Page 59 of The Sleeping Girls

After Digger was locked up, he and his father had moved around every few months to escape the media circus. Once other kids’ parents learned about his brother, they warned their kids away from Heath.

He’s too dangerous.

His brother is a murderer.

That family is trouble.

Stay away from him.

What if he’s a killer, too?

The gossip and stares had seared him though, the stigma a festering sore that wouldn’t heal. His phone buzzed. Ellie.

Dammit. He ground his teeth so hard his jaw ached and ignored the call as he slogged through the overgrown brush. Scratches marred the front door as if animals had clawed at it, and the rancid odor of cat pee filled the air. Feral cats probably lived under the porch.

He pulled on gloves, then found the door cracked and pushed it open. The stink assaulted him—mold, decay, animal feces… the smell of death.

Stomach churning, he fought his memories and prayed the smell was an animal.

What little furniture was left was broken and rats had gnawed at the orange vinyl sofa. He walked past it and the empty kitchen, then down the musty hall to Anna Marie’s bedroom.

Covering his mouth at the stench, he eased open the door, his heart hammering.

Fuck. Kelsey Tiller was lying on the bed where Anna Marie had died, posed as if she was sleeping, that damn white teddy bear tucked in her arms.

SIXTY-THREE

SOMEWHERE ON THE AT

He could hear Ruby’s body bouncing around in the trunk as he swerved around the switchbacks. The old homestead loomed ahead, surrounded by the woods and mountains that had hidden the secrets within the house.

And the secrets in the forest that should never be told.

The closer he got images of Anna Marie with her golden hair and sunny smile taunted him. She’d meant so much to him.

He hadn’t wanted to kill her.

Had planned a different life for himself. She’d been planning, too.

Then it had all fallen apart.

The scent of pine, sunshine and rain washed over him, the rustling of the leaves in the wind a soft melody compared to the storm on the horizon and the raging of his tortured soul.

He hated himself for what he’d done.

But he’d had no choice. In a way he’d saved her from herself. Just as he’d saved Kelsey Tiller. And now Ruby.

His tires chugged over the graveled road and as he climbed the hill and rounded a curve, he spotted the house of his nightmares. He tightened his hold on the steering wheel, his breath rasping out at the sight of a police car in the drive.

Curse words rolled off his tongue and he sped up and raced onto the turnoff for the creek. His foot stomped on the gas pedal so hard he nearly cut a circle but managed to right his car before he careened into a ditch.

Panicked at the thought of getting caught, he raced on. They must have found Kelsey.

He’d planned to leave Ruby with her so they wouldn’t be alone. That plan was trash now.

Laughter mushroomed inside him as he thought of the perfect place. Another place where Anna Marie’s memory would live on.

He hadn’t been back there in ages, but he drove on autopilot, exhilarated with memories of his teenage years. Isolated and perched on top of the mountain, the area looked as desolate as a ghost town.

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