Page 10 of Splintered Memories
I crossed my arms over my chest.
That made more sense, then. The FBI was here for the Shadow Stalker case. It didn’t explain why Agent Hoffner was here now, though.
Emersyn seemed to be on the same page. “But why are you here? Talking to me?”
Smart girl.
Whize glanced at Hoffner, then back at Emersyn. “We know about the threats, Em.”
My muscles tensed.Threats?
Vaguely, I was aware of something going on with Emersyn these last couple of months. Reid, who was deliberately unspecific at the time, asked me to install one of our top systems in Emersyn’s home, along with plenty of cameras and floodlights…the works.
I assumed it was for the same reason the entire town was demanding more security: the lingering threat of the Shadow Stalker. With Lark having been so close to being murdered not too long ago, I figured Emersyn wanted to feel more secure.
I hadn’t known there’d been threats.
I shifted on my feet, clamping my mouth shut around the question I wanted to ask. This wasn’t my time to ask questions.
Emersyn had gone still. I wasn’t sure she was even breathing.
“They’re just internet trolls,” she eventually spat. “They want to scare me because they think it’s fun.”
Brandon cocked his head. “You sure about that? Because from what we’ve seen, these threats seem very specific and not the normal trolling.”
Her mouth pinched, but she didn’t argue.
Agent Hoffner pulled out the one remaining chair across from Emersyn and sat. “Emersyn, we’re here to help you, okay? We know thevideos you’ve been making are directing a lot of attention toward the Shadow Stalker. We also know that the threats, whether directly from the Shadow Stalker or not, are insinuating that someone isn’t happy about what you’ve been doing to target him.”
Her throat bobbed as she swallowed hard. A pulse of fear flashed across her face, but it was gone as fast as it had come.
Anger burned in the pit of my stomach, boiling up my throat and heating my skin. I was pissed that someone would ever think it okay to threaten her, but I was also pissed that no one had told me. Reid must have known.
“So what are you trying to say?” Emersyn asked, voice sharp.
“We just want to ask you a few questions.”
“Why?”
Brandon let out a frustrated sigh. It seemed that Emersyn didn’t go easy on anyone.
“Someone shot at you in the middle of the day, after you’ve been threatened for months by a possible serial killer.” Brandon shook his head in disbelief. “Of course we want to ask you a few questions when we’re trying to find the guy.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You think the Shadow Stalkershotat me?”
The doubt in her tone was evident. I didn’t blame her. It wasn’t the Shadow Stalker’s MO to shoot someone down. No, he was more the kidnap and torture type.
“We can’t rule anything out,” Agent Hoffner said. “Now, will you answer some questions or not?”
Emersyn’s nose wrinkled and she opened her mouth, but her brother grabbed her hand.
Jake’s knuckles whitened. “Please, Emy.” His voice wavered. “Just…just listen to them. Answer their questions so they can freaking help you.” A tremor ran down his spine, his whole body shaking with it. “I can’t have anything happen to you. I can’t—I can’t…” He looked away.
My eyes bounced between the two of them. For the first time, those sharp eyes of hers softened. There was worry in them, worry and affection and…love.
It lasted only a few seconds before she turned back to the two men in front of her. That edge returned to her features.
“Fine,” she said, with a curt nod. “Ask your questions.”
