Page 21 of Traces of Her

Thirteen

GRIFFIN

THE AIR IS THICK WITH SILENCE as we pull away from Jared’s house. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Rowena shift closer to the door, putting more space between us. I keep my eyes trained on the road ahead, yet my focus is completely on her. Over the years I’ve learned how important it is to always be aware of your surroundings and to anticipate other’s actions before they do. I’m more than aware of my surroundings; I’m intrigued by them.

This isn’t the first time I’ve had to clean up one of Jared’s messes, although this is a unique situation. Usually it’s either a paper trail, a bloody trail or both. Either way, it’s always illegal and he’s sloppy as hell and I’m left to clean up the mess.

My work as a forensic psychologist has become more relevant in my personal life than I ever intended. Growing up, there was always something off about Jared, but he was my older brother, so it was always overlooked. As we got older, I started to see him for the person he truly was. The rage and anger he possessed grew with him until that was what he became. Clinically speaking, it’s safe to say he’s a textbook psychopath. I’ve psychoanalyzed him over and over again, thinking that maybe there was some good in him but there never was and there never would be.

I made it my job to protect him, as best I could. I’ve stepped back and have distanced myself from him, but I try to keep close tabs on him. Having my own practice, I don’t have to worry about other colleagues sticking their noses where they don’t belong. I work primarily with a few law firms on criminal cases. My time working those cases has taught me how to help Jared and keep him out of the system. But now, this girl with long white hair has me questioning everything I’ve ever done to help him. The other crimes he’s committed seem comparable to this one. He’s kidnapped this girl and she knows too much and that makes this mess much more dangerous than any of the others.

If I wouldn’t have answered his call if I wouldn’t have shown up, who knows what he would have done with her.

We pull up at a red light and I finally cave, looking in her direction. Her long, white blonde hair is tucked behind her ears revealing her dainty features. She continues to stare out the window as if she’s taking everything in for the first time. That expression on her face, the one filled with wonderment, is the last one I’d expect to find in a situation like this. She shows no fear, but her body language tells me she’s guarded. Her pale slender arms are crossed against her petite frame. I’ve only just met her, and I’m already captivated by her mysterious beauty. I fight against the urge to reach out for her, afraid she’ll vanish into thin air like a ghost.

The car behind me blows its horn and Rowena glances over and raises her eyebrows at me expectantly. Tearing my eyes away from her, I look up and sure enough, the light’s green. I raise my hand up to the driver behind me and press down on the gas, continuing our drive to my home, her new home, with my mind consumed by the mystery girl riding beside me.

What kind of mess have I gotten myself into?

---