Chapter 44
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
dani
“It was horrible. All the blood. I thought I was next,” Hallie sobbed, clutching me so tightly I was having trouble taking a deep breath.
I patted her back as she cried into the crook of my shoulder.
My eyes swept over the growing crowd as Harry and Susan stood next to the bodies, having a quiet conversation.
“I know. You’re safe now,” I murmured, attempting to comfort her while also inspecting everyone’s body language, looking for any tells.
This murderer was cocky and boastful. It would fit his profile if he inserted himself close to the crime scenes.
I would bet money that someone in this crowd was the killer.
I caught sight of Kole across the street, his gaze stuck on the bloodied message in the snow.
Two tonight. Three tomorrow.
My mind was whirling between the present and everything I learned about Kole only twenty minutes ago. What a fucking night.
I turned my attention back to the victims. Both were men who I didn’t recognize, and from how the locals were reacting, I was guessing they weren’t interns.
They were in the middle of the street, both propped up against each other’s backs with their heads rolling to the side.
A blade was buried in each of their hearts.
But from how much their clothes were blood-soaked, I had a feeling they were both stabbed many times.
Other than the message, the snow was white and pristine, meaning they’d been murdered somewhere else and put here. Just like Jillian’s murder.
“I’m scared, Dani.” Hallie’s voice trembled. “Three. Does that mean he’s going to kill again? I work alone. What if—”
“He won’t touch you,” I promised, hugging her back.
“How do you know? He could have been watching me tonight.”
She pulled away from me, wiping tears from her cheeks. I grabbed her shoulders, squeezing gently before she worked her way into hysterics again. It had taken me five minutes to calm her when I first got here.
“We will make sure you’re never alone in the café,” I said, meeting her gaze. “Everything will be okay.”
“I hear people are talking about a buddy system.”
I glanced up to see Miles approaching, concern etched on his face.
“Buddy system?” Hallie sniffed, eyeing him curiously.
He laughed, though it was missing humor. “Yeah, like in grade school. No one goes alone.”
“I work alone,” Hallie argued, new tears forming. “Everyone else has jobs. No one has time to make sure I’m safe.”
I bit my tongue, wondering how I missed all the signs of how odd this town was. I’d only seen Hallie at the café and never questioned not seeing other employees or who even owned it.
“Hey,” Miles said gently, giving her a comforting smile. “I’m still not back to full time because of my injury. I can stay with you in the mornings. I’m sure Dani will be busy at the station, but I bet she’ll hang out when she’s not working.”
I nodded, even though I wasn’t sure how much free time I would have.
If I wasn’t working, I had every intention to search Kole’s newfound laptop.
He had pictures and information on everyone in this town.
More than what Harry had. Maybe I’d see him.
Or at least I could convince myself it wasn’t my monster I saw that morning.
Knowing that this town is full of criminals made it so much more plausible that it could have been him.
“Dani, come here,” Susan ordered in her usual brisk tone. She and Harry were both looking at me as I said goodbye to Hallie and Miles.
Kole strode forward, stopping at my side when I reached Susan. She frowned at him, making it known she wasn’t happy he was involving himself. Harry smoked his cigarette, his gaze staying on the two bodies.
“We’re implementing a curfew,” she informed me. “Everyone in their homes by sundown unless going to and from work.”
“And my bar?” Kole questioned.
“Closes at sundown,” Harry grumbled, shooting a glare at Susan. “I’ll buy a couple bottles from you so I can drink in peace at home.”
“What’s going on?” Riggs’s loud voice came from the crowd. “Come on, Sheriff. Give us some information.”
“I’m too old for this.” Harry sighed before tossing his cigarette into the snow and stomping on it.
He stepped forward, putting his fingers in his mouth and whistling to get everyone’s attention.
“Starting now, there is a curfew in effect. Everyone needs to be in their homes by sundown unless traveling to work. If you have to travel at night—or in the day—you need to be with one other person. No one goes anywhere alone. No hunting for the time being, and all trails are closed.”
Shouts of disagreement filtered through the frigid air. Susan clicked her tongue in annoyance as Harry shushed everyone.
“It’s not permanent,” he tried placating everyone before his tone turned grave. “We all know what happens if this continues and the murderer is not found.”
The arguments died out, and I looked around the crowd, noticing most had faces of understanding. The only confused ones were the interns. My eyes darted to Kole when I felt his knowing stare on me. They’d shut this entire town down if the killer wasn’t caught.
“Do you have any suspects?” someone yelled.
“I think it’s an intern,” another voice interjected. “Everyone who has died is from this town.”
“Not true,” Harry said gruffly. “The first victim was an intern.”
“Probably to keep suspicion off.”
“Yeah. Our town was fine until the fucking interns got here.”
“They’re going to fuck it up for everyone.”
“They need to go.”
“Question them all.”
