I sigh heavily, thinking about this. She’s right. It really could be the final thing we need. At least, point us in the right direction.
Gwen sighs. “Not just to fight off Derrick. But also to end this for Tobias. Seeing him the other night was really rough.”
My eyebrows pinch together. “Wait, what? What happened the other night?”
Her back straightens as she looks over my face. “He didn’t tell you? About the lights?”
I shake my head again, feeling the panic rising inside of me again.
Gwen breathes in deeply. “I was headed to work the other morning, and stopped by to check-in on him. He wasn’t home—”
“Must’ve been the night he was at the bar.”
Gwen nods. “Yes. And when I stopped by, I noticed all the lights in the house were offexceptfor Jude’s bedroom.”
My eyes widen. “What?”
“I thought it was weird too. So I called Tobias who said he never remembered going in there. We searched with a knife and everything. Nothing. I started sleeping there a few times a week after that.”
I stand up suddenly, making Gwen jump. I pace the floor, trying to steady my breathing as my mild flies a mile a minute. “When dad passed, I locked that room from the outside to make sure no one would go in there. Meaning…Tobias wouldn’t have juststumbledin there.” I shake my head. “No, someone was in there.On purpose.”
I search for my phone in my pocket but curse under my breath when I remember. “Shit! He doesn’t have a phone.” I bang my head with my phone.
“What’s going on!?” Gwen jumps up too.
“Derrick’s been to the house. I don’t know why but I can feel it.” I pant.
Gwen nods, running to her hallway closet. Grabbing my coat, she throws it over to me.
“Call the cops on the way. I’ll drive.”
***
Detective Jameson picks up on my second ring.
“Elijah—” She begins.
“I think Derrick’s been to the house.” I rush out.
“What makes you think that? We have had no indication that he’s been anywhere near the house.”
“How would you know!? Tobias told me you all called off the patrol cars.”
“Elijah, calm down.”
“No! I don’t think you understand how dangerous Derrick is. He’s psychotic, he has a gun and he threatened to kill us. I told you all of this.”
“And we understand that, but when he doesn’t show face in three to four months, there’s not much we’re going off of.”
I groan, trying not to pull out my hair. “You said it yourself that he’s been spotted on the outskirts of town. So, it’s not far off that he’d stop by the house at some point. Right?”
“Sure. But, that’s hardly anything. We know he can’t get very far without money, ID, and a passport. Without that—”
“Wait.” My eyes widen as my mouth drops open. “He can’t get very far without a valid ID or passport.” I repeat, as chills roll down my spine.
“Yes, exactly—”
“No, no! You don’t get it.” I look over at Gwen who looks at me with a scared look over her face. “My dad keeps all of his documents in…the safe in his closet.” I mutter. “Hypothetically speaking, how long could someone use a person’s identification after they passed away?”
