Page 23 of Burn Me Down

“I know,” I said, kissing her as I prayed I was right. I saw glimpses of the old Derek the night of the barn fire. Through all the pain and anger, there was still a semblance of the brother I grew up with, who loved me as much as I loved him. I hated this. I hated that I had him locked away, and now the loving guy who protected me at all costs was locked inside of him.

I’d been jogging every day and sometimes at night when Vi had to work late just to see if anyone was following me. I wanted to draw him out and maybe tell him I didn’t mean to hurt him. I had only wanted to help, but it had been quiet. Nothing had moved in the shadows, no cars lingered, and there were no more texts or phone calls. It was like he’d disappeared all over again. I should’ve been relieved, but instead, my heart ached that I’d lost him.

Hours later, I rolled out of bed and got dressed. “I’ll be back. I love you,” I whispered in Vi’s ear.

“Where are you going?”

“Work stuff, I got a text to come in.”

“Do you need me?”

I shook my head. “I won’t be long, I promise.”

Tucking Vi in, I stared down at her and knew that if Beck got hurt, we would have problems. She loved me, but if this was Derek and I believed it was, then what the fuck should I do?

Slipping out of the house, I drove in a daze to the location sent to me, the flashing lights a dead giveaway. Getting out of the truck, I showed my credentials to the officer manning the perimeter and made my way up the dark alley.

Detective Jacobs looked like he’d stepped out of a forties gangster movie with his long trench coat and notepad in hand. He was the officer assigned to hunt Derek, and I secretly hoped he would never find him. Every time I got a call from him, my heart dropped.

“Hey, Jacobs,” I said as I got closer to what looked like the charred remains of a man. It was hard to tell with how burned the body was, but a quick look at the height and bone structure said a six-foot male.

“West.” Jacobs nodded, acknowledging me, but didn’t say anything more until he finished writing.

“Sorry about that. I needed to get the thought out while it was fresh. Tell me what you see.”

“Looks to me like a male around six feet. Hard to know if he put up a fight, but there are no restraints, and he’s not on display. Whoever did this certainly didn’t want them to live accidentally.” I knelt and asked for Jacobs’ flashlight. Flashing it over the body helped me understand what had been confusing in the dark shadows. “It also looks like the victim drank a flammable substance, and either they lit it themselves or someone set them on fire. The fire burned through the stomach at a rapid pace from the inside. A small explosion may have even occurred.” I looked up at Jacobs. “This would be hard to accomplish. Any sign of what they drank?”

“Nope.”

“Well, it wouldn’t be alcohol or even gasoline. Alcohol has too low of a flashpoint, and gasoline would need oxygen. If the victim drank enough gasoline, his lungs would’ve exploded, but that doesn’t seem to have happened here.” I shrugged as I stood and handed back the flashlight. “But I’m sure you already knew that. So why am I out here, Jacobs?”

“I understand that your girlfriend was in the station causing a scene today about her friend who has gone missing?”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “You don’t think Vi had anything to do with this?”

“No. I want you to listen to something, but this is confidential.” He handed over an earbud, and I popped it in. He hit play on his phone, and I heard a 911 call.

“911, what’s your emergency?”

“Hi, um…my name is Rebecca, and I was out on a date when my date attacked me. I’m pretty sure he was going to rape me, but he didn’t and figured I should still call.”

“You did the right thing. Are you in a safe place now?”

“Yes, I’m in my car.”

“Did you see where the person went?”

“Yes, and no. Um…so that’s kind of why I’m calling. It’s not for me.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”

“I’m calling because while he was attacking me, some…thing grabbed him from behind and dragged him into the alley.”

“Did you say some…thing?”

“It could’ve been a man or a bear or a demon. I know that sounds crazy, but my eyes were filled with tears from being hit in the face, and it was dark, and whoever or whatever it was…was huge.”

Jacobs hit end and looked at me. I swallowed hard and met his eyes. “That was your girlfriend’s friend. The officers saw her. She was shaken but fine. Now, apparently, she’s missing.”