Rituals (Cainsville 5)

"Good with a saw, I take it?"

"Huh?"

"He's good with a saw."

Another rustle of paper. Todd looked at whatever she held, and then staggered away, his hand going to the back of my head, nearly crushing my face to his chest.

"Jesus, what kind of sick--"

"Yes, that's the question. What kind of sick fuck does that?"

"Don't swear--"

"In front of Eden?" The woman laughed. "She's too young to understand, just as she's too young to comprehend that photograph. It is graphic. I should have warned you. But I wanted you to see what your friend Mr. Kirkman does in his spare time."

"He's not my friend. I worked one job with the guy."

"Sorry, I was being facetious, and this isn't the time."

"I don't know if this is some really sick prank or you are actually telling me Kirkman did...did that. If he did, I'm not the person you need to show it to. That goes to the police."

"Or the Wild Hunt."

"You want me to take that to them? But the point is that I can't make contact."

"They'd come if you killed him."

"What?"

"If you kill Greg Kirkman, following my instructions, the Hunt will come. He is on their list. They haven't been able to take him. If you do that for them, they will come and--"

"And what? Grant me a fucking wish?" Todd patted the back of my head, bouncing me, whispering, "Sorry, sorry." Then, to the woman, "I don't know what this is, but I'm walking away, and I would strongly suggest you don't follow me."

He set out.

She kept talking. "The proof is in this folder, Todd. The police files on two dead girls. There's a third victim the police haven't found. Three dead young women. Someone's daughters. Imagine if it was--"

He wheeled. "Don't say it. Don't you dare say it."

"I don't need to. I'm going to put this folder down right here. Take it. See the files. Read the proof I assembled. Conduct your own research--I don't expect you to execute a killer on a stranger's say-so. Draw your own conclusions. Then see the proof with your own eyes. I mentioned a third girl. He goes to visit her body every Friday. He can't help himself. That file shows where to find her. Go there, wait for him, confront him, and end his miserable life. If you do that, the Hunt will come."

Todd got as far as the parking lot. Then he sat me on the hood of the car and dangled a toy, whispering to me, "It's okay, it's okay. We'll go home. Mommy will be there and everything will be fine. Just..."

I whimpered, picking up on his anxiety.

His gaze swiveled to the park. A long pause. Then, with a kiss on my forehead, he scooped me up, strode back, and grabbed the folder.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

That whirlwind hit again, memories whipping past. Then I was walking through a forest. It was night, and I had a flashlight in my pocket, but I didn't take it out. I could see well enough, even if it was only a quarter moon above. I could always see fine, and even when the clouds hid that moon, my feet instinctively stayed on the path.

A rustle sounded as I pulled something from my pocket, unwrapping it and popping it into my mouth. A mint, despite the fact my mouth already tasted of mint. My stomach twisted, and I chewed as I walked, knowing I should let the candy last, but I needed something to do, something to focus on. Swallow the mint. Unwrap another.

I remembered when I'd first gone to see Todd, making my way through a whole

pack of spearmint gum, one stick after another, both to give me something to do and to calm my queasy stomach. This felt the same, anxiety making my stomach churn, breath coming hard.

"Stupid. Fucking stupid. I shouldn't be here."