Page 35 of Dark Roads
Wolf moved close to me, and I tugged him down. His huffing changed to a grumble as he stared at the truck, his ears shifting up and down as he listened. I tried to peer inside the cab but only got reflection off the windshield. I shimmied closer to the edge. Wolf crawled beside me.
The truck door swung open. One leg stepped out, then a man. Vaughn.
He looked behind him, studying the highway. I flattened myself on the rock—hoping he hadn’t seen the glint of sun on the lenses—and tugged Wolf’s head lower. Vaughn turned and walked along the edge of the ditch, then stopped, arm over his mouth. He pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and pressed it over his nose before walking down into the ditch, where he dropped to a crouch. The long grass hid him. I stared at the spot. What was he doing?
He stayed low for a few moments, then stood and walked to the truck, where he pulled out his camera—and a pair of gloves. Back at the ditch, he disappeared again. I imagined the snap, snap. His camera filling with shots. He’d be zooming in, taking photos of every part of her.
When he was finished, he climbed into the truck and closed the door but didn’t drive away. He must be waiting for the other cops, the coroner maybe. I waited with him.
The police were there for hours—three other cop cars and a coroner’s van. They slid white plastic suits over their clothes, but I recognized Thompson’s tall shape, his black hair. He was the only one not wearing sunglasses. I liked that I could see his eyes. He seemed more real. Not like the other uniforms. And he was staying back from the ditch, from Amber. Maybe he was thinking about all the times she’d served him. The smiles and laughs they’d exchanged.
They put a tent up to block the scene from the highway and closed one of the lanes. People drove slowly as they passed by. I was sure they were taking photos and videos to share on social media. I was glad for the tent. I didn’t want anyone elseseeing her. The sun was going down when a black minivan pulled up. The men went into the ditch with a stretcher and carried Amber out in a body bag. I stared at the shape, watched to make sure that they were gentle with her when they slid her into the hearse. How could Amber be inside that? How could such a beautiful, alive, laughing girl end up in black plastic? She’d be taken to the morgue. They would cut her open and collect evidence. She’d be returned to her family. I thought of her sister getting the news, and tears ran down my face. The cops stayed for a while longer. Her car was towed.
The coroner left; Vaughn followed. Only one car remained. Thompson. He stood beside the driver’s door. Making notes on some sort of clipboard. Paperwork.
I pressed in the memorized number on my phone, watched as Thompson pulled out his cell and looked down at the screen. His frown was clear through my binoculars.
“Thompson here.”
I lowered my voice and cupped my hand over the speaker. “I told you he was dangerous, but you didn’t listen to me.”
A pause, silence. He looked up from his paperwork, staring down the highway. He turned around a couple of times, wondering if he was being watched. “Who is this?”
“Did you even search for cameras?”
“I couldn’t find any. Without more information, I can’t—”
“I’m telling you—hehasthem. Maybe he circulates the cameras around.” I wanted to yell and scream, but he’d hear my voice on the ridge. Why hadn’t he checked more places? Why hadn’t he watched Vaughn to see if he took photos from across the lake? He could have stopped him.
“Can we meet and talk about this?”
“HeknewAmber.”
More silence. Thompson turned back toward the spot whereI’d found Amber, his shadow long behind him. “What do you know about Amber?” His voice was low and cautious.
“Everyone in town is talking about it.”
“We haven’t released a statement yet.”
“Amber’scarwas towed. It was her. People aren’t stupid.”
“Did you see her with someone?”
“No, but Vaughn is always on that highway. He knew Shannon from the area, and Hailey was his niece. She’s missing, right? Now Amber. He eats in the diner all the time.” I thought about everything Vaughn had told me about the killer. He’d been talking about himself.
“That’s it? That’s all you have?” For a moment I thought he didn’t believe me, but then I realized that his anger was frustration. There was something in him thatdidbelieve. Maybe he sensed something was off with Vaughn. Maybe he was investigating him.
“I can’t say anything else.”
“If you’re scared, we can get you protection.” How would that work? A foster home? Some sort of legal document? Vaughn could still find me.
“If you don’t figure out a way to catch him, another girl will die.”
I slid the phone into my pocket. Hours later, Thompson was still in his car, guarding the crime scene. The cops would be back. Maybe someone from the city. Forensics experts. But they wouldn’t find anything. Vaughn had been the first to arrive on the scene. He’d spent time alone with her body. Just like he had with Shannon. Anything left in the dark was gone by now.
Wolf and I slipped down the side of the ridge and into the woods.
CHAPTER 13
