Page 77 of Jacob

“I’ll wait here. It’s fine. Go get your daughter.” I try putting on a reassuring smile.

“You can go in after us, Jacob,” Seth reassures me. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for us. I will repay your father for the PI.”

“I won’t have it. Your happiness and her safety are the only things that matter. Go see your girl.”

Then I’m left in the room all alone.

I text Walter to ask if he can speed up the results of Skye’s sexual assault tests.

Instantly texting me back with a yes and that we can get the results within three days settles some of my anxiety. We just need a signature from Skye to release her test to the private laboratory, and Walter will do the rest.

Ten minutes later the door opens and in walks Miss Marple herfuckingself.

“Detective Becket.” I’m more abrupt than I should be.

“I’ve spoken with Mr. and Mrs. McNairn and informed them we have a Mr. Jules Howard in custody. Skye’s parents wanted you to know, too.”

“I already know everything.”

Unable to look me in the eye, she says, “Look, Mr. Baxter?—”

“It’s Jacob, and I don’t need you to tell me how you found her, because you didn’t. I’ve already been sent a full report from the private investigator. The oneIhired because you didn’t do your job,” I say, trying to remain calm.

Walter sent me a full report, along with body-cam footage for evidence. I never want to watch it.

I read the report on the way to the hospital, while Lincoln drove us here. None of us were in a fit state to get in behind the wheel.

Walter’s team of expert marksmen located Jules, only ten miles away from here in some creepy-ass cabin in the woods just outside Bayview.

Jules Howard, who also calls himself Silas, suffers from dissociative identity disorder and has been in and out of psychiatric facilities since he was a child.

Walter presumed that Jules stopped taking his medication, and no one had noticed his symptoms worsening.

The walls of his house were decorated with pictures of Skye. He’d been watching her for months.

The sooner he’s behind bars or back in the confines of a psychiatric facility, the better.

Sensing I don’t want to speak to her, Detective Becket turns around to walk out the door, but she stops. Looking back at me over her shoulder, she says, “I just wanted to thank you, Jacob, for all you did and for helping to capture him. I’m sorry if you feel like we failed you. However, I was following protocol.”

I scoff.

Once she leaves, I sit back in the uncomfortable chair, close my eyes and rest my head against the wall. I’m so tired.

28

JACOB

The next thing I know, I’m being shaken awake by Seth.

The sunlight spills through the window in the small room, alerting me to the fact it’s morning.

“I’m sorry. I must have fallen asleep.”

“We left you to rest. You needed it.”

I rub my hands down my face to wake myself up.

“She wants to see you,” Seth says.

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