Page 9 of Serial Burn

“That seems to be the theme tonight. All right. Walk you out?”

“Sure. That’d be nice.”

He led the way to the elevator, very aware of the woman beside him. He could still feel that innocent pat and almost put his hand over the spot like a lovesick teenager.

Good grief. He was losing it. He definitely needed some sleep.

She led the way outside and paused for a moment, scanning the parking lot. The night was quiet, but for the distant hum of cars on the nearby highway. The hospital’s exterior lights cast long shadows between the parked cars, creating a scene that was both serene and eerie.

She shivered and Nathan placed a hand on her back. “What is it?”

“That car,” Jesslyn said, squinting toward a dark sedan parked a little distance away. “I believe that’s the same car that was at the church fire scene tonight. I can’t say that I’m a hundred percent sure, but it looks awfully similar.”

“Car at the church fire scene?”

“Oh, I didn’t mention it.” While she told him about the car that had been there and driven away as she approached, his gaze followed hers.

A dark car, engine running, with a solitary figure in the driver’s seat. “Is he watching us?” he asked.

“I can’t tell. He’s positioned himself so he’s backlit. The guy atthe church did the same thing. Like I said, when I started walking toward him, he drove away.”

“Let’s see what he does this time.” Hand on his weapon, Nathan started toward the car and Jesslyn followed.

As they approached, the car’s headlights blinked to life, momentarily blinding them. Nathan shielded his eyes and quickened his pace, but before he could reach the car or see the driver, the vehicle backed up, then sped away, tires screeching against the asphalt.

Nathan stopped and Jesslyn caught up with him. “I’d kind of like to know who that was,” he said.

Jesslyn nodded. “I didn’t get the license plate. You?”

Nathan’s former fatigue returned tenfold. “No.”

She pulled out her phone, tapped the screen, and turned it around so he could see it. “This was the car from the church. I was hoping to get the plate. Unfortunately, it’s too blurry, but do you think that could be the same car?”

He squinted. “Sure looks like it could be. Same make and model, same dark color. Same suspicious activity...”

“Okay.” She tucked her phone away. “Is it just me or do you find that weird?”

“Definitely weird.” He rubbed a hand down his face while fatigue dragged at him. “We’ll figure it out. Tomorrow is going to be another long day.”

They stood in silence for a few more seconds, the echoes of the car’s departure still hanging in the air, before reluctantly making their way to their respective vehicles.

“I’ll see you in the morning,” He glanced in the direction the car had disappeared. “Be careful, okay? Watch your back?”

“Of course. You do the same.”

THREE

The sound of the alarm sent Jesslyn burying her head under her pillow for five seconds before she couldn’t take the sound anymore. The night had been a long one, her mind full of images featuring the faceless, backlit stranger in the dark-colored car.

No matter how tightly she closed her eyes, the figure stayed etched on the inside of her eyelids, a constant source of the unease that had settled in her bones—and the reminder of the man she used to dream about on a nightly basis. Those dreams had faded in frequency, but she had a feeling they were about to return full force.

She swung her legs off the bed, her feet contacting the cool hardwood floor. One day, she’d pull out her mother’s slippers that she had tucked away in her closet. They’d been left at Aunt Carol’s house from a sleepover, so they’d survived the fire.

But if she wore them, something might happen to them.

Suppressing a shiver, she walked into the kitchen to fix a strong pot of coffee, the rich aroma a balm to her senses. The weird events of last night continued to crowd her memory, and she mentally mapped out her day while cradling the warm mug. First the coffee, then a quick visit to her aunt’s home, then the lab, a church inspection, a talk at the high school ... Thinking about that sent her mind skidding to the dark car once more.

It had shown up in two places where she’d been. Maybe. It sure looked like the same car, and the driver had behaved exactly the same in both situations, so ... for now she’d assume it was the same person. He’d been at the church and the hospital. Like he’d been following her. Or waiting on her? If she’d been alone, would the driver have approached her? She wanted to doubt it, but the fact that he’d run both times lent a rather sinister feeling to the two events.

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