A folded piece of paper.
The sheriff opened it.
Read it once.
Then again.
His face went hard.
“What is it?” Wolf asked.
Sheriff Cooper looked toward Sadie.
Then toward me.
“Gerald left a note.”
My blood went cold.
“What does it say?”
The sheriff hesitated.
That was enough.
“Read it.”
He handed me the bag.
Inside, written in thick black marker, were six words.
You can’t keep her from me.
The house went silent.
Sadie made a small sound behind me.
I turned immediately.
Pulled her against my chest.
Held her close.
But my eyes stayed on the note.
On Gerald’s handwriting.
On the promise he thought he was making.
He wanted us scared.
He wanted us waiting.
He wanted us to believe he could come back whenever he wanted.
Fine.
Let him think that.
