Page 17 of Blackwood

Glancing to my leg, I realized how lucky I was. “Poor guy. Someone you knew?”

“No, that’s the part that’s got us standing here holding our di—err—I mean, scratching our heads. Not from here. No one recognizes him, not even the property owner.”

“I hope you figure it out.”

“You and me both. And after what happened to you, I’m trying to decide if I should get some guys together and go on a wild boar hunt.”

I swished the water back and forth with my palms. “I’ve been eating the hell out of the sausage and bacon that Bonnie sends as payback.”

He laughed, the sound rolling through the usual stillness of the house. “I like you. I’m glad you’re going to be sticking around. Still planning on doing your surveying and digging?”

“Definitely. As soon as I can walk well enough, I’ll be back out there.” I was too close to pack up and go home. Asking him about my father’s car was on the tip of my tongue, but my mother’s warning echoed in my mind:Don’t trust any of them. Not a one.I stayed silent.

He sighed. “Just try to be more careful this time.”

“I will. Don’t worry.”

“I can assure you I’ll worry. It’s my job. I’ll try and get back by here to see you in a few days. Keep resting up.”

I wouldn’t ask about my dad’s car, but the screams were fresh. Maybe Sheriff Crow could help out with the new mystery. “Sheriff?”

“Yeah?”

I shifted in the water. “The night I was in the woods, I heard something. I heard…screams.”

“Huh.” The shuffling noise resumed. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. That’s why I came onto the Blackwood property.” A white lie never hurt anyone. “I was looking for the source of the screams.”

“You find anything?”

“No.” I rested my chin on the edge of the tub and stared at the empty doorway. “Just the boars. Or I guess they found me.”

“It could have been an animal. They say panthers and such have screams that sound human. Other animals, too, maybe bobcats. No one else lives out here, you know? And I haven’t had any reports of missing persons. But I’ll take a look, all the same.”

I knew with unflinching certainty it wasn’t an animal. Maybe it was a good thing Sheriff Crow didn’t seem overly concerned. What were the chances something violent would happen in the same woods so close to where my father died? If they were related in any way, I wanted to be the one to discover the link.

“Thanks. I appreciate it. And please make sure I get my phone.”

“Sure thing. I’ll talk to Garrett on my way out. I gotta get going, but you keep resting up.”

“I will. See you later.”

“Yes, ma’am.” His footsteps receded.

If no one was missing, where did the mystery scream come from? I watched the steady drip of the faucet, trying to hypnotize myself into discovering the answer. The water eventually cooled, and I still hadn’t figured it out. But I would, one way or another.

“Why are your nails black sometimes?” I took a bite of the most disgusting chicken salad sandwich I’d ever tasted.

“Sheriff Crow comes to visit and all of a sudden you’re chatty?” Garrett leaned against my doorframe and watched as I struggled to eat the “mayo with a side of chicken” sandwich.

“I’ve always been chatty. Now it shows because the drugs have worn off and I’m not in agonizing pain.” I put the sandwich down and focused on the potato chips instead. “You’re the non-chatty one.”

He tossed my phone onto the bed. “Maybe that’s for a reason, Red.”

“What reason?” I picked it up and swiped across the screen. No service.Shit.

“I told you when you got here that I wanted you out.” He sighed. “That hasn’t changed.”

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