Page 6 of The Raven
“I would say this is going to be quick, but I’d hate to lie to you,Boogie,” I said, admiring the sharpness of the weapon I’d chosen to use.
“No, please don’t hurt me, I’m sorry,” he squealed, attempting tothrash again and throw me off.
I placed one hand on his chest to hold him still, his body flinching. “I’msorry if my hand is a little cold; dead people don’t have a heartbeat pumping their blood around to keep them warm.” I beamed down at him, my grin widening as the color drained from his face.
“You’re not Raven!” he shrieked without a hint of conviction in hisvoice. “Raven is dead! And dead people don’t come back to life.”
“You’re right. They don’t.” I swiped the blade down the palmof my hand, wincing at the burn it left behind.
Pure terror filled Boogie’s eyes as I held my hand out to him. Hetracked a trickle of blood falling from my hand and dripping onto his chest before the wound I’d just made began to heal.
A few seconds later, the cut was completely healed, not even a faint scar leftbehind. A triumphant grin spread over my lips at the fright written on Boogie’s face.
Now he was beginning to understand how I felt that night.
Helpless.
Alone.
Afraid.
In his daze, Boogie didn’t notice me bring my other hand to his chestuntil the tip of the knife pressed into his skin. “Let’s begin, shall we?”
Death By AThousand Cuts
The Cop
I inhaled deeply, suckingin the last drag of smoke from my cigarette,and flicking the butt out the window. A dirty habit, but one I only indulged in when I really needed it.
Like now.
Ahead, flashing blue and red lights from cop cars and an ambulancelit up the street as residents milled around, doing their best to find out what the commotion was all about. It was a wasted journey for the ambulance, though; there was no life to save inside the building, which officers now guarded for a forensic examination to take place.
If there was someone to be saved, I wouldn’t have been called out inthe middle of the damn night.
I let out the smoke I’d held in my lungs, enjoying the rush when the nicotinehit my blood, and brought the car to a stop in front of the police tape with an officer manning the roadblock.
“Evening, Detective,” he said, leaning down to speak to me throughthe window I’d cracked open. “Looks like the Halloween fun and games have started a week early. Let’s hope it wasn’t as bad as last year.”
I pursed my lips. I didn’t need another reminder of what happenedalmost a year ago; the nightmares were enough.
“And no doubt it’ll get worse before it gets better, especially if Grimand his boys catch up with whoever was responsible before we do,” I replied glumly.
“Yeah, well, you better work fast then. The Vipers are already here.”
Of course they were. Nothing went on in the town of Hadleigh Peakwithout the Vipers knowing about it within minutes. The gang believed they owned every single resident in the town. The sad truth was, they did. No one challenged them, and despite how much effort I’d put into locking them all up, they were always one step ahead.
But it seemed tonight, someone had been brave, or stupid enough, tomurder one of the gang members, something I was sure would have far-reaching repercussions if we didn’t find the culprit first.
The officer, whose name I couldn’t remember, patted me on the armand returned to lower the barrier, allowing me to drive into the scene. A nervous anticipation swirled in my gut, the pressure to solve this case already weighing heavily on my shoulders.
I didn’t want to be responsible for anarchy, and that was exactly whatwould happen if Grim had his way.
Despite the downpour, locals continued to rubberneck from behind the lineof police tape, manned by more uniformed cops. I made my way along the road to where my colleague, Detective Nick Humphreys, waited, when my attention was drawn to a group of men huddled together but keeping their distance from any cop.
All five of them turned to stare at me, sneers on their lips as theyeyed up my car. The Vipers and I were well acquainted, and if I’d had the backing of my Lieutenant to progress with the investigation, all of them would have been locked up by now.
Still, one was dead, and from the brief details I’d been passed beforemaking my way down to the scene, it sounded like Boogie had received the comeuppance he deserved.
