The Killing Moon by Dan Padavona (books you have to read TXT) 📗

“How long have you been watching the gym?”

“About twenty minutes. Surveillance missions take an entire day.” She exhaled, understanding Chelsey wouldn’t take no for an answer. “Fine. I’ll drive back to Wolf Lake and check on Ellie Fisher.”

“Don’t forget to call me as soon as you arrive. Every ten minutes, Raven.”

“Yes, Mother.”

Raven pulled the Rogue out of the parking lot and checked her mirrors. She felt eyes watching as she waited at the red light and pulled into Benson’s parking lot. After circling the building, she checked the back door. A scuff mark marred the lock, as if someone had forced his way inside. She paused and stared at the steel door, contemplating her next move. Snapping a photo of the door, she turned the SUV out of the lot, one eye drifting to the rear-view mirror, expecting Benson to lurch out from behind the building.

The ride back to Wolf Lake took longer than expected. Lunch hour traffic clogged the roads, and a stalled tractor trailer closed the right lane on the interstate. On her way into the village, she checked in with Chelsey and dialed her mother. Serena answered on the first ring.

“Everything quiet at the house?”

“Yes, yes. I’m fine. Ain’t nobody stalking around the property.”

“I’m a mile from the lake and heading for the commercial district. I can swing by on my way.”

“Raven, I’m not a child. If there was a problem, I’d tell you. Besides, Naomi is picking me up at noon.”

“She’s not working this afternoon?”

“Naomi wants me to visit the office. She’s taking vacation time during the afternoon so we can bake. Apparently, her daughter stayed home sick today, and Naomi wants to check on her.”

Scout stayed home sick? Raven remembered the supposed murder on Violet Lyon’s podcast. Her lips curled into a grin. Scout must be playing hooky and investigating.

“All right. If you notice any strange vehicles near the house—”

“I’ll call Thomas right away.”

Raven wondered if Serena would. She got the impression her mother would say anything to get Raven off her back.

The municipal lot overflowed with noon shoppers. Raven found a parking spot between two trucks and squeezed into the space, wincing when her door tapped the neighboring vehicle. As she hurried through the lot, she spotted the sheriff’s department cruiser parked along Main Street. Deputy Aguilar stepped out of the vehicle.

“Deputy Aguilar.” Aguilar’s eyes scanned the crowd and landed on Raven. She lifted a hand and dodged the crowd. “I understand someone called in a Mark Benson sighting.”

Aguilar’s eyebrows lifted.

“News travels fast, I guess.”

“Any substance to the report.”

“I’m on my way to the shop right now, if you wish to join me.”

Raven glanced at her phone and read the time.

“I have one more stop to make. Ellie Fisher, the woman Benson held for ransom, lives on the corner. I’m checking in to ensure she’s aware of the escape.” Raven started away and stopped. “I take it Thomas wants you to watch my back.”

“Something like that. It makes sense. Benson has you on his hit list.”

“Tell you what. If the muscle head shows his face, we’ll take him down together.”

Aguilar quirked a rare smile.

“You’ve got a deal, Raven.”

“What now?”

“After I speak with our eyewitness, I’ll go door to door. Most of these businesses have security cameras. Trouble is, that’s a ton of footage to go through. What have you learned?”

“Not much. I assumed Benson might return to his gym. Might check again later. The lock on the back door appeared compromised.”

“Kane Grove PD sent a cruiser past. I’ll have them check the lock.” Aguilar glanced down the sidewalk. “I’d better interview my witness before the lunch crowd overwhelms the store.”

“I’ll let you get back to work.”

“Stay in touch, Raven.”

Raven crossed the busy street and climbed the steps to Ellie Fisher’s apartment. A buzzer on the door gave visitors access. But nobody replied after Raven pushed the button. Maybe Ellie and Lizzie were at work. She phoned Chelsey and had her research Ellie’s employment records. Chelsey promised to call Ellie at work.

Standing on the sidewalk with her hands on her hips, Raven peered up at the apartment. She hoped Benson hadn’t gotten to Ellie already.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

October 31st

11:15 a.m.

Thomas paced outside the Kane Grove PD lab. Beyond the window, Griffith and his team hunched over the dead teenager’s phone. So far, they’d only pulled a few photographs off the damaged SD card. Until they decrypted his identification, he’d remain a John Doe.

He was about to call LeVar about Raven when Presley rushed around the corner.

“Sheriff, we identified the victim. His name is Derek Jordan.”

Thomas followed the detective to her office and waited while the printer spit out the boy’s photo. She ripped a copy off the printer and handed it to Thomas. He immediately recognized the victim from his driver’s license.

“How did you find him?”

“The mother reported him missing ten minutes ago.” Thomas raised a questioning eyebrow, and Presley nodded. “I know. What parent reports her teenager missing almost twelve hours after he died? I crosschecked his photo and confirmed he is our John Doe.”

“So the parents don’t know Derek died.”

Presley shook her head.

“I’m heading to their house next. You want to join me?”

“Sure.”

Thomas followed Presley’s cruiser into Barton Falls where ghosts and monsters decorated yards, and pumpkins glowered on porch steps. After Presley stopped in front of a two-story house with chipped, pale-blue paint, he climbed out of his vehicle and raised his collar against the chill. The autumn wind pushed him back a step before he steadied his footing.

“This is the worst part about the job,” Presley said, lowering her head against the wind.

Thomas nodded. During his decade with the LAPD, he’d notified too many parents of their children’s deaths. The world was a cold, unforgiving place with real life devils hiding in the shadows and stealing lives in dark alleyways.

“I’ll break the news.”

Presley did a double-take.

“Wait, what? You don’t have to tell the parents. I can handle the responsibility.”

“I know you can. But it’s my county. I’ll fall