Page 53 of Dark Shadows
Mason frowned. “You sure?”
“Check the cameras.” The sheriff shrugged. “I was here that night. Twenty witnesses plus video surveillance are his alibi.”
“We're dealing with two different killers,” Mason finished, the realization settling like lead in his stomach.
The sheriff turned to leave but stopped. “Oh, and, Agent Spencer? Keep an eye on that girl of yours. Her daddy and my predecessors may have used her vision to solve their cases, but I never have. She has a way of finding trouble.”
Or causing it, Mason thought, then immediately hated himself for it.
Outside, Jacob checked his phone. “I'll verify his alibi for Beverly's murder, but if he was here, that will be easy enough to tell.”
Mason nodded, his mind racing. Two killers. Two sets of motives. And Savanah was connected to both.
“Toxicology finally came back on both victims,” Jacob added, sliding over a report. “Trace amounts of ketamine in their systems. Not enough to fully sedate, but sufficient to render them compliant. The ME says it was administered approximately two hours before death. It's commonly used in veterinary medicine but also easy to obtain in hospital settings.”
“Or the dark web or just about anywhere. We should check the local vets to make sure someone didn’t have a break-in.”
“You okay?” Jacob asked as they crossed the parking lot toward the car, concern etched his features. “You seem distracted.”
“Fine.” Mason unlocked the car and slipped inside, starting the engine. “Let's just focus on the case.”
As he drove back to the motel, he couldn't stop seeing Savanah in the window, watching him leave. Couldn't stop wondering if the mayor was right about her pattern of disrupting lives.
Couldn't stop thinking about Wesley standing too close, calling her “Shadow” or the way Beverly's husband had beenwatching her with desire still in his eyes, even after his wife's murder.
21
Savanah watched Mason's taillights disappear into the darkness before turning to face her childhood home. The house seemed to exhale around her, familiar creaks and settling sounds that had once been as natural as breathing.
Her mother stood in the kitchen doorway, dishtowel in hand. “Want to tell me why you're here instead of helping the FBI catch a killer?”
“They caught one with DNA evidence from the barn.” Savanah dropped her bag by the stairs. “It was Officer Daniels.”
“The barn?” Catherine's hands stilled. “From back then?”
“Yeah.” Savanah sank into a kitchen chair. Everything about her and Mason felt different now. Tainted.
“That's not why you're upset.” Her mother pulled out the chair across from her. “What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“Savanah Miles, I've known you your entire life.Nothingdoesn't make you look like someone kicked your puppy.”
The kettle whistled, making them both jump. Catherine rose to make tea, the familiar ritual somehow comforting.
“Mason's acting weird.” The words tumbled out. “Ever since we talked to the mayor. It's as though he doesn't trust me anymore.”
“Ah.” Catherine set two steaming mugs on the table. “Men are strange creatures when they're falling for someone.”
“He's not falling for me.” Savanah stopped, remembering the treehouse kiss. “It doesn't matter. I'll be gone once the case is solved anyway.”
“Will you?” Her mother's voice was soft. “Or are you running away again?”
“I didn't run away.”
“No?” Catherine stirred honey into her tea. “What would you call disappearing without saying goodbye? Without calling? Even Tina didn't know where you'd gone.”
“I couldn't stay. It was time for me to leave.”
