Page 89 of The Graveyard Girls (Detective Ellie Reeves #11)

EIGHTY-EIGHT

Somewhere on the AT

He clawed at his arms so hard he drew blood. The walls were closing around him. All these cops and that fucking fed snooping around. And Hetty and Ida were acting way too nervous like they might talk.

Then that bitch Tilly Higgins was back poking around. Her damn sister started it all. Well, maybe not all.

But she was the trigger fifteen years ago. The adrenaline of shutting her up sizzled in his veins, like the coal fire that burned underground. Steamy and hot but hidden.

Until now.

It would be stupid to take another girl tonight. Or go after Tilly.

Jacey Ward was barely cold in the ground. Well, she had been until that asshole ranger had found her. He was another problem to be taken care of.

But the ranger would have to get in line.

He had his priorities.

Still, the commotion at that graveyard was riling him up.

All those stupid murder tourists. Crawling around taking pictures of the headstones, pictures of themselves for social media.

The teenagers were flocking in groves. Some numbnut had posted a challenge to the kids to search for a relative buried there.

The whole post had caused a frenzy of newcomers tonight. Dusk was setting. The moon was just a sliver of light. Shadows danced across the sky, creating monsters out of storm clouds.

Someone had also desecrated the memorial.

Sweat dripped down his chin. Shit. It was only a matter of time before the whole freaking bunch of dead he’d had so much fun with over the years was uncovered. His secrets exposed. The people who actually admired him would see a different side.

A side that needed to remain in the dark.

Until then though… he’d enjoy the game. Silence as many players as he could. One by one, they’d fall like dominos until they all came tumbling down.