Page 50 of So Wicked

“What more is there?” she asked.

“Hmm?”

"You said there's more to protecting people than just shooting bad guys. What more is there? If you remove the things that put people in danger, then they're safe, right? So what moreis there to protect people than making them safe from the things that want to hurt them?"

He shrugged. “A lot of things. Sometimes there are things that hurt them by accident. Seatbelts protect people from car accidents. Cars don’t want to hurt people. Engines don’t want to blow up. They just do sometimes. Other times, you have to protect people from themselves. Like not letting your teenager drink and go out alone late at night. I'm not saying that your Boss is doing any of those things. I'm just pointing out that there's more to consider than just stopping predators."

Faith’s brow furrowed. Something danced around the edges of her mind. She couldn’t quite place it, but if she could just get it to coalesce in her head…

“Protecting people from themselves. I think you’re onto something there.”

“You think this killer is protecting the victims from themselves.”

“Yes. I think so. It’s not just absolution. It’s protection. That’s what the stones are for. It’s a shield against punishment. And the honey and wine are peace offerings. And the sunflowers… that symbolizes understanding. Exiting the night and stepping into the day. It’s a symbol of showing the victims why what they were doing is dangerous. Or maybe showing other people why what the victims did was dangerous.”

She quickened her pace as her mind tried to work out the details. “It’s not a perfect hypothesis, but I think I’m heading in the right direction. The killer is trying to save these victims from themselves while also warning the world not to make the same mistakes they made and get themselves hurt the same way.”

“That makes a macabre kind of sense.”

“Yeah. I need to talk to Slade. I think we need to look at people who haven’t been personally wronged but have a philosophical disagreement with the victims.”

“I leave it to your expertise, Staff Sergeant. Just so you know, though, I’ll be taking fifteen percent of the credit. Just because.”

She grinned. “I’ll allow you twenty percent of the credit, First Sergeant. Maybe twenty-one.”

He laughed. “Sounds good, Bold. Good luck.”

Faith broke into a jog back to the house, leaving Jacob behind to make his way slowly. Turk bounded along with her, looking hopefully at her as they ran. On the way, she texted Slade to meet her at a café in downtown Carmel and be ready to work. He replied a moment later that he hadn’t stopped working and would be happy to have someone else to feel miserable with him.

Faith sent a thumbs up, but she didn’t feel miserable anymore. It would be a stretch to say she felt hopeful, but she no longer felt trapped.

That was a good start.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

Faith met Slade just after eight o’clock at night. Slade was bundled up in a jacket that looked more like one of the parkas Faith had worn for her case in Alaska. Despite the pink in his cheeks, though, he looked alive and enthusiastic. “Hey, Faith. You have something?”

“I hope so.”

Some of the enthusiasm faded. “You hope so?”

“Yes. Don’t get down yet. I think this is good.”

“Okay,” Slade said warily.

“I think the killer’s protecting our victims from themselves.”

“How do you mean?”

“I think the killer’s not just trying to absolve the victims from past crimes. I think he’s trying to prevent them from committing future crimes.”

“Future crimes? Like what? Patel was the only one with a history of malpractice.”

“Yes, but what is something vets do all the time that might be considered criminal?”

“What?”

“I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking you.”

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