Page 38 of Lovely Violent Things

“It nailed Ted Bundy,” I say.

Halen sends me a warning glare. “Could the casts be used to compare to the teeth imprints on the deer here? To confirm that it’s the same person.”

This gains Alister’s full attention, and he looks directly at her. “What are you trying to say, St. James?”

I can sense Halen’s hesitation, and I see the moment she almost backs off. Then she lifts her chin to make eye contact with Alister, the blaze coming to life.

“Someone has been hunting and rending these deer—” she glances at me briefly “—what’s the word?”

“Sparagmos,” I provide.

“Which is a sacred sacrifice, and one the offender has obviously been practicing for years, according to the ranges of decomp in his open grave.” She bites her bottom lip, then: “There are potentially a hundred deer here. Rend apart. All missing pelts and antlers. Sacred items used in Dionysian rituals.”

“Spit it the fuck out, St. James,” Alister snaps.

My hackles raise, and I go to step forward, but Devyn latches on to my arm. It’s Riddick who bows his chest as he steps in beside Halen.

“The victim at the Harbinger crime scene had antlers implanted in his head.” She pauses to allow her words to sink in. “The question has never been raised whether the missing locals are actually victims…or not. Maybe when these people went missing five years ago, they didn’t want to be found.”

The implication chokes the air from the ravine.

Mystery schools follow. Secret societies protect secrets. Little Halen has been keeping her conspiracy theories all tightlipped and hush-hush. And as she glances around anxiously, she’s still not certain of her theory, but this is what she does; challenges the norm.

Alister parts the hem of his blazer as he braces fisted hands on his hips. “These people are losing body parts all over the fucking marshland. So as far as I’m concerned, anyone either forced orwillinglysacrificed to become someone’s mystical dinner is a victim. Understood?”

Halen holds his severe glare a second longer, then nods. “Understood, sir.”

“If I hear even a whisper of this in the media…” He lets his threat trail off with the next gust of wind. “I want an updated profile including this scene before the end of the day.”

He turns to leave, but then says, “According to Agent Rana, the hemlock was likely raided by the second offender, your Harbinger killer. Get with her on this. Your profile better reflect that before the press conference tomorrow.”

As he stalks off in the direction of the agents striping the scene with caution tape, Devyn knocks into Halen’s shoulder conspiratorially. “Damn. You really get under the fed’s skin.”

Halen expels an extended breath. “It’s a talent.”

“One I respect.” Devyn picks up her bag, but then halts. She drops it to a boulder. “Look, I appreciate what you’re doing, spinning theories, trying to help. That’s why I pushed to have you here.” She touches her forehead briefly in thought. “But you should know, they are victims, Halen. They didn’t just leave, or join some cult. With no word for five years. My brother didn’t just decide to one day up and go, with no call, no future contact. He was taken. Someonetookhim. He wouldn’t hurt me that way. We were close…areclose,” she corrects. “We’re twins. As close as two people can be. So, I know this.”

In a show of comfort, Halen touches Devyn’s arm. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to imply—”

“I know. But that’s why I’m telling you now.” Devyn’s smile is tight, filled with the kind of resentful pain one tries to mask daily. “Now, I’m diving into the putridness of this scene. If I find anything important, I’ll let you know.”

As Halen watches Devyn walk off, she hugs her arms around her waist. “Oh, my god. I had no idea.”

“You couldn’t have.” Riddick moves into place beside Halen. “Dev keeps things close to the vest. She moved back here when Colter went missing, joined the department to help search for him. Even when the investigation stalled and all but became a cold case, she stayed on.”

Halen turns inquisitive eyes on the detective. “Has a match been made from the body parts to Devyn’s brother?”

Riddick shakes his head. “I don’t think so. But she won’t stop looking until she finds him alive.”

“Is there someone out there you’re looking for?” Halen asks.

“Me? No. I’m a lone wolf.” The charming smile he offers her torches my composure. He licks his lips in true predatory fashion. “But I could be looking elsewhere.”

Expertly dodging his advance, Halen swings her gaze to the remains of a deer and brings her camera up. “I still feel like an asshole. I should’ve been more sensitive.”

“No, you shouldn’t.” I speak up, my focus drilled on Halen. “Your theory is sound. When it comes to family, people are biased and willfully ignorant. They refuse to see the truth of just how dangerous their loved ones can be.”

Halen looks up at me through the thick fringe of her lashes, her camera held between us as if she could capture my image, and I realize I’ve said too much. Instead of masking my discomfort, I hold her insightful gaze, unflinching, letting the silence build into a crackling intensity. Then I reach out and depress her finger over the shutter button.

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