Page 98 of The Hanging Dolls
Zoe and Aiden stood at the edge of the crowd. Her hands clenched around a small bouquet of white lilies. The flowers drooped under the weight of the rain, their petals slick and fragile. She didn’t even know if he liked lilies, or any flowers. It filled her with sadness that she didn’t know much about him and yet she was there for the worst moments of his life.
Aiden’s hands were clasped in front of him. He hung his head low, his eyes closed. Was he saying a prayer?
She stared at the closed casket and an indescribable feeling overcame her.
She looked at Travis standing on the other side of the casket. His eyes were bloodshot, the edges smeared with tears as he stared at the casket with a mix of horror and disbelief. Next to him was Carly, sitting on a chair, her eyes downcast and face devoid of any expression. Zoe didn’t recognize anyone else. But Scott was a born and bred Harborwood resident and despite the backlash the police were getting for handling the case, several people had shown up, including Mayor Hicks and Regina.
The rabbi’s voice carried over the sound of the rain as he recited some words of comfort.
Zoe had lost count of how many times she’d heard those words, how many funerals she had attended over the years.
The casket was a simple, elegant box of dark wood, now streaked with rain. She didn’t know Scott very well but she knewhe would like this design—simple and no nonsense, like him. It rested above the open grave, a final resting place, soon to be hidden from the world. The pallbearers, their faces drawn with grief, waited for the signal to lower it, their hands gripping the straps that would guide it down.
A gust of wind whipped through the cemetery, tugging at the edges of the mourners’ coats. She pulled her coat tighter around herself, but the cold seemed to seep into her bones. The memory of Scott bleeding to death transpired in her mind. She stared at her fingers, clenching and unclenching them, still feeling his gooey, sticky blood on them.
The family followed suit, each dropping a handful of earth, the soft thud of soil on wood blending with the rain.
“I’m going to stay behind and pay my respects to his family,” Aiden whispered. “Do you want to say anything to them?”
Her eyes flickered to the aging man with a walking stick, probably thinking it should be him in a casket, not his son, and a young woman sniffling next to him—Scott’s sister. The thought of talking to them made her chest contract.
“I can’t. I’m sorry. I… can we just stay here for a minute?”
“Y-yeah.” He couldn’t hide his surprise.
Zoe was too tired and stifled from the heaviness. She dropped her head to his shoulder, just resting there, not caring if this was crossing some professional boundary. Vaguely, she heard his breath hitch, like he wasn’t expecting this. But then he relaxed and shuffled closer, leaning into her. She closed her eyes and let the contact comfort her, let the sadness wash over her like water, trying not to drown in it.
They didn’t say anything to each other. And after a minute or so, Zoe walked away.
She trudged across the rain-slicked parking lot, her heels sloshing through the puddles that had formed in the wake ofthe morning’s deluge. She barely noticed the icy bite of the rain against her cheeks.
Scott was trying. He made mistakes but they all did. This case was the biggest he’d ever worked on. Even for Zoe, who had the experience he lacked, it had left her with sleepless nights and intrusive thoughts that encroached on her sanity.
And it had killed him.
She reached her car and fumbled with the keys, her hands trembling slightly. Finally, she managed to unlock the door and slip inside, grateful for the warmth of the car. She slammed the door shut behind her, cutting off the relentless roar of the hailstorm.
Sinking into the driver’s seat, she allowed herself a moment, the rain’s rhythm against the windows a distant, almost soothing sound. Her composure cracked, and she began to cry silently. Whatever control she may have had suddenly snapped and it all poured out. She pushed her thumbs into her eyes, trying to avoid the image of Scott dying in front of her.
After what felt like an eternity, she took a shaky breath and glanced up, catching a reflection in the rearview mirror.
“What the hell?” She whirled around, her heart leaping into her throat.
Keith was sitting in the back seat. “I’m sorry, Zoe. About what happened to your colleague.” His voice was strained.
“Have you just been sitting there while I was crying?”
He shrugged weakly.
She rolled her eyes and wiped her face. “What are you doing here and how?”
“I know I shouldn’t have broken into your car, but old habits die hard. I had to see you. I—” He faltered, his gaze dropping to his hands. “I’m sorry about Scott. I really am. I know this isn’t the best time, and I didn’t want to do this, but…” He paused,struggling to find the words. “I’m leaving town. I can’t stay here any longer. I just… I needed to see you before I left.”
Zoe’s breath hitched as she processed his words. A sigh escaped her lips; suddenly she felt heavy like the weight of a big rock was strapped to her feet and pulling her down. “Why?” she finally managed to ask, her voice barely above a whisper. “What happened?”
He was kind enough to show remorse. “I thought I was safe after all these years. But I’m being threatened again.”
“Who is it? That man you and Rachel ran away from?”
