Chapter Four
Rule Number Two
Silas
I found myself distracted as I drove to the station Monday morning.
I couldn't get the girl from the photos out of my head, unable to shake the feeling that she is in trouble. That’s how I found myself pulling into the parking lot of the local high school instead of heading to the sheriff’s office to report for duty.
My Aunt Sydney has worked as the school district's guidance counselor for the last ten years.
If anyone can help me identify this girl, if she's local, it will be her.
I need to find out who this girl is. It is a compulsion now that I can't explain, but I can't ignore the pull I feel towards this unknown girl. It's just a gut feeling.
Making my way inside, I head towards the administration offices and give a quick knock before entering. I immediately move to turn back around and leave when I spot Audrey behind the reception desk. She looks up and our eyes meet. Shit, too late now. I force a smile on my face and greet her.
"Hey, Audrey."
"Silas! Good morning. It's good to see you, handsome. I haven’t seen you around in a while. What brings you in?" Audrey asks, setting down her mug .
For fuck sakes, please don't ask me out. I dodged that bullet the last time she tried.
I keep my smile in place as Audrey continues to chatter, but my mind is already elsewhere. She's fresh out of a divorce and craving male attention. On the prowl for a new step-daddy for her two kids, and she has her sights set on me.
I mean, I get it. On paper, I’m a catch.
Tall, dark, and handsome with a stable job.
But there's no way in hell that's going to be me. I’ve killed a few people, or a lot of people depending on how you look at it.
You know—tomato, tomahto—but I'm not without a conscience.
I just have a different kind of conscience.
Marriage and kids are off the table for me.
Don’t get me wrong, it's not that I have anything against the idea.
In a different life, I probably would've settled down by now and had a few kids of my own.
But my life took a different turn and bringing a woman and children into my world is out of the question.
They don't deserve the darkness that comes with me or my life.
I won't risk them becoming collateral damage or paying for my sins.
So, instead of reading bedtime stories, I spend my nights hunting down monsters.
"Just stopping by to see Sydney. Is she available?" I ask, cutting to the chase. No need to drag out this conversation and give Audrey any hope that she might actually have a chance. That’s the last thing I need.
“She is back in her office. Let me call her and see if she's free." Before she even has a chance to reach for the phone, a familiar voice comes from the hallway, saving me from more awkward conversation.
"No need to call Audrey, I'm right here." Thank God for small miracles. I can't help but smile as she approaches. "Silas, sweetheart, this is such a nice surprise. You don't visit me at work as much as you used to. I was beginning to think you’d forgotten all about me."
I offer her a lopsided grin; fully aware I need to make more time to visit.
I wrap my arms around my aunt giving her a huge bear hug.
"I know, I'm sorry. You know I would never forget about you.
I've just been tied up with work lately and putting in a lot of hours.
Detective life, you know. I'll try harder. "
I tighten my embrace, needing the connection.
I've always been close with my aunt. She has been the one constant in my life, and the only family I have left since my mother's death.
Sydney is the only person who knew about the abuse my mother and I both suffered at the hands of my father.
She got me through the worst of it growing up.
Always keeping me anchored, never letting me drift too far that she couldn't pull me back.
The only person who could ever know the true depths of my darkness and still love me in spite of it.
"Oh, it's so good to see you. I've missed you!" Aunt Sydney says, returning my hug. Her eyes are warm and full of love. It reminds me so much of my mother. It's something only she can give me.
I hold on to her a moment longer, breathing in the scent of her perfume.
The same perfume my mother wore, a mix of lavender and vanilla.
I reluctantly let go and take a step back, giving her some space.
"I know, I'm sorry. I've missed you too.
Do you have a few minutes? I was hoping maybe you could help me with something. "
"I always have time for you, sweetheart. Follow me," she assures me, motioning for me to follow her back to her office. "What's going on? Is it work?"
"In a way," I start, choosing my words carefully until we step into the privacy of her office and close the door behind us. Sydney directs me to sit on the couch, taking a seat next to me.
"I'm working on a case, and I thought you might be able to help me.
" Reaching into my pocket, I pull out a few of the photos of the girl I'd taken from Pearsons’ home.
I hand them to her, watching closely for her reaction.
"Do you recognize this girl? I'm trying to find out if she is local or not.
She looks to be about 18 or 19. I was thinking she possibly could have been a student here and graduated within the last few years. "
"Let me have a look." Aunt Sydney takes the photo, her eyes squinting slightly as she studies it a few moments before her expression turns serious. "Oh, Silas. I think this might be Charlotte Ames."
"So, you do recognize her?"
"I think so. I've never seen Charlotte with makeup on and certainly never dressed like this. But I do think this is her in these photos. Silas, what's this about?"
"These came up in a case I'm working. I'm just looking into it."
"A case for the sheriff's department, or one of your special projects?"
I smile. "A little of both."
"How does Charlotte fit into what you're working on?"
"I'm not sure, that's what I need to find out.
There's just something about these photos," I start, struggling to put my thoughts into words.
"I just can't shake the feeling that she's in some kind of trouble.
I wanted to check, make sure she's okay.
Do you know what happened to Charlotte after she left school?
Any idea where she went or who she might be with? "
"She's still in school, Silas. She's in her senior year."
I shake my head, disgusted that a high schooler is doing this kind of work, willingly or not. "What else can you tell me?"
"Charlotte has an unstable home life. Even though she's a bright girl, she has poor grades, attendance issues.
