“Yeah, we pretty much figured that.” Mac scratched his chin thoughtfully.
“The cabin was the place he hung out with my dad and James when they were kids. He knew my dad would find him there. He said he couldn’t trust the system, so he’d have to take matters into his own hands. He planned to keep me alive long enough to get to my dad, then he was going to kill me.”
“That’s not going to happen.” Mac shook his head. “I’ve assigned an armed guard to watch you at all times until Walcott is in custody.”
“No,” Olivia replied. “I want Jake, he’s the only cop I trust right now.”
“Sorry, I can’t do that. I need him. The department’s in a hell of a mess. I need him on the murders. He seems to have a remarkable level of knowledge about a case he wasn’t actually assigned to.” He tuned his gaze to Jake.
“I thought someone should actually be investigating the murders since Chief Walcott seemed to be busy amusing himself by stalking Olivia,” Jake relied defiantly.
“And that’s exactly why I need you.” Mac scratched his jaw consideringly. “You seem to be the only one in the department with a brain.”
“As flattering as that is”—Jake’s eyes narrowed—“I need to know Olivia is going to be safe.”
“She will be,” Mac answered. “How about two armed guards brought in from outside? We’ll borrow a couple of guys from the County Sheriff’s department.”
“Fine,” Jake conceded.
Olivia frowned. “Uh, when you two are quite done deciding my life for me.”
“We just want you safe.” Mac turned back to Olivia. “You said you saw your dad at the cabin?”
“Yeah,” she replied carefully.
“What happened?” Mac asked curiously.
“I didn’t really hear much of what they said.” Olivia shrugged. “I was pretty drugged up.”
Actually, she’d heard every single word, but they didn’t need to know about that. She certainly couldn’t mention magic in front of Captain McCallister, or he’d think she was crazy too. She’d have to tell Theo and Jake later when they were alone.
“My dad wasn’t alone, though. He had the pale-haired man with him. He called him Davis.”
“The man who the Feds think helped him escape Morley Ridge?” Mac frowned.
“That’s right.”
“Okay, I’ll run the name Davis and see what we come up with,” Mac replied. “Although if your father is the killer, we’re now into uncharted territory.”
“What do you mean?” she asked in confusion.
“The original murders stopped after the fourth victim. The body they found this morning was victim number four. After this, we have no idea whether there are going to be more bodies or if the murderer will go to ground again.”
Unfortunately, Olivia did know. If Theo’s premonition was right, there would be five murders. The last one would have his heart removed, and it would take place after the first snowfall. But there was no way to explain to Captain McCallister how she knew that.
“I’m going to head back in, give you a chance to rest.” Mac turned to Jake. “Deputy Gilbert?”
“Jake,” he corrected him. “I’ll meet you back at the station.”
Mac nodded in agreement before slipping quietly from the room.
“Okay, Olive.” Jake turned back to her. “What didn’t you want to say in front of the captain?”
“Chief Walcott knows how to cross my protection lines. He knows what I am.”
“How?” Theo frowned.
“He knows I’m a witch because my dad is, and my mom was. As for crossing the line, he had a mojo bag. His grandmother was a hoodoo woman. She taught him her secrets, which means he can counteract some of my power. I’m not sure how much, as hoodoo isn’t my specialty. I don’t know enough about it.”
