Page 9 of Among the Innocent

Like John.

Incredibly handsome and worldly, John had stolen her heart, or so her sixteen-year-old self had thought. Leah had slipped out many a night to meet him in the same barn where Beth died. They’d kissed. He’d begged her to run away with him, but she hadn’t wanted to leave her family. That’s when she’d seen the ugly side of John. Leah had thought he would hit her, but he’d stormed from the barn instead. Gotten into the car he’d parked down from her house and sped away. Her heart broke at the prospect of never seeing him again.

And then ... a few hours later a masked man had broken into her home, forced her family inside the barn, and killed everyone but her.

“You’ll always belong to me.”He’d whispered those words while slashing her throat. Leah had known it was John.

When Ellis told her Harrison had committed the murders, Leah didn’t want to believe it. Yet the chief had been so certain, and the killer had worn a ski mask. Perhaps after the trauma of the attack, she’d been mistaken about the voice. Now, with the killer back and all but confirming his connection to her, Leah was certain John had returned.

Something caught her attention above. Movement near the cracked window of her old room. Tattered gingham curtains waved. Just the wind? Leah shielded her eyes against the sun’s glare. A figure. Barely visible past the curtains. Someone was in the house.

Without thinking of her own safety, Leah raced to the entrance. Ramming her shoulder against the warped door, she forced it open and charged inside. Ten years of dust covered everything, yet time had been encapsulated in this compact space. The sight of her mamm’s knitting next to her favorite rocker sucked the breath from Leah’s body.

Pushing aside those heartbreaking memories, Leah drew her weapon and eased toward the stairs while recollections of the many times she and Ruth had slid down the banister crowded in. She stuffed them down deep as she reached the landing. Braced for the confrontation to come.

The first door on the right belonged to her parents. As quietly as possible, she opened it and peeked inside, fighting the haunts waiting there.

The room was vacant of anything resembling human life. Next, she checked her brother’s room. Nothing.

One more room. With the weapon shaking in her hand, Leah stood before her old door. She drew in a breath and opened it. Breached the threshold. Barely cleared the entrance when something hard slammed against her head, dropping her to her knees. The world around her blurred. Someone grabbed her arms and hauled Leah up on the filthy bed that had once been hers.

A hand snaked around her neck. She stared up into the past. Same angry eyes. Same ski mask. Same killer.

“I told you, you would always belong to me. Now you realize I meant it.” As he continued to choke the life from her, Leah thrust her weapon between them. Her attacker’s eyes widened when he spotted it. He jumped from the bed. She managed to fire a shot at the fleeing figure. The bullet lodged in the doorframe, and a moment later, the killer disappeared from view.

Leah staggered to her feet. Putting one foot in front of the other, she gave pursuit. After ten years of waiting to be sure, she couldn’t give up now.

As she reached the landing, Leah struggled to focus on the space below. Nothing moved. She leaned heavily against the banister as she descended the stairs. The front door stood open. Before she had the chance to give chase, Dalton and Ethan rushed into the house.

Leah doubled over and blew out a relieved breath before lowering the gun. “Did you see him?” Her voice came out raspy.

“Who?” Dalton skimmed over her face, seeing the terror she couldn’t hide.

“The killer. He was just here. He tried to strangle me.” She massaged her tender throat. “Didn’t you see him?”

“Stay with her,” Dalton ordered Ethan, then bolted from the house.

With her heart pounding in her ears, Leah sank down to the bottom step and tried to capture the shreds of her composure.

“You all right, Leah?” Ethan asked with obvious concern.

She nodded because it hurt to speak.

Ethan combed a hand through his wavy black hair. A native of the Salish tribe, Ethan was in his early thirties, former military, and had twin daughters to raise alone after his wife passed away. “What brought you over here anyway?” He looked around at the simple reminders of the life she’d once lived.

She swallowed painfully. “I stepped away to clear my head. Then I noticed movement in a room upstairs.”

Before she’d finished her recounting, Dalton returned. “There’s no sign of him.”

Leah repeated what she’d said to Ethan. “He must have been waiting for me behind the door.” She drew several neededbreaths before continuing. “He struck me here.” She pointed to her head. “Then threw me on the bed and started choking me.” Her voice shook as she relayed the menacing words the killer had uttered. “I don’t think he wanted to kill me.”

“More likely he wanted you to know he was back and could get to you anytime he wanted.” Dalton’s jaw tightened. He shifted toward Ethan. “Get some crime scene techs over here now.”

Ethan followed the command immediately while Leah tried to stop the trembles. She’d given so much already. Now another innocent life had to be sacrificed to satisfy a madman’s lust for murder.

After several minutes passed, Dalton came from upstairs carrying something in an evidence bag. She hadn’t even been aware of him leaving, yet the moment she got a good look at the bag, Leah knew the killer had left another note.

“We should wait outside until the techs can examine the house thoroughly.” Why wouldn’t he tell her what it said?

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