Skye
Ikeptthecameralowas I moved down the edge of Center Street, trying not to attract attention while I filmed the courthouse steps. The old building was from the 1800s. A stunning piece of architecture of the time, it was four stories tall and rather large for such a small town. It would be the perfect backdrop for the Shadow Stalker trial when, or if, it happened.
A few people passed by without giving me a second glance, but I stilled. Stretching out my stiff neck, I scanned my surroundings. For the past half hour, it felt as if I were being watched. But I didn’t see anyone paying particular attention to what I was doing.
I let out a breath. I was being paranoid after everything that had happened in this town since I left.
I would have to get used to it.
The man arrested six months ago for the infamous serial killings didn’t seem like he would plead guilty anytime soon. Despite the mounting evidence against him, he was a very wealthy man and hislegal team were doing the most for his defense. The trial wasn’t set for another year, if the lawyers didn’t succeed in getting it pushed back.
This was the perfect time for this documentary. I would take pleasure in spreading the story of this man and his chilling crimes while he rotted in jail, waiting for his day in court.
I moved on from the courthouse. I’d been shooting B-roll for over an hour, capturing some small-town scenery to build atmosphere into the documentary. Brick storefronts with weathered signs, the faded mural near the park, and…the few places that had been dump sites for a killer.
Much of Ember Hollow still felt like it was holding its breath, like the whole town hadn’t exhaled since the day the Shadow Stalker was caught.
“Skye Adler?”
My fingers tightened around the camera. Slowly, I turned from the scenery I’d been filming and met the steady stare of an unfamiliar man.
He leaned against one of the black iron streetlights that lined the quaint street. His hands were tucked into the pockets of the dark slacks that matched his sportscoat. When his lips pulled up in a half smile, I was instantly on edge.
When I didn’t reply, his smile slipped.
“You’re her, right?TheSkye Adler from Crime and Justice?”
My heart rate crept up a notch. I tried to keep my face blank as I looked up and down his form. He was older than me, maybe in his early to mid-forties. He was fit, with dark hair that was cut short. Since working in the public eye, I’d gained some unwanted attention from zealous fans and wannabe stalkers, and meeting strangers like this was always unnerving. I had felt safe in my secure apartment building in thecity, but I didn’t have that here. I was very much alone, in a cabin in the woods.
“Who wants to know?” I asked, my voice light with friendly caution.
He pushed off the lamppost and straightened. He took a step toward me, and though my face remained tightly controlled, I took half a step back.
The man paused. He slowly raised a hand, and used the other to pull something from his pocket. It glinted in the sunlight. A badge.
I tensed. Cops didn’t automatically mean harmless. I knew first-hand how dangerous the bad ones could be.
“I’m Detective Whize,” he said, his easy smile growing. “You and I have a mutual friend, I think.”
My brows narrowed. “Excuse me?”
He chuckled. Returning the badge to his pocket, he took out something else. A small, black thumb drive. “Emersyn asked me to drop this off with you.”
My unease lessened, but only slightly. “Emersyn?”
He took a few more steps toward me, holding out the thumb drive. “Relax. Emersyn and I go way back. She said you’d need visuals and info for the doc.”
I blinked at him. “Emersyn didn’t say anything about you.”
“Yeah, well.” He cleared his throat, as if embarrassed. “She just asked me about it a couple hours ago.”
I glanced at the thumb drive, slightly stunned, but becoming less guarded with each passing moment. Cautiously, I reached for the drive. “What’s all on this?”
“Internal case files on the Shadow Stalker. It’s our reports on the cases, crime scene photos, stuff like that,” he explained. “Redacted where necessary.”
I tucked the drive into the pocket of my jeans. “Thanks.” Excitement bloomed in my chest. “I’ve never had information given to me so…easily.” I gave him a smile. A real one.
He ran a hand through his hair, and I thought he blushed a little. “No problem. I trust Emersyn. Which means I trust you.”
