Silent Scream (45 page)

“No, Liv. Kane’s dead because a sonofabitch shot him twice while trying to kidnap a kid. Kenny’s responsible for withholding
information, but make him pay for what he did.”

Olivia winced. “I said that yesterday. To that Crawford asshole.” When he’d lit into Lincoln Jefferson, who actually had done
something wrong. “You’re right.”

“I know. So, where do we go from here?”

“Kane and I were going to track down Joel Fischer’s friends. And we need to find out what Austin saw, see
if he knew Joel or any of his friends. And we need to find Val.”

“She may be dead.”

“I know. But what if she’s not? She said she was going to a sub sandwich place three blocks from here. We can start there
in the morning, try to trace her last steps.”

Noah opened Olivia’s car door and waited for her to get in, crouching next to her. “How did this guy know about Val?”

She lifted a shoulder. “I guess he was following us.”

“I guess that’s possible. Go to sleep for a few hours. If you need me, call me.”

She nodded. Now that the conversation with Kenny was over, she was dreading going home. It would be too quiet. She wondered
where David was, if he was all right. If he was back at the cabin yet. She didn’t want to be alone.

She needed to sleep. She needed to be able to breathe again. She needed David.

She found her cell phone in her pocket. Saw that he’d called. That meant he was okay. That was good. Her shoulders relaxed
a fraction, suddenly aware that some part of her mind had maintained a constant, nagging worry the words
bad fire
invoked. He was a good firefighter. He’d be careful.

Kane had been careful, too. And now he was dead.

She dialed David’s number but got his voice mail. She hung up, unable to form the words she wanted to say.
I need you. Please come
. Simple words, but they opened up a world of hurt. His pillow. She’d been able to smell him there. For tonight, that might
have to be enough. She turned her car north and drove.

Wednesday, September 22, 3:20 a.m.

W
ELCOME TO
D
ULUTH.

Passing the highway sign, he glanced down at his GPS. Only another ten miles and all his worries would be eliminated, along
with Austin Dent.

Well, not all his worries. He thought about Mary and Albert’s conversation. She was right about their being able to claim
he’d Photoshopped them into the video. If anything, the video showed there had been a fifth person there, who’d seen all.
If she’d balked at the beginning, it might have made a difference, but Eric hadn’t told her. Now he had them in too deep.
Still, Mary might just balk if given any more assignments.

In the beginning, he’d planned to expose her naughty arsonist ways, humiliating her daddy. It would destroy the SOB,
like he tried to destroy me
.

But that wasn’t enough anymore. Mary had tried to deal a different game, leaving those glass balls behind. She was no environmental
activist, not that he’d believed for a moment she ever had been. Now she was a multiple killer. That fire had gone way wrong
tonight. He’d listened to the story on the radio until he’d lost the signal. Innocent people had died.

The police weren’t going to care for it too much either. Especially given the incident with Detective Kane. The cops would
be looking for someone to pay. He’d much rather that someone be Albert or Mary. Or both.

Trouble was, he wasn’t exactly sure how to make that happen. He glanced at his GPS again. Almost there. He’d get rid of Austin;
then he’d consider his next steps.

• • •

Wednesday, September 22, 3:15 a.m.

David showered and changed at the firehouse, called Olivia again only to get her voice mail, then drove to the hospital where
Jeff’s fiancée, Kayla, sat in the waiting room.

He sat next to her, suddenly afraid to ask her about Jeff. “Zell?”

“His back is broken, his hip is crushed.” She recited this as if reading a phone book. She was barely holding on. “He’s still
in surgery. David, what do I do?”

“Be there for him, for now. Did you talk to him before they took him to surgery?”

“No. He wasn’t conscious. He won’t walk again, will he?”

“You don’t know that. A broken back doesn’t mean paralysis. And even if that’s the case, people come back from injuries like
that. My brother did,” he added.

“The same as before?” she asked through her tears.

“No,” he said honestly. “Max was a professional athlete. It ended his career. But he found a new one and if Zell comes to
that place, he will, too.”

She shuddered on a sob. “God, I’m sorry.”

He slid his arm around her shaking shoulders. “Why?”

“Because I’m sitting here, wishing he’d pulled you out.”

