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“I’ve answered your questions. It was very nice to see you, Detective Klein. You’ve come a long way. You’ve done good for yourself. Try not to ruin anyone’s legacy on your way out the door. Us old geezers aren’t too forgiving these days.”
David looked from Stockton to the dog and back again. “Yes, sir.”
When David turned on his heel and walked to the door, Cassie had no choice but to follow. The pair of them slipped on their shoes and exited without a goodbye. Cassie heard Stockton call out a command for Colonel to shut the front door, and it slammed shut behind them with a finality that rattled her teeth.
14
Cassie had told David she wasn’t ready to go home, and without asking questions, David told her to follow him. She wanted to know where they were going, but when she looked back at Stockton’s house, she could see him looking through the front window with Colonel by his side. He wasn’t trying to hide.
Half an hour later, Cassie found herself outside Savannah in Black Creek, Georgia. David pulled into the driveway of a small, beige ranch-style home. She slid her car in behind him and put it in park. Goosebumps erupted across her skin, and when she met David at his car, he confirmed her suspicions.
David removed his sunglasses. “Robert Shapiro’s house.”
Her stomach turned, and she felt a bitter taste in her mouth. “You really think he’s the original killer?”
“I’ll answer your questions if you answer mine.”
Cassie rolled her eyes. “Fine.”
David leaned back against the hood of his car and folded his arms. “I don’t know for sure, but if I had been running the case back then, he would’ve been my prime suspect.”
“Do you think Stockton just missed him?”
“Oh, absolutely. But I don’t think he was really looking.” David shrugged as if to say it is what it is, but he looked sad. “I don’t know, maybe I’m being too hard on him. He wasn’t lying when he said a lot of shit was going down back then. A lot of people said he was on track to become Chief of Police in Savannah, but he didn’t want it, I guess. I think he enjoyed hovering around in the middle. Just enough responsibility to garner respect without having to stick his neck out too often.”
“Can’t really blame him for that.”
“I guess.”
“That was convincing.”
David chuckled and then grew serious again. “God knows I’ve made mistakes in my career. I’ve looked the other way when I shouldn’t have. I’ve gone out on a limb for people who didn’t deserve it. I followed my gut and wound up walking in the wrong direction. I hurt people because of the actions I’ve taken.”
“A lot of people have those same experiences.”
“But it means something different when you carry a badge and a gun. We can’t forget our responsibility to protect and serve. We can’t dismiss that. Not ever.”
“You think Stockton dropped the ball.”
“I do.” David’s voice was full of controlled anger. “And I’d be a hypocrite to say I never made a bad call in a tough position, but I won’t let my pride get in the way. It doesn’t matter who those victims were, they deserved better. Their families deserved better.”
Cassie looked at the house before her. Its presence felt dark and heavy. Hot and angry. The goosebumps she’d felt in the car had transformed into beads of sweat on the back of her neck. And it had nothing to do with the heat of the day.
“So, I have a working theory,” Cassie said.
“Let’s hear it.”
“I think he’s the second entity I’ve been feeling. And if that’s the case, then I think you’re right to assume he was the original killer.”
“What makes you say that?”
Cassie pointed to the house. “I can feel him in there. Not as strong as when he came to me in my house, but I think once we walk through those doors, it’s going to get interesting. You’ve been in there already?”
“Yeah. Not much to see. Nice and tidy. Didn’t find a smoking gun if that’s what you’re wondering. But that’s what I have you here for. To see if we missed anything.”
“Shall we?”
David pushed off the car and started toward the house. “Sure, but you’ve still got questions to answer.”
