“Shrouded Lake Sheriff’s Department,” he called out. “Lauren, if you’re able, let me know you’re here.”
No response. In the hall there were broken and overturned items, as if someone put up a fight.
Clearing the first floor, he half expected another deer head at the top of the banister. Instead, the railing was broken halfway up as if someone was pushed through it. A broken piece of the wooden spindle was teetering; the jagged tip covered in blood. Someone had been impaled by inches as they’d fallen from the stairwell.
Clearing the bathroom and Lauren’s room first, he squinted, as he moved down the opposite side of the hall. He tried to make sense of what was beneath the second story window.
Squatting down two feet from it, he looked at what could only be describe as an alter…for a child. There was an old photo of the Moor family. There was also candy, decorative jewelry, and small toys. A genogram of the Moor family was placed on the opposite side of the photo. Based on the handwriting of the names, he knew Lauren created it.
Beyond a doubt Lauren and her mother had done all this. For Deborah. And she’d protected the house from whoever had broken in. For them.
“And you gave’em hell, didn’t you little one?”
His phone rang.
“Stillwater.”
“Hey Sheriff, Lauren and her mother are here,” Roan stated. “I told Lauren you’d be here soon, but I didn’t tell her about the alarm going off. Didn’t want to rattle her before she presents to the council. Is everything okay?”
“We’ve got blood, looks like the original inhabitant didn’t take kindly to someone breaking in a second time. Bring your kit.”
“Theghostattacked someone?”
“Looks like.”
“You want me to investigate a break-in at a haunted house at night on a new moon?”
“Bring Derry. I want to be there before the council meeting begins,” he said as he pulled down the attic stairs.
“The mist is getting thick on Old Lotty Road,” Santiago added. “So y’all be careful driving up here.”
There was nothing disturbed in the attic, only the weight of unseen eyes. He had a feeling this was where Deborah died. Her presence was always strongest up here.
“Roger that, League,” Roan said.
Santiago left for the council meeting the minute Roan and Derry were on the scene.
As he approached city hall, he hoped tonight wouldn’t be the proverbial shit show Roan predicted. But Lauren was aiming to hold the mayor accountable, and Anderson Archer would likely be fighting mad with his son being suspected of aiding and abetting a prison escape and his mother being forced to check in to the very out-patient program Dalton would be attending.
Santiago thought Mrs. Veronica would’ve chosen to go to a more upscale program out of town. There wasn’t a lot of anonymity in Shrouded Lake, and the Archers didn’t like to broadcast any vulnerability.
Parking his car in a spot designated for official law enforcement staff, he got out of the car, and walked toward the building. He didn’t see Lauren’s car, had a feeling she parked it over at Aunt Lina’s, whose car he did see. The meeting hall wasn’t an overly large space, but with the number of people packing the benches and aisles, his skin started to feel tight.
Santiago searched the crowd as he ambled toward the platform where six council members sat. The seventh seat, Bailey Joe’s, was empty.
He moved to the side of the platform, where he normally did during meetings, sunglasses on. Across the room on the right, Lauren sat in the front row between her mother and Saige.
Saige nudged Lauren’s shoulder, and she looked up from the papers in her lap.
Her body relaxed perceptively, and she cocked her mouth up in a tempting smile. His blood tingled as if fireflies were being born within it. He slid his glasses low on the bridge of his nose and threw an under-eyed look at her. Miya fanned herself and Lauren laughed, crossing her legs. She wore wide-leg slacks and five-inch stilettos. Her breasts and cleavage filled her cream silk blouse. And despite looking like a corporate maven, he couldn’t stop remembering how she looked naked.
Nah, she wasn’t leaving this fucking town. She might not know it yet, but she was going to spend the rest of her life on Shrouded Lake. Her cabin or his. He hoped his eyes broadcast that before he slipped the shades back up the bridge of his nose and focused on the stage as the mayor brought the meeting to order.
Anderson sat in his place at the center of the other council members: Mildred Maitland, whose eye still showed damage from Garland Porter’s fist; Lou, who owned the BBQ restaurant; Dave Flemming, the real estate agent; Aunt Lina; and Audrey.
Santiago was 90 percent sure Lina and Audrey were the reason the place was stuffed to its limits. He just hoped everyone remained on their best behavior.
CHAPTER 21
