Page 174 of Corpse Roads

“Do not be deceived,” I whisper into the dead silence. “God is not to be mocked; for whatever one sows, that will he reap.”

“Is that Laura?” Hunter asks in a soft whisper.

Shaking my head, I point to the adjacent cage. Its door is still locked tight, holding another decaying skeleton prisoner. Several of the bones are missing, broken by my cage door, while another has been sent home for burial.

Stepping inside my cage, I pick through the blackened goo to reach the hanging remains. Scraps of floral fabric are fossilised in decaying bodily fluids.

Bending down, I extricate the wedding ring and hold it in the centre of my palm. It cut into my skin enough times when Mrs Michaels beat the devil out of me.

My voice comes out devoid, lifeless, drained.

“Hello, Mother.”

EPILOGUE - THEO

CORPSE ROADS - KEATON HENSON

Sitting in the light of the twinkling Christmas tree, I watch Harlow fitfully sleep on the sofa opposite. I finally managed to convince her to swallow a couple of sleeping pills an hour or so ago.

She winces, crying out in her sleep and grappling her neck, like someone invisible is choking her. I rush over, giving her a gentle shake to startle her from the dream.

Harlow sucks in a deep breath before dropping back off. Rather than returning to the sofa, I sink down to the carpet in front of her, staying within touching distance for when the next one hits.

My eyes grow heavy after a while, coaxed shut by the crackling flames of the fire, but my phone vibrating soon snaps me back. I step into the corner to answer.

“Hunt?”

“Yeah,” he grunts without a greeting. “Listen, we’re wrapping things up here. Forensics have extracted the bodies. We’ll be flying back with them tomorrow.”

“Okay, good.” I rest my forehead on the wall. “Harlow finally went to sleep. I’m taking turns to keep watch with Leighton.”

“How’s she doing?”

“Not good.” My voice thickens with emotion. “She was catatonic on the flight down. Wouldn’t speak to anyone. Not even Brooklyn could coax her out of it.”

He swears colourfully. “This whole thing is a mess. I’ll call Richards and get him to make an emergency visit.”

“You think it’ll help?”

“I don’t know what else to suggest.”

Harlow lets out a strangled sob behind me and I race back to the sofa, quickly shushing her again. Her hand fists my t-shirt.

“That her?” Hunter asks fearfully.

“Yeah, she’s fighting being asleep. The night terrors look pretty bad. Maybe sedating her was a bad idea.”

“Stay with her,” he orders.

“Obviously,” I snap back. “Sorry, I’m exhausted. Brooklyn said she’s going to bring Jude around in the morning. He might be able to help Harlow.”

“Good call. We should be back by the afternoon. The superintendent has called a meeting. She’s demanding an update.”

“What did you tell her?”

Hunter scoffs, sounding as exhausted as I feel. “That we have two more dead bodies and no perp. She’s going to steamroll us.”

I sigh heavily. “Remind her who got her that fucking job in the first place. She owes us. We need more time and funding to see this through.”

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