Chapter 29
Levi
Sheriff Williams just called, telling us it was okay to go back to the rental.
“I’ll be quick,” I say to Kelcie. She’s sitting cross-legged on the bed with Lick cuddled up beside her. “The two of you stay here. I don’t want you anywhere near that house.”
“Can I pack your clothes while I wait?” she asks.
“I’d appreciate that.” I tie the laces of my boots and climb to my feet. Striding over to Kelcie, I give her a quick kiss. “Love you, my muse.”
She grins up at me. “I love you too.”
I ruffle Lick’s fur, then leave the room, shutting the door behind me.
Hit in the face with an icy blast, I grumble, “Jesus.” I quickly jog to my truck and climb in. Starting the engine, I set the heat high before I pull out of my parking spot.
The ten-minute drive goes by quickly, and I glance at the Adamses’ house across the street as I pull into the rental’s driveway, parking beside the sheriff’s cruiser.
I didn’t like Colby, but I feel for his parents. What happened yesterday was such an unnecessary waste of life.
After climbing out of my truck, I hurry to the front door and quickly open it. Sheriff Wilson is standing in the kitchen, drinking a cup of something hot.
“I just made coffee. Want some?” he asks.
“I’m good, thanks.” I look at the bloodstain on the wooden floor, and the memory of seeing Colby on top of Kelcie flashes through my mind. I shudder to think what would’ve happened if she hadn’t managed to call me.
My jaw clenches, and not in the mood to chat, I mumble, “I’m going upstairs to pack.”
“How is Kelcie handling everything?” he asks as I turn toward the staircase.
I pause and look at him again. “She’s doing okay.”
Sheriff Williams stares at me for a few seconds. “You take good care of that girl. She’s suffered enough.”
“I will.” I go up the stairs two at a time, not giving the sheriff time to say anything else.
In the main bedroom, I find several moving boxes and see that some already have clothes packed in them. I open the closet doors and get to work, folding every piece of clothing neatly. When I’m done, there are still two empty boxes, and I take them down to the kitchen before heading back to the main bedroom so I can load everything into my truck.
Just as I’m loading the last of Kelcie’s clothes into my truck, I hear Mrs. Adams scream, “You’re a monster!” My head whips to the left, and I see her coming toward me, not even checking the road for traffic as she crosses it. Her tone sounds downright manic as she cries, “You killed my baby. You should rot in jail with that brother of yours.”
As I turn to face her, Sheriff Williams comes jogging past me. “Hey, now. Let’s get you back home, Darlene.”
Mrs. Adams keeps glaring at me with an insane expression, making her look unstable. She repeatedly hisses, “You killed my baby.”
“Come, Darlene.” Sheriff Williams takes hold of her and pulls her back toward her house, but she cranes her neck to keep glaring at me.
I let out a sigh while I head back inside to clear out the kitchen.
Hearing footsteps, I glance at the sheriff as he comes into the house. “She’s just grieving. Don’t take anything she says personally.”
I make a noncommittal sound and continue to place the tableware in a box.
Sheriff Williams looks at the lone couch and probably notices there is no other furniture because he asks, “Kelcie never really moved in here, did she?”
“It wasn’t home to her,” I murmur, emptying the drawer containing all the silverware.
“Are the two of you moving into her folks’ place?”