She started going off the rails in her sophomore year.
Her mother, Sabrina, is…" She pauses, searching for the right word.
"Neglectful and less than supportive to say the least. It's well known around town that her mother is an addict.
The staff here on more than one occasion have noticed suspicious marks and bruises on Charlotte.
There have been several reports made to social services over the years, but nothing has come from it.
Charlotte tries to keep a low profile, so it often goes unnoticed. "
"Do you know where I can find her to ask her some questions? I'd prefer not to do it on school property and away from her mother. I don't want to cause any trouble for her."
"She walks to and from school. I see her when I'm leaving work. She cuts through Scottsdale Park and walks to the diner at the truck stop. Her mother is a waitress there."
Sydney's expression softens, and she places a hand on mine. "You've always been so protective over everyone. Your mom would be so proud of the man you've become."
"You know, I doubt that Aunt Syd." I let out a laugh. "I don't think my… hobby is the life she envisioned for her baby boy."
"Silas, good men can do bad things, and it doesn't make them bad men.
Just the same as bad men can do good things, but doing a few good things doesn't make them good men either.
You're not the monster you think you are.
There is a difference between you and them.
You may do evil things, but it's for the right reasons.
You protect those who can't protect themselves. "
She places her hand on my chest above my heart.
"You're a shade of gray, Silas. The savior and the sinner, the punisher and the protector.
You have a beautiful heart. It may have a few dark spots, but even the most beautiful things have imperfections.
Whether you believe it or not, you are a good man.
That's all Cynthia ever wanted for you."
I dip my head, giving Sydney a nod of acknowledgement because I can't find the words to tell her how much she means to me. She wraps her arms around me, and her soft voice whispers, "I love you so much, Si."
"I think you could probably love me a little more,” I tease with mock seriousness. “The last time I asked you to make me lasagna, you did tell me to make it myself. That cut deep, Syd. Real fucking deep. "
"I guess you’re right, I don’t love you that much.” She laughs; her arms still wrapped around me. “Now, get out. I have work to do and so do you.”
I give her a final squeeze. "Thank you."
"Voss, get your ass in here!" Campbell's voice booms through his open office door.
I was really hoping to slip past his office and make it to my desk without being spotted, but it looks like that plan went south. I sigh and turn towards Campbell's office, knowing damn well I'm about to catch some heat for my late arrival.
"Where the hell have you been, Voss? A little late, aren't you?" I enter and close the door behind me. I think the boss might be a little irritated with me.
"Better late than never," I quip, unable to resist, while leaning against the closed door.
"Cut the bullshit, Voss. I'm not in the mood for your wiseass remarks. Now, where the hell were you?” Yeah, he’s clearly fucking irritated.
I couldn't give a shit less if he's irritated or not.
He became the County Sheriff after my father was found murdered a decade ago.
My father, the former County Sheriff, recruited him into his inner circle of corruption when Campbell was still a rookie.
He was one of my father's minions, blindly following the good sheriff around like a loyal puppy .
I know all about their crimes and how he turned a blind eye to my father's bullshit.
I bet he didn't think I was paying attention all those years ago, but I remember.
I will never forget. So, I'll do as I please, and he won't dare say a word because he knows I have the power to bury him.
And I will, just not in the way he imagines.
He's on my list too and has been since I was eleven years old.
I smirk, deciding to stick with the truth, or at least part of it. I push off the door and move towards his desk, taking a seat without being invited. "Following up on a lead in the Pearson case on my way in. Turned out to be cold. Dead end."
Campbell nods, his eyes narrowing as he studies me. "So, where are we at on this case? Any progress at all?"
"Nothing, sir," I admit. "There's nothing to go on. No evidence, no witnesses. It's just like the cases in the surrounding counties where the victims vanished, and their bodies turned up later. I have a gut feeling we're looking at another victim of the same killer."
"Goddamnit," he mutters, running a hand through his hair. "I was afraid you'd say that. I already put a call into BCI. They've been assisting for months, and we still have jack shit. They're washing their hands of it and handing the case off to the FBI."
Well, fuck. The FBI complicates things for me, considering my extracurricular activities.
"The FBI is sending a behavior analyst to assist and providing some additional federal resources.
His name is Blake Sterling, he should be here within the hour.
You and Sterling are taking point on this," Campbell informs me.
"I want you to show him around and bring him up to speed when he arrives. "
"Yes, sir," I acknowledge, keeping my expression neutral.
"Keep me updated. I want this bastard found and behind bars, understood? "
"Understood, sir."
As I turn to leave, Campbell adds, "And Voss, try to be on time next shift, huh?"
“I’ll certainly do my best.” With a nod, I exit his office, making my way towards my desk.
I need to review these reports again. Now that the FBI is stepping in, we'll have more resources and eyes on this case.
I need to make sure everything is in order.
I have to be extra careful with this one, and my work needs to be impeccable, on both fronts.
I'll have to keep a close eye on Sterling.
The last thing I need is him digging too deep.
Fuck, this is going to be a challenge, and I can't wait.
Rule Number Two: Never leave any evidence behind that could tie you to the kill.
Every detail is considered when cleaning the scene and it’s to be done meticulously.
No witnesses, no digital footprint, and no physical evidence for the authorities to find.
Be cautious and evasive during interactions with law enforcement, skillfully dodging any suspicion that could lead them to the truth.