“Better yet, lock them all up and see if the murders stop.”
The interns in the crowd shifted uneasily when eyes began to stop on them. My heart pounded harder when the yelling continued. The locals didn’t want this to end. It was probably the most freedom the majority have had in years.
“Start with her.” A face I didn’t know pushed through the crowd and pointed at me. “She’s been connected to it all. Was at two of the murder scenes. She works with the police. I bet she knows all the shit about getting away with it.”
Before I could open my mouth to respond, Kole stepped in front of me, blocking me from the stranger’s view. The crowd quieted slightly when Kole commanded attention.
“No one will go near Dani,” he said, threat lacing his voice. “She’s innocent in this. You try to touch her, we’re going to have a fucking problem. Got it?”
“Yeah, yeah. Sorry, man.”
Just like that, all eyes averted from me. I swallowed thickly, Kole’s action reminding me how much sway he had in this town.
“Disperse,” Susan said loudly, waving her hands. “Everyone except law enforcement and essential workers needs to go home.”
She got more than a few pointed glares, but no one argued as everyone slowly walked away. Kole remained at my side, his body stiffening when Miles came up to us.
“Can I talk to you for a minute?” he asked me.
“She’s busy,” Susan said, looking Miles up and down.
Miles rubbed the back of his neck. “I was just hoping you’d buddy up with me. It would give us a chance to talk more.”
My heart panged with pity. He’d been clinging to me ever since he admitted how the night at the station messed him up.
Because I was there that night, he wanted to talk to me.
He believed I was just as scarred from what happened.
I didn’t mind talking to him if it helped, but there was only so much I could say.
I nearly jerked when fingers slid through mine. Kole’s shoulder brushed mine as he squeezed my hand a bit tighter.
“She’s with me,” Kole said, challenge entering his voice. “I’m sure Hallie would love to be your buddy.”
Miles frowned, his gaze darting to our hands. “I was talking to Dani, not you.”
“Dani works with the police,” Susan answered before I could. “These rules don’t apply to her. We’ll be working around the clock. Go home.”
A dark look crossed Miles’s face before he muttered something under his breath and stormed away. I tugged my hand from Kole’s, and he let me go without any resistance. Susan and Harry walked away to talk to the medical examiner who was photographing the scene.
“I’m with you?” I questioned under my breath.
He met my eyes, a smile on his lips. “I didn’t hear you deny it.”
My stomach flipped in a way that only confused me.
After everything I learned tonight, I had no idea what to think or believe.
If Kole’s story was true, then I’d been right about him.
He wasn’t a monster. He had only killed to protect his sister.
If the information on his laptop proved his words, I still wasn’t sure what I’d do.
Kole might be the man I fell for, but I was still a killer, clinging to my dark secrets.
I couldn’t believe I admitted to him that Tristin and Leon weren’t my first kills.
What the hell was I thinking? His suspicions of me would only grow.
He was working with the people in charge of this experiment, who were also involved with my internship.
If Kole found out what I was, and he turned on me, it could be the end of my freedom.
“We better hope there is evidence left behind.” Susan’s voice broke into my warring thoughts. “Since we have no suspects, I’m making a list of those I think could be capable of this. You and Harry will talk to them.”
Even though I knew the answer, I still questioned her. “A list from where?”
“My clients. Natalie’s notes.” She cleared her throat. “I won’t break doctor-patient confidentiality in any way. But we need somewhere to start.” Her eyes drifted to Kole. “I’m not sure I want you working so close to the case.”
Faux confusion gleamed in Kole’s eyes. “Why?”
“You know why,” she snapped.
“Why doesn’t someone enlighten me,” I said, looking between them. “Since I’ll be part of the interrogations.”
Susan fussed with her hair, and I had a feeling she forgot for a moment how I didn’t know about this town—or at least she didn’t know that I stumbled onto the truth. She wanted to question Kole because of his charges. But she couldn’t admit that to me.
“I want the names and everything else about the victims by midmorning.” Susan pulled out a notepad and began writing on it. “Once the crime scene is cleaned up, go home. I expect you at the station when the sun rises.”
Without waiting for a response, she spun on her heeled winter boots and walked away. Harry lit up another cigarette, grumbling about not getting paid overtime.
“Contrary to what Susan said,” Kole gently grabbed my arm, spinning me around until I was facing him, “the rules do apply to you. Don’t go anywhere without me, Dani.”
“Maybe I don’t trust you to be my buddy,” I said, raising an eyebrow.
“You do.” His confidence had me staring, and he chuckled, lowering his head to keep his next words between us.
“After tonight, if you didn’t trust me, you wouldn’t give me your back.
Or your words. You might want to snoop for more proof in my laptop—but you do trust me to some extent.
Now that you know everything and haven’t run away, I’m not giving up what we have. Unless you tell me to leave you alone.”