Page 69 of Kept in the Dark

Trey glared at Sara and Hailey ran her hand through her hair. “At least we know we’re doing something right. He wouldn’t have called if he wasn’t worried.”

Trey nodded. “His whole world is being threatened between Nicole going missing and us looking into your mother’s death. News of the affair itself is likely enough to cause him to panic. He’s starting to unravel and that makes me nervous.”

“Yeah, but why?” Sara said. “Why is he so nervous about us finding out the truth about either of these cases if he isn’t involved?”

Sara was right. An innocent man didn't care if you snooped around because he had nothing to hide.

David Gallagher was guilty; Trey just didn't know of what.

But he’d find out.

“You two need to watch your backs for now. People are unpredictable when their livelihood is threatened,” Trey said.

If David was capable of abusing his daughters, what else could he be capable of? Most abusers escalated and murder wasn’t out of the realm of possibilities. And even if he didn’t murder Morgan, Trey couldn’t be sure he wouldn’t kill Hailey or Sara to keep his secrets hidden.

Sara said, “Well, it looks like the devil wants to come out and play.”

Hailey clenched her jaw. “He’s not the devil. I faced the devil and lived to tell about it.”

Trey shuddered. He used to think David was the devil, but he was sadly mistaken. Trey hadn’t stared into eyes so dark even monsters were afraid of what lies behind them. But Hailey had.

And Trey knew the devil would be the one to unravel David Gallagher’s kingdom.

I watch as Hailey and Sara walk with the cowboy to Hailey’s car. They can’t see me though. I’ve parked far enough away to keep an eye on them, but not close enough to attract attention. Even if I did, no one would think anything of it.

Hailey tilted her head back and laughed at something Trey said. I clench my jaw, disgusted with the flirtation. The two girls get into Hailey’s car and drive off as the Chief goes back inside his precinct.

What a joke.

How is it that Trey Harbor is the Chief? What shitty luck.

I wait a few seconds to pull out of my parking spot and follow Hailey. I’m angry she’s still here, stirring up trouble. If she left like she’d planned, I wouldn’t have to watch her. And if she would simply leave well enough alone, I wouldn’t have to kill her.

But here we are. I’m waiting for the right moment to do what needs to be done. Most people wouldn't be this driven. Most people won’t do the dirty work. They would rather wither away than fight against an enemy coming to take what is rightfully theirs. They would rather die than shed blood. Not me. I’ve spent my life shedding the blood of my enemies.

At first it was daunting, doing things that are against your instincts. Yet, the more I did it, the easier it became. And now it’s in my nature to do what most people won't.

Even Morgan Gallagher wasn’t my first victim, though no one even knows I’m the one who killed her. Nor do they know of the other bodies I so cleverly disposed of. People would be shocked to know my secret life; the life of a manipulator, a liar.

A murderer.

The Beast that lurks within doesn’t come out often, only when it needs to be satisfied. Only when someone must be silenced. The Beast has become innate to me, working alongside my instincts, so quietly that no one even knows it’s lurking just under the surface.

Sometimes even I forget The Beast is there.

And then it hungers for bloodshed, and it must be released.

It must be fed.

It must be satisfied.

And it wants Hailey. Maybe even Sara.

Hell, the cowboy may serve a purpose too.

But Hailey and Sara will have to wait.

The Beast has decided that it’s Elijah Washington’s time to die.

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