Page 28 of The Hanging Dolls
The car’s engine hummed softly as she trailed him through the twisting roads of Harborwood. The town’s familiar landmarks passed by in a blur—The Harborwood Diner, its neon sign flickering in the mist; the old library with its towering stone facade; and the docks, barely visible through the thickening fog. But Regina’s focus was entirely on Connor’s car, a few car lengths ahead.
They left the main roads behind, turning onto a narrower, less traveled street. The houses here were older, more spread out, with large yards that bordered the thick woods. Regina’s heartbeat quickened as she realized they were heading toward the outskirts of town, a place she barely knew.
Connor’s car slowed, then turned into the driveway of a house set back from the road, partially obscured by tall, overgrown trees. Regina eased her foot off the gas, stopping her car a good distance away, hidden behind a large oak tree. She killed the engine, the sudden silence deafening in her ears. She watched as Connor got out of his car, glancing around before striding up to the front door. The house was nondescript, with peeling paint and a sagging porch that hinted at years of neglect. Regina’s pulse raced as she leaned forward, trying to get a better view without revealing herself.
Connor knocked on the door, his movements confident, almost rehearsed. A few tense seconds passed before the doorcreaked open. Regina’s breath caught in her throat as a man stepped into view.
The shock hit her like a physical blow, her mind reeling.
“What the hell is Connor up to?” she whispered to herself, her voice trembling as she watched the two men exchange words. The man glanced around, his gaze sweeping the surroundings, and Regina slid down lower in her seat, her heart pounding in her chest. She watched, paralyzed by fear and confusion, as Connor and the man disappeared inside the house, the door closing behind them with a finality that made her shudder.
It was a face she recognized instantly, though she wished she didn’t. The man was someone she had hoped never to see again—someone tied to the darkest parts of her past, parts she had worked tirelessly to bury.
If Zoe was anything, it was adamant. She found a corner in Keith’s bar and got on her phone to check how to retrieve a list of kids registered in the school system in Harborwood. There was another target—there had to be. She knew killers like this one. Despite the pathetic apology in his note, he wanted attention. The crime scene was staged. He liked drama.
Or he was making a statement.
She had applied for a court order to access that information. But it still hadn’t arrived.Damn it. She chewed on the pad of her thumb. Who knew how long it would take for him to take his next victim?
Stop me from stealing a star.
Her skin felt porous and raw, like she was slipping off a ledge. She decided to work back through the initial reports.Lily knew a man who had come to the park to say hi to her. And kids talked. Girls told each other things. Had Lily’s friends been interviewed? Restlessness brewed in her chest as she leafed through the reports.
“You don’t have to keep coming here, kid,” a gruff voice said, interrupting her thoughts. Her eyes tracked Keith standing with his arms folded. “Unless you’re here for today’s special.”
She looked at the arm where she had spotted a tattoo—a potentialR.But with his arms crossed, she couldn’t make it out. “Sure, I’ll take a coffee.”
He pulled a face while she smiled. A few minutes later, he placed a coffee in front of her. As he turned to go, she said firmly, “I won’t stop, you know. Until you stop lying to me.”
His arms dropped to his side. “Why would I lie to you?”
“I don’t know. But unfortunately for you, I’m an FBI agent. It’s my job to spot liars.” The tattoo on his arm was visible now. A definitive R. “Who is R?” she asked.
Instinctively, he lowered his sleeve. “I had a wife. Ruth. She’s dead now. Anything else?”
“Tell me, do you usually cry for women you only knew for two weeks thirty years ago?” She tilted her head.
“I’m a sensitive guy.”
“You’re going to make this difficult, aren’t you?”
He sighed. “Kid, I’m sorry you feel like you need closure. But really… you can’t make up stuff that didn’t happen.”
She could make him. One sweep of her eyes and she already saw two violations of the health code. But the defiance in his eyes stemmed from pain and distrust. She was willing to give him one more chance. She was willing to do this the right way.
“I think I’ll have today’s special. What is it?”
He frowned, annoyed she’d changed the subject, but composed himself. “Chocolate fudge cake.”
An idea came to her. “Do you have truffles?”
He shook his head.
“Do you know where I can find any? Tahitian bean?”
“No… that’s some fancy shit. Only one bakery can afford that supplier. Seaside Sweets. If anyone has Tahitian bean variety, it’s them.”
Zoe was already on her feet, gathering her things and calling Scott. She fished for her wallet but Keith told her it was on him. She patted him on his shoulder. “I’ll be back.”
