Page 71 of A Curse On Black Lake
“It’s true, if there isn’t any evidence or you couldn’t actuallyseewho it is, they would have taken a statement at most. But there's not a lot they could have done. For all they know, the perfume was a gift from an old friend.”
I nod, still shocked at his earlier words. Did I hear him right? Did he sayI’mon his mind one hundred percent of the time?
Well, child, he is on yours too.The Spirits say.
“Yes, well there’s a reason for that, isn’t there?” I ask them. Then realize I said that out loud, and Killian is looking at me strangely.
“The Spirits?” he asks.
I hum, throat too tight to speak.
“I made this worse,” he says.
I cough. “How in the world did you come to that conclusion?” I ask him.
“You’re my alibi, but you have this stalking issue, and it would be smart for you to call the cops. At least give them a statement.”
I huff a laugh and grab the ends of my hair, twirling them around my finger. “Do you think that’s smart? You clearly don’t trust Wyatt right now, and I can’t say I disagree, especially if he’sup to something. And like you said, they can’t really do anything, so what’s the point?”
“The point is they would have it on record, which is important,” he says.
“But Killian … if it is him. Do you think we should show our hand like that? He would know that we know.”
His stare weighs on me, gluing me to the seat. “First, your stalker is not related to my issue. I’m being accused of murder, and I’m obviously not stalking you. So the two don’t go together. I think it’s really bad luck, whichiscommon in Black Lake. But, Wyatt…” Killian swallows thickly. “IfWyatt is connected to this,then we should keep our cards close. But we need proof,irrefutableproof. We can’t go around town accusing the Sheriff of Black Lake of anything without it.”
My stomach churns. I’ve known of the Sawyers my whole life. It would be shocking if it really is him, and none of ussawit. I can’t imagine how Killian is dealing with it all. “I understand. I don’t want to call them. Okay? And Killian?”
He drops his hand from his exhausted face, waiting for me to continue.
“Believe it or not, you’ve made everything a thousand times better. It’s probably some weirdo kid. The stalker issue isn’t as important as yours.”
“The hell it’s not!” he roars.
I slip my lips over my teeth to hide my smile because he’s upset on my behalf, and he doesn’t need to know that I find his irritation towards me funny. Actually, it’s pretty cute.
“What do you want me to do?” I ask him.
“You’re going to come and live with me. We can come back and get the animals later,” he states like it’s not up for discussion.
I bark in laughter and cross my arms. “No, Killian, I won’t. I have things to do here. I have a business to run.” It doesn’t matter if I’m terrified to go to sleep now. I could keep Tinywith me, and a gun by my bed. But if astalker, or very mean teenager,got this close to the house, and I had no clue, who is to say he couldn’t get in without me knowing?
“I didn’t say we wouldn’t come back every day. But … it would be safer for you, and I care more about that right now,” Killian says.
Listen to him child, this is part of the plan. We know it is.
I thought you didn’t know what the full plan was.I tell them.
It is only as things are given to us. Trust him. He is right. It will keep you safe. Let him care for you this way. It is part of who he is. It will be better for both of you because we see so much darkness. It is coming, just as his father said.
My body tenses at their words. I try not to think too hard about it because it doesn’t make sense. But if I’ve learned anything, it’s that I’m better off accepting things as they are right now, instead of trying to find answers I’ll never get. But what did Killian’s dad say?
“Why did you get all tense? What’s wrong?” Killian asks.
He squats down in front of me and grabs both of my knees.
I don’t want to ask him about his dad, but it would be good to know what they’re talking about.
“I … I know we don’t know each other that well, but everything is happening fast, and I think this would be safer for you,” Killian says.
