“There’s more,” Jake hedged.
“Of course there is.” She sighed. “Well, lay it on me. Short of getting abducted myself, I don’t think my day can get much worse.”
“Do you use the Gas’n’Go about a mile from here?”
“Yes,” she answered. “I’ve used it a couple of times since I got here. It’s the one nearest my house, why?”
“The kid that went missing is Lucas Campbell, and he works there.”
Her eyes went distant as she thought back to the last time she was there. “Tall kid, kinda lanky, dark hair?”
“That’s him,” Jake confirmed.
“Well, that’s just great.” Her heart sank. “That’ll just give Chief Walcott more ammunition.”
“Lucas was last seen three days ago when he finished out his shift. He was supposed to head out to the friend’s straight from work. The chief wouldn’t let me anywhere near Brody’s crime scene, so I was the one who took the call about Lucas when it came in. I headed out to the Gas’n’Go, as it was the last place he was seen, and pulled the surveillance tapes. I printed this from the camera. The footage was from the beginning of Lucas’s shift.”
He handed Olivia the folder and watched as she flipped it open. Her mouth tightened. She looked down at the grainy surveillance photo and recognized the pale-haired man loitering in one of the aisles, staring at the cashier.
“Who is he?” Theo asked, leaning over Olivia’s shoulder to study the picture as well.
“We don’t know yet,” Jake replied as she handed him back the folder.
“He was at the pub the night Adam disappeared, and I saw him again in town. He’s been watching me. Chief Walcott showed me pictures of him with my father outside Morley Ridge Psychiatric Facility too. They think he’s the one who helped my father escape.”
“Do you think he is responsible for the murders?” Theo asked.
“I think it’s entirely too close for comfort. The Gas’n’Go is only a mile and a half from where Brody’s body was found and about a mile from Olivia’s house. Plus, he seems to have taken an unhealthy interest in Olivia personally, and we know he is working with her father.”
“You think my father is involved in the murders, don’t you?”
“It’s a strong possibility,” Jake admitted reluctantly. “I wish I could get my hands on the files from the original murders.”
“To see if my dad was involved in those too?” she snapped.
“Olive,” Jake replied. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“I’m not upset.” She scowled. “But I am tired. You can give Theo a ride back to your place since you’re here.”
“You can’t stay here by yourself,” Jake told her in a firm tone.
“The hell I can’t.”
“Don’t be stupid, Olivia. There have now been two murders near your property and, God forbid, possibly a third, and the main suspect appears to be stalking you.”
“I don’t care, I’m not leaving.” She knew she was being rude, and that Jake was just looking out for her but she couldn’t seem to help the words tumbling from her mouth. The stress of the last weeks was catching up with her and she’d had enough.
There was no way to make them understand she couldn’t leave the house. She was bound it, and to the land. The threads wound around her ankles, sinking into her bones and plunging down into the earth. There was no choice, she had to stay, and she was sick to death of arguing about it.
It felt like everything was closing in. She didn’t want to discuss the murders, or her father, or anything. All she wanted was for everyone to go away and leave her alone so she could catch her breath. Panic mixed with the anger and hurt inside her, all of it turning into a messy, churning mass. Her magic seethed beneath her skin reacting to her anger and she knew if she let go it would consume her.
“Olivia,” Theo spoke up. “Jake may have a point. You are too vulnerable here by yourself.”
“You think I can’t take care of myself?” She had to keep a tight leash on her power, but her grip was already slipping. She was so fucking angry. Who were they to come into her house and tell her what to do. She’d spent the last two decades taking care of herself because no one else wanted to, and now they show up and start making demands.
Her eyes blazed pure gold and her hair whipped back from her face, as if caught by an unseen wind. Her skin began to glow, and her hands trembled and twitched, sparks flying from her fingertips to singe the rug.
She fought to control the wave of heat and anger inside her, but the power whipped through her, white-hot and furious. Flames erupted from her fingers as she curled them in, making it appear as if she were holding two blazing spheres in her hands.
