Page 28 of Among the Innocent

What was wrong with him? He’d come to St. Ignatius for answers. Nothing more.

Leah sighed. “I really hate what happened to Beth, and I wish I could bring her back, but I’ve lived most of my adult lifefearing the past. Afraid to make connections. Keeping people at a distance for fear they’d be taken from me.” She shook her head. “I’m tired of living like that.”

In a way he’d lived the same. So focused on finding out what happened to Harrison that nothing else mattered. He hadn’t seen how sick Allison was until it was too late. After his wife’s death, he’d thrown himself into the case even more. Not being able to see the future beyond the past. Maybe this was a chance for both of them to find a way to move beyond the nightmare.

“I want this to end. More than anything,” she whispered.

He did too. For her. For himself.

A clattering noise grabbed his attention.

Leah jerked toward the sound.

One of the cans had been turned over. Dalton drew his weapon, his shoulders tense. A sense of being watched put him on alert. He grabbed the flashlight and shone it down the alley. Nothing. “Let’s go back inside.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw something move. Dalton whirled back toward it. Something scurried away. A rat. Dalton bent over with relief. And then what sounded like footsteps running in the opposite direction near the shop next door had him wondering if his relief had come too soon.

The scent of cigarette smoke wafted their way. “That’s near the coffee shop next door.” Leah flashed the light that direction. Nothing moved.

Dalton hit the mic on his shoulder. “Justine, where’s Sam?”

“He should be coming on duty at any time.”

“Tell him to head around to the alley. We need to search it right away.”

“I’ll radio him now.”

“Stay close to me,” Dalton said once the transmission ended.

They didn’t have to wait long before Sam’s patrol crawled down the alley with his spotlight searching the back side of the shops.

He stopped just past the coffee shop, and Leah and Dalton went over to him. Sam had gotten out and focused his flashlight beam on the ground between the two buildings.

“What do you have?” she asked.

“Cigarette butts.” He knelt beside them. “Someone’s been here recently smoking. It’s thick in the air.”

A shiver sped down her spine. “It could be kids. There are several who like to hang out around here and smoke.” She prayed it proved to be so innocent.

“This close to the station?” Dalton clearly had doubts. He radioed for CSI, and the three searched the nearby shops. All the doors were still locked. There was no sign of anyone tampering with them.

“Let’s get you back inside,” Dalton told her. “Sam, do you mind waiting here for them?”

“Not at all. You think this was him?”

Dalton shook his head. “I’m not saying that. But we can’t afford to discount anything.”

He and Leah went back inside to his office.

“Leah, I’d really feel more comfortable if you were in a safe house until we arrest this guy.”

She immediately rejected the idea with a wave of her hand. “I’m not hiding. This is my battle, and I’ll see it through to the end.”

He let out a long, frustrated-sounding breath. “Leah...”

“Don’t worry. I can handle myself.”

But could she? “Leah, you’re his target. You need to stay out of sight.”

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