Page 92 of Midnight Creed

She felt Deputy Trevor staring at her. Maybe he could see that they did, indeed, register something. He was waiting for an explanation.

“He sometimes draws single frames of action.”

“Frames of action?”

“Like graphic novels or comic books. And he tells a story.”

“Okay. So, the little boy running away, is it Will?”

“Yes, I think so.” She pointed to the machine in the far corner. “He’s running to the bulldozer.”

“Running away from a vampire?” The deputy didn’t bother to hide his skepticism. In his tone, she could hear his disappointment. That these were just the idle scribbles of a little boy who was bored after skipping school.

She didn’t want to ask the question that now pounded against her temple. The question that suggested her son was in danger. It seemed so obvious to her.

“Has anyone reported a blue pickup in the neighborhood?” she asked. “One that maybe looked like it didn’t belong?”

He looked from Taylor to the drawing, then his head shot up to scan the surrounding streets as if it just occurred to him the significance of what she was asking.

“You think he’s showing something that actually happened?

“Yes. That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

He stared at her for a beat longer, then grabbed at the radio on his shoulder just as a voice came over. Despite the static, the words were loud and clear.

“K9 alert. Dumpster.”

She saw the expression on his face before he could hide it. He left the radio in place but took the Ziplock bags from her fingers.

“I need to let Sheriff Norwich know about these.” He turned his back to her and marched out into the street.

She watched him all the way to his SUV, then noticed a commotion with other officers responding to the radio message.

K9 alert. Dumpster.

The dogs had found something. It could be anything. She remembered Jason telling her how the dogs could find the smallest of things that would make a huge difference. Yes, that’s what they had discovered. That was all it was. A piece of evidence. She told herself that as she grabbed a sweatshirt out of her car and headed in the same direction, the new motion was taking the others.

She walked past the huddle of neighbors outside Dora’s house. She weaved through the array of law enforcement vehicles. When she made her way across the highway and into the other neighborhood, no one paid attention. She followed the wave of energy.

Voices squawked over radios. In the streets, officers shouted instructions to each other. Dogs barked in backyards. People sat in the shadows of their front porches. Kids peeked out windows. The dark made ordinary items look menacing.

Taylor just kept walking.

61

Pensacola Beach, Florida

Maggie had been walking the beach for hours. Looking for him. It felt like a futile effort while she waited for more information from her team. Her time would probably be better spent resting, but she was restless and had ended up pacing her hotel room.

She weaved her way around the streets closest to the water where most of the luxury house rentals were. Alonzo had provided a couple of photos of Peter Gregory. Headshots of an ordinary-looking man, his widow’s peak and slicked back dark hair the only defining characteristics. But she remembered the tall man running away from the crime scene. In her mind, she conjured up his lean frame beneath the long, black coat billowing out behind him.

She figured his complexion would be pasty after spending months in snowy D.C. Maybe he’d stand out on the beach. So far, she’d seen no one who came close. Late on a December day, there weren’t many to choose from.

The horizon had faded from reds and oranges to deep blue. It was dark now as she walked back along the beach to her hotel room. This was ridiculous. They’d never find him like this. He could already be on the road again. Just because the Mercedes sat in a storage unit, didn’t mean Peter Gregory was anywhere nearby.

She decided she needed to sleep at least for a few hours. She’d tried earlier after her shower, but her mind wouldn’t shut off. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Nessie in her hospital bed, then Nessie in that huge canvas bag at the edge of the swamp.

When her phone rang, she automatically expected Alonzo, hoped it would be Ryder, but was pleasantly surprised to find it was Gwen.