Page 54 of The Hanging Dolls (Zoe Storm #1)

FIFTY-THREE

Zoe could feel the dampness of the night clinging to her skin, her clothes sticking uncomfortably to her body.

The sky was a deep, inky black, with only a few stars peeking through.

The neighborhood was quiet, save for the constant chorus of crickets chirping from the overgrown lawns that lined the narrow, cracked sidewalk.

The houses here were old, their paint peeling and rusted bikes leaning against sagging porches.

She paused for a moment at the foot of the steps, glancing around the empty street, then climbed the steps to the front door. Was this the best idea? She was still livid, feeling that wrath coursing through her body.

She knocked thrice. For a moment, there was no response, just the persistent chirping of the crickets and the faint rustle of leaves in the distance. Then, the door creaked open, and Terri appeared in the doorway, her face lit by the weak glow from inside.

She looked different out of uniform. Her hair, usually in a tight bun, cascaded around her shoulders. “Agent Storm? What are you doing here?”

“I heard you lost your job.”

Her nostrils flared. “Yeah. Can’t say I didn’t deserve it. Internal Affairs might get involved.”

“Did you mean it when you said you would do anything to redeem yourself?”

“Yes.” A spark of hope. “Please give me chance.”

Zoe had taken a few hours to cool down before deciding that Terri’s remorse was genuine and she had been truly na?ve in her dealings with Connor.

Zoe needed someone to step out of line for this one.

“The outer packaging of a phlebotomy kit was retrieved from a communal dumpster in Lucy’s neighborhood.

” She showed Terri a picture of it on her phone.

“It doesn’t contain the recipient’s name and address but it does have information on the supplier. ”

Terri nodded. “You think someone in the neighborhood is using phlebotomy kits to treat their condition?”

“Possibly. It could be nothing. But it needs to be followed up on. Now privacy laws and HIPAA are a bitch to get around. If I file a court order to get a list of all the people who have been ordering this kit from that pharmacy, the chances of a judge signing that are slim, especially considering phlebotomy kits can be used for other cases than the specific genetic condition we’re looking for. ”

“And with Lucy’s life hanging in the balance we don’t have time to test out that theory.”

“Exactly.” Zoe locked eyes with her. “Now it would be great if someone could get into the pharmacy’s records to get the recipient’s name and address. Someone on the outside who is willing to take a risk and doesn’t have much to lose.”

Terri squared her shoulders. “I understand.” Zoe turned to walk away when Terri called out, “Are you going to the funeral?”

Her chest tightened. “Yes. You?”

“No, I think I just found a better way to honor Scott.”

The sky wept as mourners gathered beneath a canopy of dark clouds, the steady drizzle soaking through their black coats. The cemetery was a sea of glistening headstones, the rain drumming softly against the polished granite, merging with the tears of those gathered to say their final goodbyes.

Zoe and Aiden stood at the edge of the crowd.

Her hands clenched around a small bouquet of white lilies.

The flowers drooped under the weight of the rain, their petals slick and fragile.

She didn’t even know if he liked lilies, or any flowers.

It filled her with sadness that she didn’t know much about him and yet she was there for the worst moments of his life.

Aiden’s hands were clasped in front of him. He hung his head low, his eyes closed. Was he saying a prayer?

She stared at the closed casket and an indescribable feeling overcame her.

She looked at Travis standing on the other side of the casket.

His eyes were bloodshot, the edges smeared with tears as he stared at the casket with a mix of horror and disbelief.

Next to him was Carly, sitting on a chair, her eyes downcast and face devoid of any expression.

Zoe didn’t recognize anyone else. But Scott was a born and bred Harborwood resident and despite the backlash the police were getting for handling the case, several people had shown up, including Mayor Hicks and Regina.

The rabbi’s voice carried over the sound of the rain as he recited some words of comfort.

Zoe had lost count of how many times she’d heard those words, how many funerals she had attended over the years.

The casket was a simple, elegant box of dark wood, now streaked with rain.

She didn’t know Scott very well but she knew he would like this design—simple and no nonsense, like him.

It rested above the open grave, a final resting place, soon to be hidden from the world.

The pallbearers, their faces drawn with grief, waited for the signal to lower it, their hands gripping the straps that would guide it down.

A gust of wind whipped through the cemetery, tugging at the edges of the mourners’ coats.

She pulled her coat tighter around herself, but the cold seemed to seep into her bones.

The memory of Scott bleeding to death transpired in her mind.

She stared at her fingers, clenching and unclenching them, still feeling his gooey, sticky blood on them.

The family followed suit, each dropping a handful of earth, the soft thud of soil on wood blending with the rain.

“I’m going to stay behind and pay my respects to his family,” Aiden whispered. “Do you want to say anything to them?”

Her eyes flickered to the aging man with a walking stick, probably thinking it should be him in a casket, not his son, and a young woman sniffling next to him—Scott’s sister. The thought of talking to them made her chest contract.

“I can’t. I’m sorry. I… can we just stay here for a minute?”

“Y-yeah.” He couldn’t hide his surprise.

Zoe was too tired and stifled from the heaviness.

She dropped her head to his shoulder, just resting there, not caring if this was crossing some professional boundary.

Vaguely, she heard his breath hitch, like he wasn’t expecting this.

