“I’m very sorry, Olivia.” He shook his head. “I’m afraid I need to deal with this situation. Perhaps I could come by later if that is convenient for you?”
“Sure,” she replied quietly, studying his face.
“I’ll have one of the other deputies drive you home.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Olivia replied. “I’ll get a cab.”
“No, please,” Mac answered. “I insist. If you would just follow the stairs down to the parking garage, someone will be with you in a moment.”
She watched Mac disappear down the corridor while Erica tried Jake’s number again. “There’s still no answer.” She frowned.
“Jake’s probably still driving,” Olivia told her as they headed down the stairs. “Why don’t you try Theo’s number instead?”
Once they arrived at the parking lot, they were shown to one of the unlocked cars and told someone would be with them shortly. Olivia settled into the back and dropped her head back against the seat. Her stomach growled loudly, and she could have killed for a decent coffee.
“Damn it,” Erica swore softly.
“Still no answer?”
“No signal down here,” Erica murmured, holding her phone up at a different angle. “I’m just going to head outside and try again. I’ll be back in a moment.”
“I’ll be right here.” Olivia yawned, pulling the blanket tighter around her shoulders against the chill, and with a deep sigh, she closed her eyes.
Chief Walcott tugged viciously against the handcuffs anchoring him to the heavy table. His gaze was dark and narrow as he surveyed the room, his jaw ticking in tightly clenched fury. How dare they? Handcuffing him like some common criminal. Arresting him. Who the hell did they think they were? He couldn’t believe they would just release Olivia West. Why could they not see what she was? He couldn’t trust them, none of them. He was obviously on his own, and if the law wasn’t going to back him... well then, he would just have to take matters into his own hands.
The door clicked open quietly, and Deputy Carl stepped through holding a paper cup. Behind him he could hear some sort of commotion and a great deal of activity.
“I brought you a coffee, Chief.”
“What’s going on, Carl?” he demanded.
“I’m not sure. I’m not supposed to say anything.” He paused in the doorway, frowning.
“What am I going to do?” he replied, forcing down the anger and assuming a more congenial expression.
“Well,” Carl replied reluctantly. “I guess there’s no harm.”
“Exactly.”
“They found another body in the woods,” Deputy Carl breathed heavily. “Just when I think it can’t get any worse…” He broke off shaking his head.
Chief Walcott’s heart jolted in his chest, and his jaw clenched tightly. If they had just listened to him in the first place, this would have never happened.
“How?” he croaked, dreading the answer. “How did he die?”
“I don’t know for sure.” He shook his head. “But looks like his brain was removed… I don’t know how anyone could do such a thing… sick bastard.”
A buzzing began in Chief Walcott’s ears, and his heart began to pound in his chest. For a second, he was transported back twenty years and looking down at the mangled corpse of the man he loved, a man with his brain missing from his skull.
“I mean, what’s the world coming to?” Carl continued. “Who the hell would do such a gruesome thing, and why?”
Chief Walcott barely heard him. His gaze narrowed, and a thin veil descended over his eyes, his breath coming in sharp gasps.
“Chief?” Carl placed the cup down on the table. “Chief, are you okay? You don’t look good.”
“Can’t breathe,” he wheezed, slumping forward. “My chest…”
Carl rushed forward, unhooking the keys from his belt and reaching for the handcuffs. “Hold on, Chief.” He unlocked the cuffs, freeing his hands.
