Page 132 of Whispers and Wildfire

Keeping my arms around her, I took a few breaths. Anger burned hot in my veins, chasing away the ache in my ribs. Whether or not this psycho was the same guy who’d abducted Melanie, he needed to be stopped.

And he wasn’t going to touch my girl.

CHAPTER 31

Luke

The Whisper wasall anyone in Tilikum seemed to be able to talk about. And it was driving me up the wall.

A shadow of fear hung over the whole town, and the gossip line had gone wild. Everyone had a theory, and the list of supposed suspects was as long as it was outlandish. Stop into any shop or restaurant, and there’d be someone ready to give you their take on it.

My personal favorites, for their absurdity, were aliens or Bigfoot. Aliens at least made a bit of sense, if you believed in that sort of thing. But Bigfoot? Apparently Tilikum Bigfoot lore had expanded to include creatures who drove cars and could use duct tape. They might as well have blamed it on the squirrels.

Melanie was staying with me, and with the exception of a rather heated discussion over who was responsible for the toothpaste splatter on the mirror—no matter what she says, I still maintain it was her—things were great. She slept peacefully every night, untroubled by nightmares. And I slept soundly, knowing the psycho would have to go through me to get to her.

Days were more tense. The third and fourth victims hadbeen taken during the day. The Whisper wasn’t skulking around in the dark to hunt for his prey anymore. It made me feel like I had to be vigilant every time we set foot outside the safety of my house.

Our evening promised a bit of respite. My parents had invited us and Melanie’s parents to their place for dinner. There was something about the trek up the long gravel driveway that lifted the weight from my shoulders. No whispers up at the Haven homestead.

The sun blazed red through the smoky haze in the air as we parked outside their house. Melanie seemed more at ease, her smile relaxed. I took her hand and led her up to the porch and in the front door.

“Mom! Dad! We’re here.”

We found them in the kitchen, and the way Mom stepped away from Dad, her cheeks flushing slightly, made me glad I’d announced our arrival. I had a feeling we would have walked in on something I didn’t particularly want to see.

It was great they were still in love, but no one wants to see their parents making out.

“There you are,” Mom said with a smile. She held out her arms to give Melanie a hug. “Welcome.”

Dad scowled at me, obviously annoyed that we’d interrupted them.

“Hi, Marlene.” Melanie hugged my mom.

Seeing the two of them embracing made my throat feel a bit tight. I hugged my mom and tipped my chin to my dad. His irritated expression melted when Melanie gave him a hug, the big softy.

“Thanks for having us,” Melanie said. “Your house looks exactly the same, and I mean that in the best way. It feels so homey and cozy.”

“Thank you,” Mom said. “I’m so—”

“Knock, knock!” Krista’s singsong voice came from the front of the house. “Can we come in?”

“Yes,” Mom called. “Come in!”

Melanie’s mom came down the hall clutching her hands to her chest and smiling, as if she couldn’t contain her excitement. Anton followed her, carrying several pizza boxes.

“Luke, you handsome man, you!” She grabbed me and planted a kiss on my cheek.

“Hi, Mom,” Melanie said. “Inside voice, maybe?”

Krista hugged her daughter, then made her way over to my parents. “Marlene! Don’t you look lovely tonight. Paul.” She held out her arms and my dad flinched backward, but her embrace was light and friendly.

Melanie swiped her thumb across my cheek, and I wiped off the rest of Krista’s bright pink lipstick with the back of my hand.

“Thanks,” I said quietly.

She just smiled.

Anton set the pizza boxes on the counter.

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