I moved the cold compress from my eye and asked Osso, “Any better?”
He shook his head and guided my hand back to my eye.
“I think this was the cabin they used for all the summer camp equipment.”I told them what I’d seen in the vision.
“Can you read the other two now?”the captain asked.
I considered and shook my head.“Not right now, and not both.Pick one.I’m going to walk around and try to shake off getting an arrow to the head.”I walked past the annoyed captain and felt a wave of nausea hit me.Oh, no.
When I tried to go around the back of the next cabin to vomit in peace, I realized it wasn’t morning sickness.It was the cabin.I motioned to Osso.“It’s this cabin too.I think the person beneath it was poisoned.”
He leaned back into view of the others, barked an order, and dropped a flag.I’d already moved on, weaving between the cabins.Three more cabins had at least one body hidden below them.The activity level and voices ratcheted up a few notches as I walked along the edge of the forest and pointed out two more spots where shallow graves had been dug and bodies left.As far as I could tell, the rest were adults.
“I think as the killer got older, so too did the victims,” I told Osso.Every new discovery had felt like a punch to the gut.I had a gloved hand gripping his arm, trying to keep myself upright.
“Can we move to the pond?Maybe the water will help.”It was wide and lovely, with trees hanging over the surface, creating hidden bowers under the branches.The campgrounds were pummeling me psychically.I was hoping a serene pond would cleanse the sticky residue of death from me.
I took off my glove to touch the water and snapped my hand back like the pond was filled with piranha.Sighing, I turned to Osso and found him texting.“You need divers,” I told him.“There are bodies at the bottom.”
Osso cursed, led me to a rock so I could sit down, and jogged back around the cabins so he could call for the captain.When Osso returned, it was with others in tow to discuss dragging the pond.I asked for my backpack.
This was one of the many reasons why having Declan on these jobs helped.He would have reminded me to use the seawater in the octopus bottle long before now.I took off a glove, poured water into my hand, and lifted my hand to my eye.The pain lessened and I was able to think clearly.
“What’s in the bottle?”
I turned and found Officer Rosen standing beside me, her eyes on the octopus bottle.I put my glove back on, closed the bottle, and returned it to my backpack.“It’s just water.It helps me, though.Except when your buddies”—I gestured to the cops around us—“decided it would be hilarious to rifle through my backpack and piss in my water bottle.That was awesome.”
Rosen’s eyes went wide and her jaw hardened like she was clenching her teeth.“They did what?”She was fuming, which made me feel better.“And you still help the department?”
I shrugged a shoulder.“It’s not the victims’ fault some of these guys are assholes.”
She rubbed her forehead.“Listen.I know you work with Arthur and Sofia, but if you ever need someone and can’t reach them, call me.”She pulled a card out of her pocket and passed it to me.“I’ll do what I can to help.”
“Rosen,” the captain called.“See how quickly we can get divers out here.”
“Yes, Captain.”She nodded and walked back toward the original crime scene while talking on the radio attached at her shoulder.
“Any idea how many we’re looking for?”the captain asked me.
I thought about it and shook my head.“It feels like maybe five.I’m not sure, though.”
“Your eye looks better,” he said.“Can you read a second one now?”
My phone buzzed in my pocket.I pulled it out and saw a missed call from Declan.“Give me a minute.I’ll meet you back near the entrance in a few.”
The captain didn’t seem thrilled with that answer, but I’d given him more than enough to be getting on with.
Me: Hi.Sorry I missed your call.Is everything okay?
Declan: [image of a mattress in the bedframe]
Me: Hot damn!We get to sleep in a bed tonight <3
Declan: Who said anything about sleeping?Where are you?I ran over to the gallery at lunch but couldn’t find you.Did your mom pick you up?
Me: No.I’m out at a crime scene.Osso wanted my help.
Declan: Why didn’t you call me?I should be there taking care of you.
