Page 60 of Among the Innocent

He passed by the police station. When he saw her car parked in front, his anger became like a living presence in the car.

He turned on the road behind Justine’s house and parked. There was a cop guarding the front of the place. He’d have to go in through the rear entrance. It would be empty now. Both her parents worked. He hopped the fence and advanced to the back porch. Using gloves, he retrieved the key from beneath the plant and slipped inside. The silence of the house pleased him. He’d grown fond of silence after that place.

Justine had told him about her happy childhood growing up Amish. So unlike the one he’d experienced. There were no loving parents to guide him into adulthood.

Upstairs in Justine’s room, he searched through drawers until he found where she kept her money and pocketed it. Then he brought out the letter and left it on her pillow. She would find it and know it came from him.

In the kitchen, he gathered food, a handful of drinks—whatever he could grab to survive on.

He slipped out the back door and returned to his car.

As he headed back through town, he noticed the new chief of police heading into the station. The chief didn’t look up as he passed by.

The man wouldn’t have his job if it weren’t for him. He’d make him pay the way he had Ellis Petri.

The urge to kill again grew stronger. Soon, he’d track Justine down and end her life. Make her pay for betraying him like he had the others. Assuage his desire to kill. Until the next time.

Once he was out of town, he removed the wig he’d used as a disguise.

Behind him, a police vehicle approached, and his pulse went wild. He’d made a point of keeping his speed below the limit to avoid drawing attention to himself, and yet the cruiser slowly closed the space between them.

He spotted a road ahead on the left and turned. The police officer did the same.

He clasped the gun. Having it in his hand—feeling the metal barrel—helped to calm his nerves.

The cop wasn’t letting up. He flashed his lights and hit the siren.

Running wasn’t an option. The cop probably knew the car was stolen by now.

Which left one choice. He eased onto the shoulder of the road and tucked the gun under his right leg.

The cop exited the vehicle with his weapon draw. “Driver, get out of the car with your hands in the air.”

John wasn’t about to do as the cop asked. He watched the man tap his mic and call for backup. John had to get away whilehe still could. He whipped back onto the road and jerked the car around, barreling toward the cop who stood in the middle of the road. John recognized the officer from the roadblock near the lake. The cop shot once and then dove for cover at the back of his cruiser. As John passed by, he fired off several rounds, striking the officer in the shoulder. The cop dropped to the ground. John floored the vehicle and flew down the road.

He reached the intersection and whipped the car to the left.

Gunning the car’s tired old engine, he flew down the road. He almost missed the turnoff to the abandoned home and had to swerve to make the turn before flooring the car once more.

For the first time, the pressure of being hunted weighed on him. Shooting a cop hadn’t been on his agenda today, yet it wasn’t the first time he’d taken one out. And it probably wouldn’t be the last.

Thirteen

Chief, I can’t reach Henry on the radio.” Sylvia poked her head into Dalton’s office without knocking. She had a worried look on her face. “He was heading into the station but that’s been some time ago.”

Dalton vaulted to his feet and grabbed his weapon. He headed for the door. “What’s his last location?”

“Off 93.”

“Call Ethan. Tell him to head that way now,” Dalton tossed over his shoulder.

“I’m coming with you.” Leah scrambled after him.

Dalton stopped in his tracks. This could be a ploy by the killer to get her out in the open. “Leah. It’s not safe. He wants you.”

“This is Henry. I’m going. I’ll be fine as long as I’m with you.”

Still, his misgivings warned that taking Leah with him was a big mistake.

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