Page 78 of Aftermath
“What?” I asked. “They killed them because of me?”
I knew this was coming. The killer had warned me to stop, but I didn’t listen. Neither of us did. Instead, we kept pushing on, leaving no stone unturned.
“This isn’t your fault. Stop thinking that,” Stone scolded. “They would have become emboldened eventually. If not now, maybe two years from now. There is no way to know for sure. At least now, we have more evidence to follow and can put a stop to all of this.”
“I should’ve listened. That woman is dead because of me,” I said, my stomach still turning.
“No, that woman is dead because of a serial killer,” Stone said firmly.
I grabbed a cup from the cupboard and filled it with water at the sink. My head hurt and my throat burned. The water was refreshing but not enough to fix it all.
“Do you still want to go back?” Stone asked.
“I have to,” I answered. “Let’s go.”
18
STONE
I should’ve knownI wouldn’t be so lucky to find myself alone with Len. Instead, Mal bounced next to her friend, trailing along with us. We’d walked halfway to the pub before bumping into her.
The streets were packed with tourists, and we pushed through the crowds on the sidewalk. There were too many people surrounding us for comfort, but there was not much I could do to change it.
The texts she received told me the unsub was becoming bolder. They were fixated on her, as their victim who got away, and that fact alone had me on edge. I knew how dangerous an obsession like that could become.
“Why are you going to High Tide?” Mal asked.
“For drinks,” Len answered quickly, keeping her answer short and simple.
That was my girl. A natural.
Thoughts like that were dangerous. I had limited time left, especially with the case becoming active once more. I’d be leaving for Quantico before I knew it.
“I thought you loved this place,” Len said to her friend.
“I do, but it doesn’t seem like your scene. You always refuse to come with me,” Mallory said, casting me a look of pure hatred and jealousy.
“Well, I changed my mind.” Len shrugged. “I heard they have great margaritas, so I told Stone we had to come check it out while he was still in town. It felt like a tourist staple he couldn’t miss.”
“It is always packed with tourists,” Mallory agreed. “We could come back for your birthday!”
“Birthday?” I cut in.
“In a few days,” Mallory answered, rolling her eyes. “You know nothing about her, do you?”
So blunt. I held back the frustrated grumble threatening to tumble out. Mallory was insufferable no matter how much I tried to like her for Len’s sake.
“On Saturday,” Len interrupted, diffusing the situation.
It bothered me that I didn’t know when Len‘s birthday was, though I never thought to ask. I didn’t think I’d be sticking around long enough to celebrate it. Mallory had a look of victory on her face that she knew something I didn’t, like she was slowly winning her best friend back. It wasn’t a contest, but somehow, I found myself in the middle of a competition.
I needed to find a gift and put something together for Len. My mind was distracted, brainstorming ideas; I didn’t even realize we made it to the pub. We walked inside, and immediately, Len froze.
Gently, I took her hand and led her further toward a table so she could sit and I could find her awater. Mal caught sight of the movement and scowled in my direction. She linked her arm through Len’s other one and dragged her off to a booth away from me.
As she passed the bar, she said, “two margaritas,” then continued toward the open seats.
The woman behind it tilted her head at me, as if she expected me to bark an order at her as well. Instead, I opened my wallet, grabbed a few bills, and placed them on the counter.