But then he relaxed and shuffled closer, leaning into her.

She closed her eyes and let the contact comfort her, let the sadness wash over her like water, trying not to drown in it.

They didn’t say anything to each other. And after a minute or so, Zoe walked away.

She trudged across the rain-slicked parking lot, her heels sloshing through the puddles that had formed in the wake of the morning’s deluge. She barely noticed the icy bite of the rain against her cheeks.

Scott was trying. He made mistakes but they all did. This case was the biggest he’d ever worked on. Even for Zoe, who had the experience he lacked, it had left her with sleepless nights and intrusive thoughts that encroached on her sanity.

And it had killed him.

She reached her car and fumbled with the keys, her hands trembling slightly. Finally, she managed to unlock the door and slip inside, grateful for the warmth of the car. She slammed the door shut behind her, cutting off the relentless roar of the hailstorm.

Sinking into the driver’s seat, she allowed herself a moment, the rain’s rhythm against the windows a distant, almost soothing sound.

Her composure cracked, and she began to cry silently.

Whatever control she may have had suddenly snapped and it all poured out.

She pushed her thumbs into her eyes, trying to avoid the image of Scott dying in front of her.

After what felt like an eternity, she took a shaky breath and glanced up, catching a reflection in the rearview mirror.

“What the hell?” She whirled around, her heart leaping into her throat.

Keith was sitting in the back seat. “I’m sorry, Zoe. About what happened to your colleague.” His voice was strained.

“Have you just been sitting there while I was crying?”

He shrugged weakly.

She rolled her eyes and wiped her face. “What are you doing here and how?”

“I know I shouldn’t have broken into your car, but old habits die hard.

I had to see you. I—” He faltered, his gaze dropping to his hands.

“I’m sorry about Scott. I really am. I know this isn’t the best time, and I didn’t want to do this, but…

” He paused, struggling to find the words.

“I’m leaving town. I can’t stay here any longer.

I just… I needed to see you before I left. ”

Zoe’s breath hitched as she processed his words. A sigh escaped her lips; suddenly she felt heavy like the weight of a big rock was strapped to her feet and pulling her down. “Why?” she finally managed to ask, her voice barely above a whisper. “What happened?”

He was kind enough to show remorse. “I thought I was safe after all these years. But I’m being threatened again.”

“Who is it? That man you and Rachel ran away from?”

“Yes. Somehow you being here raised some flags. I have no idea why.”

Zoe bit her tongue. Was it possible she was being watched?

Outside the car, their surroundings were a blur of white.

Icy pellets crashed on the ground, creating a frenzied dance of shimmering white.

The streetlights struggled, their beams barely penetrating the dense curtain of hail.

Her stomach dropped. There was a danger to wilderness.

It shrouded predators and secrets alike.

And then another realization smacked her.

Simon. She had asked Simon to look into Keith.

He must have entered the name somewhere. That would have raised flags.

“If you’re in danger, then the FBI can protect…” She didn’t finish.

Keith gave her a knowing smile. “We both know that Rachel wouldn’t have killed herself, Zoe. Especially when she had two kids that needed her. Someone got to her.”

Zoe nodded, her neck stiff. Rachel was murdered while she was in witness protection. “They did.”

“And now I have to disappear before they get to me. Maybe they’ve been keeping tabs on you too. Just a heads-up.”

Why did it feel like she was losing a piece of her past again? The one tangible connection she had found to Rachel, to why and who killed her, and it was slipping away. “Is there no other way?” she pleaded. “Please… I just…” Tears collected in her eyes. “I just can’t lose everything.”

“I’m sorry, Zoe. But there is one thing I can do for you.

” He retrieved a key from his coat. Its brass surface was tarnished to a deep, uneven patina, featured elaborate engravings, with swirling patterns.

“Your mother gave something to me when she left.” He gripped the bow of the key.

“She said this was my insurance policy in case they came after me. This key opens a safety deposit box in Chicago.”

Chicago . A surreal feeling swept through her. All those years she had spent in the windy city and all the while it contained something she had been searching for.

“The safety deposit box contains something important to that man who was after her. I want you to have it.”

Zoe swallowed. With a trembling hand, she took the key from him. Keith released a breath, his eyes lingering on the key.

“Why are you giving it to me? You’ll need it if you’re going to be on the run.”

“Because this is the least I can do for Rachel.” His brows pulled together, a wan smile spreading on his lips. “I can take care of myself but if they come after you or Gina, then you have leverage.”

She turned the key between her fingers. “What does the deposit box contain?”

“You’ll see for yourself. Hopefully, you’ll be able to understand it because I couldn’t.” He clicked the door open. “I hope one day our paths cross again. Take care, Zoe.”

He exited the car with the collar of his coat up, chin tucked in and hands stuffed into his pockets. Zoe watched him disappear through the frosted window as she pondered what he’d just told her.

Anticipation built inside her as she studied the key. Keith might be gone, but this was his parting gift to her. She clasped her fingers around it, and the tapered edge of the key dug into her skin. One step closer to the truth.

Her phone buzzed with a message. It was Terri.

T: The recipient of the phlebotomy kit is John Smith. Larkspur Greenhouse, 1120 Cedar Hollow Road.