Page 53 of Silent Smile

Sobbing, Nora lowered herself into the hole. The sand was cold against her skin, its weight pressing down as Einar began to shovel it over her.

"Why the symbol, Einar?" she asked, desperate to stall him. "Why mark your victims like that?"

He paused, his voice soft with reverence. "It’s the sign of the ancient ones. The Nashoni were the original protectors of these dunes, long before any of us. I honor them."

Nora opened her mouth to reply, but Einar cut her off. "No more questions," he said, his voice chillingly calm. "Take these moments to quiet your spirit. You won’t have many more."

He began burying her. With each shovelful of sand, Nora’s world grew darker.

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

Sheila's boots sank into the cool sand with each step, the grains whispering secrets as they shifted beneath her feet. Beside her, Finn's breathing matched her own, a steady rhythm in the vast silence of the desert night.

She was grateful to have him beside her, grateful that despite all the tension between them, she could still count on him to have her back. She just hoped they'd be able to work together the way they used to, rather than butting heads like they had been recently.

Their flashlight beams danced across the undulating landscape, searching for any hint of the trail they'd been following. Sheila's eyes ached from the strain of constant vigilance, but she dared not blink. Every shadow could be a clue, every ripple in the sand a potential lead.

Suddenly she froze. The tracks they'd been following vanished, as if their quarry had taken flight.

Finn crouched, studying the unmarked sand. "Obliterated," he said, frustration etching lines around his eyes. "Wind's erased every trace."

Sheila surveyed the landscape. The dunes stretched in every direction, a labyrinth of sand and shadow. Where had their quarry gone?

"East," she said, pointing toward a towering dune that seemed to scrape the night sky. "That formation offers the best vantage point and cover. It's where I'd go if I were trying to remain hidden."

Finn stood, brushing sand from his knees. He squinted in the direction she'd indicated, then shook his head. "West makes more tactical sense. It's closer to the restricted area, less chanceof accidental discovery. Plus, the wind patterns would cover tracks more effectively there."

Sheila clenched her jaw.Not this again,she thought. Why did they disagree so easily? Was it because they were both opinionated, both strong-willed? Or was it a sign that they really weren't cut out to work together in these roles?

Finn sighed, shaking his head. "Fine. You want to go east, we'll go—"

"No. You're right. We'll go west."

His eyebrows rose, surprise clear on his face even in the pale moonlight. "You're sure?"

She nodded. "I wouldn't want my deputy to think I don't value his advice, would I?"

Finn stared at her for a few moments, as if seeing her for the first time. "No. Wouldn't want that."

They set off westward, walking in silence. They hadn't gone far, however, when Sheila felt the urge to speak.

"Finn," she began in a low voice, "I... I need to tell you something."

He glanced at her, curiosity mingling with concern on his face. "What is it?"

Sheila took a deep breath, the cool desert air filling her lungs. "I'm afraid," she admitted, the words feeling strange on her tongue. "Not just of this case, but... of losing everything."

Finn slowed his pace, giving her his full attention. "What do you mean?"

"This life we've built," Sheila continued, gesturing vaguely around them. "Being Sheriff, living with you and Star. It's more than I ever thought I'd have. And I'm terrified of messing it up."

Understanding dawned on Finn's face. "Is that why you've been so...?"

"Difficult?" Sheila finished with a rueful smile. "Yeah. I thought if I could just do everything perfectly, make all the rightcalls, I could keep it all together. But I've been pushing you away instead."

Finn was quiet for a moment, absorbing her words. Then he reached out, gently squeezing her shoulder. "Sheila, you don't have to be perfect. Nobody expects that."

"I do," she said softly.

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