It startled him, but for just a moment. “I can understand that. My…”
What is Olivia?
“My friend’s a cop. Her partner died tonight. I’m… I don’t know. I can’t believe he’s gone, but I’m relieved she wasn’t there
when the shooting happened. So I understand.”

She wiped her face with her fingers. “You’re on shift soon, aren’t you?”

He glanced up at the clock on the wall. “In a couple hours, yeah.”

“Then get some sleep. I’ll tell him you were here. Thank you. I do mean that.”

His heart heavy, he walked back to his car, checking his phone as he walked. He frowned, recognizing the number. Noah. Who
was watching over his mother.

“Noah, what’s wrong with Ma?”

“Nothing. As far as I know, she’s asleep.”

“What do you mean, as far as you know? Where are you?”

“Following Olivia who just exited north. I’m headed into the precinct. Did you hear?”

“About Kane, yeah. How is Olivia? I tried to call, but she wasn’t picking up.”

“She’s holding, barely. I told her to go home, but the exit she took wasn’t hers. She’s headed north.”

North. Relief flooded him.
She’s coming to me.
“I know where she’s going.”

“I thought you might. Look, try to keep her from calling in.”

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“We have the name of the kid we’re looking for—the one who saw Weems get shot. Kid’s supposed to be home in Duluth, but the
state cops just called to say they can’t find the kid. Looks like he saw them coming and bolted through a rear window. We
hope.”

“You hope?”

“Olivia knows Kane’s shooter has the kid’s address. If she finds out he’s gone…”

“She’ll drive up there to look for him.”

“Exactly. She’s hanging on by a thread. She needs to rest.”

“She’s not gonna like that you decided that for her,” David said quietly.

“You gonna tell her?”

“If she asks, I won’t lie, but I won’t offer. If you’re working, who’s watching Ma?”

“She called that old firefighter friend of yours.”

“Okay, thanks.” This was becoming weird, his mother and Glenn. But his focus right now was Olivia.
She’s coming to me.
He wanted to fix it so that she wouldn’t leave any time soon. With a grimace for the late hour, he dialed Paige, unsurprised
when she answered on the first ring. “Where are you?”

“At Olivia’s, waiting for her to get home. Where are you? Did you hear about Kane? Do you know where she is? I’m worried sick.”

“I’m headed up to the cabin. I think she’s gone up there. And yeah, I heard. I don’t know if she’s got anything for work tomorrow.
You know, clothes. Makeup. Stuff.”

“I’ll pack her a bag,” Paige said. “You want me to bring it up there?”

“No. Her house isn’t too far out of the way. I’ll swing by to pick it up.”

David hung up. He had one more call to make. He pictured Paige waiting for Olivia to come home and pictured his own mom, waiting
by the phone. He hit the speed dial for Eve and Noah’s house. Sure enough, it was answered almost before it rang.

“David?” It was his mother and her voice was shaking.

“I’m okay, Ma. Not a scratch.”

Her breath shuddered out. “Thank God. I’ve been sitting here, trying not to worry. Glenn’s been on his cellular phone, trying
to find out what’s going on.”

“I’m fine. My partner, Jeff, not so good.” And Olivia’s partner is dead, he almost added, but didn’t. His mother had never
met Kane, and Eve needed to hear that news from Noah. “If you would, say some prayers for him.”

“Of course I will. Where are you going now?”

“Up to the cabin.” To Olivia. “I’m going to try to get some sleep. You do the same. Love you, Ma.”

“And I love you. Thank you for calling me. I needed to hear your voice.”

Wednesday, September 22, 4:00 a.m.

This was bad. Really, really bad. The kid was gone. There had to be twenty police cars parked on the highway shoulder, on
either side of the driveway that led to Austin Dent’s tiny house. He’d passed by slowly, watching the action.

State and local cops congregated in groups and as he looked in his rearview mirror, he could see the crisscrossing beams of
flashlights as search parties took to the woods. That meant they didn’t have him either. Yet.

The boy was on the run, obviously not trusting the cops. Smart kid.

He kept going until he could no longer see the blue glow of flashing cop car lights, then pulled onto the shoulder, opened
Kenny’s phone, and started a text to Austin.

Cops grilled me all night in Oaks’s office
. He didn’t know if that was true or not, but Austin wouldn’t know it either.
They know about U. Want to arrest U. B careful.

