which, she’d have to come up with funds to buy the materials.

Maybe she could open an account with the local hardware store until she could afford to pay it off.

“Right now, why don’t we go out in the backyard and see what needs to be cleaned up to get started. ”

Anything to get Brandon’s mind off Paul until the man showed up at his door. She’d deal with his attitude then. At least Luke was on board. It didn’t take much to get Luke excited. Especially with the promise of a puppy.

“Can we get our puppy today?” Luke asked, bounding down the back steps into the overgrown grass.