Chapter 5 #2
He grabs my face, bringing his mouth to mine as he backs me up against the doorframe.
My hands find his waist, pulling him in closer.
Our lips move together in a motion we’ve done together hundreds of times.
Santiago’s hat falls off his head as he leans into me further.
My tongue swipes into his mouth, tasting him.
When Santiago comes up for air, I ask, “What was that for?”
“I saw the way you were looking at her.”
I pull my head back a few more inches. “So? You were, too.”
Angling his head, Santiago replies, “I’m saying that we should probably talk about it.”
I don’t know why, but I’m not ready.
Santiago has been my best friend for as long as I can remember. We were barely adults when we discovered that we wanted to explore more than friendship, but we also realized we were okay with having relationships and intimacy outside of the two of us.
Not wanting to talk about Blake with him doesn’t make sense to me. Then again, I'm not ready to face the facts about how I just felt about Blake to myself either.
Stepping to the side and breaking Santiago’s hold, I reach for my cell phone on the counter. “Let’s call Walk. I need to give him an update on the dead body in the other room anyway.”
Santiago is leaning against the sink as I finish up collecting evidence when Walker finally arrives.
“What do you have for me?” Walker asks, stopping on the other side of the metal slab from where I stand.
Santiago jumps in before I can answer. “First things first, Blake is back.”
Walker purses his lips, and his brows scrunch together. “Blake who?”
His expression feels too practiced.
What’s with the act?
Santiago’s head rears back in disbelief. “What do you mean, ‘Blake who?’ Do you know another Blake?” He rises from his perch and moves to stand at the head of the slab.
“Blake Shelton.” Walker shrugs.
Santiago scoffs. “When has Blake Shelton ever been to Evergreen Falls?” When Walker doesn’t have a retort, Santiago quips, “That’s what I thought.”
He knows exactly which Blake we’re talking about. Normally, I’m a patient man, but we don’t have time for whatever has him acting like this.
“Blake Jennings, you jackass,” I deadpan.
Walker doesn’t look the least bit surprised.
“You already knew,” I accuse him. When he doesn’t deny it, I know I’m right. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
Walker fidgets with the radio on his belt as he confesses, “She may have been the first on the scene.”
I don’t like the way he said that. The insinuation is almost offensive.
“She didn’t do it,” I blurt out.
“I know that,” Walker snaps back. “But you have to admit it’s suspicious that she shows up the same time Evergreen Falls has its first murder since the Bride Butcher.”
“It could be a coincidence,” I challenge.
Walker crosses his arms. “I don’t believe in coincidences.”
Honestly, I don’t think it’s a coincidence either, but I know she’s not involved. If anything, trouble followed Blake back to Evergreen Falls.
Santiago rubs a hand down his face as he sighs. “I got a peek at her sketchbook.”
I give him a confused look. “Okay. And?”
“There was a sketch of the three of us.” Santiago divulges the information like it’s no big deal. “It was really good too.”
“What does the quality of the drawing have to do with anything?” Walker bites.
Santiago squares his jaw, his annoyance apparent. “I think she’s an artist. As in on her resume, it probably says, ‘skilled as fuck with charcoal.’”
Disregarding their spat, I get back to the important question. “Are you saying that she’s been stalking us? For how long?”
“She’s been watching us,” Santiago corrects. “And I don’t know how long. The drawing looked like we were outside the station.”
Walker rubs his hand over the facial hair on his chin. “I need to figure out what brought her back.”
“We need to figure it out, and we will,” Santiago amends for Walker as he gestures to all three of us. “Together.”
“We’ll see,” Walker says. Before Santiago can argue, Walker asks, “How did it go with Evan Lockhart?”
Santiago’s eyes light up. He likes getting information out of people. It’s like a game to him. The more they hold out, the more excited he gets, and judging by his reaction, the teacher showed Santiago a real good time.
“The sick fuck gave me all the images. I anonymously emailed them to the FBI yesterday. They’ll be able to find all the teenage girls in them and get them the help they need. Then Javi cleaned the barn.”
We caught Lockhart preying on his students.
He’d give them a bad grade, then offer them a way to make it up.
Four days ago, Lockhart’s garage caught fire.
After the initial fire was put out, Walker and some patrol officers secured his house.
They wanted to make sure no one was hurt in the home and that there weren't any other threats.
Walker realized the teacher wasn't home, but his stash of images was out in the open. And that was that.
When someone threatens our town, we don’t forgive. Forgiveness is for God, and I ain’t him.
“Did you find out if he was working with anyone else?” Walker raises a brow.
Santiago’s smile is vicious. “I got a name.”
“Good.” Walker nods.
A switch in my mind flips. The urge to drag the person attached to the name to Santiago’s barn and beat them bloody rides me.
It’s an itch that I can’t ignore for long, but patience has become second nature to me.
I know that once everything falls into place, I’ll be able to let the animal inside me free.
Clearing my throat, I begin, “Now that that’s settled.” I remove the sheet from the corpse’s face. “I have a positive ID on our barbecued body.”
“Way to bury the lead,” Walker snarks. “Who is it?”
“Derek Holt,” I answer.
Walker looks down at the charred man. “The hell? How did you get an ID so fast?”
I retrieve an evidence bag from the box and hand it to Walker. “His accountability tag was in his pocket.”
Walker examines the burnt stainless steel, squinting at the inscription on the metal.
Derek Holt
Evergreen Falls Fire Dept
“Adler will need to confirm with dental records for an official identification, but I’d be surprised if his results indicate this is someone else,” I add.
“Who would want him dead?” Santiago wonders out loud.
“That’s for the police to figure out.” Walker’s words insinuate that Santiago and I aren’t allowed anywhere near the investigation.
“You deputized us last year,” Santiago argues. “Plus, you don’t need Emmett at the Evergreen Gazette making things worse.”
“Emmett is the least of my concerns. Whoever the killer is, he means business. He’s sick and cruel. I don’t need you two putting yourselves in his crosshairs.” Walker points at us, emphasizing his position on the matter.
“Too bad,” I retort.
“I have two deputies at the station,” Walker returns.
“Yeah, but with the increase in tourism, you could use our help, and you know it.”
“Don’t you have a ranch to run?” Walker shoots at Santiago then turns to me. “And you have the clinic.”
“Abbott is more than capable,” I debate.
“Javier can handle the ranch hands for a bit.” Santiago waves his hand like handing off the responsibilities of running a ranch isn’t a big deal.
“We’re going to do this whether you like it or not.” I widen my stance like I’m preparing for Walker to charge at me like a bull.
Walker’s nostrils flare as he exhales a frustrated breath. He turns his head away an swears, “Fuck.”
That’s all the permission Santiago and I need.
Santiago perks up with an idea. “Can we add a deputy decal to the side of my truck?”
I snort. “No one wants your lame ass GMC associated with Evergreen Falls PD.”
“You’re just jealous that I had to pull your Chevy out of the snow last week,” Santiago taunts back.
I hate that I had to call him for help, but my truck slid into a small ditch when I was leaving the Dixon ranch, and I couldn’t get out.
Walker massages his temples. “I’m leaving before you two give me an even bigger headache.” His boots click on the tile as he leaves the clinic.
“Don’t worry. We’ll look into what brought Blake back after we question Derek’s friends and family,” Santiago hollers the information at Walker’s back.
“Don’t make me regret this,” Walker returns over his shoulder.
I'd like to think that he won’t, but in all honesty, he probably will.
Oh well. Too bad for him.
Now that that's settled, I have a reason to spend time with the woman who has effortlessly become my addiction.