He closed the phone. That would keep the kid from trusting the cops a little longer. He could search for the kid, but who
knew where he was? He did a U-turn and headed back the way he’d come.
I need to bring him to me.

• • •

Wednesday, September 22, 4:05 a.m.

Olivia heard David’s truck coming up the road but didn’t get up. She sat at the end of his dock, her knees pulled to her chest.
She heard his truck cut off and waited. Eventually he’d come outside. She wondered if he knew about Kane.

After leaving the school she hadn’t had the energy to listen to any of her voice mails. She’d simply sat here, listening to
the sounds of the night. After a few minutes she felt the dock rumble as he approached. He ran his hand over her hair. “Hey.”

“Hey.” It came out a whisper.

He took her hands. “Your hands are like ice. Why are you sitting out here?”

“I locked your house when I left earlier. I forgot I didn’t have a key.”

“I can fix that,” he murmured. “I wish I could fix everything else.”

“You can’t. Nobody can.”

“Come inside. I’ll get you warm.” He lifted her to her feet, his arm solid around her. “I couldn’t let you be alone.” In the
cabin’s living room he swung her up into his arms and settled her in his lap on the sofa, covering them with a blanket.

“I need to be in by eight,” she said. “I have to go home and get clothes first.”

“No, Paige packed you a bag. Just rest.” He pointed the remote at the TV, and the screen came to life. It was her Road Runner
DVD. Surprised, her eyes shot up to his and he kissed her forehead. “I found it in your DVD player. That night we talked,
you told me you watched cartoons to destress. I figured we could both use that tonight.”

She nodded once, but a sob barreled up and she had nothing left to force it back down. He pulled her closer, his cheek on
top of her head, rocking her where they sat as the deluge poured out. Sobs and curses and vows of horrible revenge. Finally
the storm ebbed and she was left shaken. Too hollowed out to feel anything but despair.

He threaded his hand through her hair, cradling her. “Sleep now, baby.”

“In the morning Kane will still be dead,” she whispered.

“Yes, but your mind needs to be sharp to find the man who did it.”

“I want him dead. I want him to bleed and suffer. I want to watch while he does.”

“So do I.”

There was something in his voice. Grim certainty, but also pain. She pulled back far enough to see his face. He stared straight
ahead, his jaw set. “What happened?”

“Go to sleep.” He tried to urge her back against him, but she pulled free.

“What happened?” she repeated more forcefully. “Tell me.”

“The fire tonight was set.”

Her mind clicked through the events of the night. “Woodview. Noah said it was where Tomlinson’s mistress lived. Was that the
target? Did you find a glass ball?”

“No glass ball, but the mistress’s house was the target. Except the wind shifted, taking houses on both sides. A gas-tank
explosion leveled two more houses. Then the fire spread to an apartment building.”

“How many?” she asked quietly.

“Four dead.” Anguish flashed in his eyes. “Including a child. She was only two.”

She pressed her lips to his jaw. “I’m sorry.”

“Dozens more were hurt,” he said, his voice too even.

“Firefighters?”

“Zell,” he said roughly. “A beam fell on him. He can’t feel his legs.”

She flinched, seeing it all too clearly. “Who got him out?” she asked, although she knew the answer and it scared her senseless.

“I did.” He closed his eyes. “I dragged him out. What if I made it worse?”

“And if you hadn’t dragged him out, he’d be dead.”

Now that she’d shed a layer of grief, she could really look at him. He was exhausted and heart sore…
just like me
. “Let’s go to bed. You need to rest, too.”

Wearily he followed her, taking her suitcase. “Paige packed your Tweety PJs.”

On autopilot, she put them on in the bathroom, then found him in bed, their cell phones side by side on the nightstand. Drawing
her close, his fingers pulled the band from her braid and started working her hair free. “I like it loose,” he murmured, then
slid his hand up under the nightshirt, cupping her breast as he’d done before.

Her heart still hurt and her chest was still tight. “I needed you,” she whispered, finding it easier to say so in the darkness.
“Just to be with me.”

“That I can do.” He pressed a kiss to her shoulder. “I have a question.”

“What?”

“Do you really wear these PJs or was Paige just causing trouble?”