Page 32 of The Hanging Dolls
That made him pause. “Shadows? What is it about shadows that you fear?”
A shiver rolled through her. “That they follow you. You can’t get rid of them.”
“Unless you’re standing directly under the sun.”
Her gaze collided with his and she understood the meaning behind his words.
Pain radiated down Zoe’s jaw as she opened her mouth to stuff it with pasta. It was too al dente and the sauce wasn’t spicy enough. But what else could she expect at the only diner that was open this late?
She observed her fellow late-night patrons in the dingy space with yellow-tiled walls and circular wooden tables with scratches and wobbly legs. Most of them were just truckers taking a break from being on the road too long. Bulky and rough-looking.
One shabbily dressed man with graying dreadlocks and a scarred face lingered at the entrance. He swayed like he was having trouble standing. Zoe noticed the waiter eyeing him suspiciously from behind the counter. From the state of his bedraggled clothes, she guessed he was homeless. There was an embarrassment on his face that twisted something inside her chest. He knew he was being watched, he was expecting to be thrown out. But his eyes kept flying to the food on people’s tables.
“Excuse me!” Zoe called the waiter.
“How can I help you?”
“Can you charge whatever that man over there eats to my card? I’ll cover for him.”
The waiter blinked in surprise and then smiled. “Sure thing.”
She peered out the window into the dark night. Small towns in this damn state. What she wouldn’t give to be back in a big city with twinkling lights. She didn’t understand the appeal at all. As her eyes bore into the swirling blackness, she realized how such towns were a manifestation of the darkest parts of her.
“What happened to you?” Aiden appeared out of nowhere, sliding across from her.
She recoiled. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“I was hungry and saw you.” His eyes thinned, lingering on her face. “Did you hurt yourself?”
Zoe pulled her hoodie closer and pulled her thick hair across the side of her face where Bruiser had punched her. She hadn’t had time to apply any makeup. Luckily, there was no swelling since she had managed to get an icepack after the fight. “I fell down some stairs.”
“It doesn’t look like that.” His eyes were ablaze as he leaned forward to get a closer look, but she raised her hand.
“Not tonight. Please.” She was too tired. She could tell he wanted to prod further but acquiesced. It irked her that while she was in a hoodie that needed a wash and her hair was in a state, Aiden had somehow managed to present himself with immaculate hair and a smooth suit. “Do you sleep in a suit?”
He repeated her question. “Why would you ask me that?”
“It’s midnight, Aiden. Do you wear pajamas or sweatpants?”
The waiter arrived to take his order. “Just a cheeseburger. Thanks. Yes, Storm. I sleep in pajamas and my UPenn hoodie.”
“Show-off. I expected you to be in bed by ten. What’s keeping you up?”
He placed his elbows on the table and sighed. “The case. Children. It’s always a hard one.”
“We have seen worse,” she said softly.
“Unfortunately, we have.” He looked out the window. “I keep thinking about who the next victim might be. Did you find any leads?”
She squirted a generous amount of Tabasco on her pasta. “I have been using the school website to look into other kids with names that could mean a star or constellation. At least in Lily’s year, there were none. There are a bunch of kids who are homeschooled or go to the school on the reservation…”
“What makes you think that the next victim is Lily’s age?” he challenged.
Zoe’s mind reeled. “I… I don’t know. I guess I just assumed. But how is he selecting his next victim? On what basis? Just someone whose name means star?”
Aiden blew out a frustrated breath as his cheeseburger arrived. He scowled at the bun soaked in butter and dabbed it with a tissue paper. “What if it’s some poem or a piece of literature?”
“Huh? Poem? You think he’s artistic?”
