Into the Fading Twilight (Starlight Grove, #2) (65)

Piper ducked out of his hold. “You’re the worst.”

“I think you mean the best,” Aidan singsonged.

I chuckled as I deposited the final drink on Cora’s tray. “Here you go, madam.”

She gave a faux curtsy in response. “Thank you, madam.”

Just as she headed to a table, I spotted Aster and Holly making their way toward the bar. Aster beamed. “We heard there was a new bartender in town.”

“I wouldn’t go that far. I’m only allowed to serve beer, wine, and simple mixed drinks. And I still have to measure out the shots.”

“Everyone starts somewhere,” Wylder called from the other end of the bar.

“He’s right,” Aster agreed, sliding onto a stool as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

Holly followed suit but looked a little uncertain, as if she’d never sat at a bar before. The confused look on her face had me fighting a giggle. “What can I get you guys?”

“I’ll just do an Arnold Palmer and a basket of sweet potato fries. What about you, Holls?” Aster asked.

“Oh.” Holly looked at the beer menu and wrinkled her nose. “How about a club soda with lime?”

“Lucky for you, I’ve got those covered.” I sent the fries order to Fee in the kitchen and quickly got the girls’ drinks.

As I slid them across the bar top, Holly leaned in and lowered her voice. “Are you doing okay? With the missing camper and everything?”

Aster’s mouth thinned, and I knew instantly that she had wanted this check on Nova mission to be a bit more discreet. I tried to shove down the tiny flicker of annoyance I felt at Holly’s question and take it for what it was: concern.

“I’m okay. Really.” Even if Reese had written an article for the Redding paper that asked if a new monster was residing in the Starlight Grove woods.

Holly’s lips pursed. “You can be honest with us.”

“Or,” Aster cut in, “you can not talk about it at all.”

“I just hope they find her,” I said, wiping down the bar.

“If you need anything, just shout,” Aster said. “Even if it’s just a movie night where we watch completely unrealistic rom-coms and drown ourselves in candy.”

“Now that … I’m in for,” I said with a grin.

Something about Aster put me at ease. Maybe it was something that had been trained into her as a therapist or perhaps it was because she was so good with animals. Whatever it was, she had a way about her.

“You’re off,” Wylder called from the other end of the bar.

I looked up and realized it was already fifteen past four. Brae had left an hour ago to pick up Owen and Sky, and now there was nothing between me and my chat with Roger and Kol.

“Thanks,” I muttered, reaching for my bag in the cabinet. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” I glanced at Holly and Aster. “Next time, come in for actual drinks and give me a challenge.”

Aster laughed. “Assignment accepted.”

Holly’s smile was more strained. “Take care, okay?”

“Will do.” Swinging my purse over my shoulder, I headed for the parking lot.

The temperatures had definitely dropped in the past few days, and I wished for a sweater. But thanks to Sky, today had been the first day since my return that I’d worn short sleeves. And God, that had felt like reclaiming a little freedom.

I crossed the parking lot to my forest-green Subaru and was about to climb in when something stopped me. It was a glimmer. Metal in the sunlight.

Frowning, I moved around so I could see the windshield. Everything in me froze. Resting on the glass was a silver necklace with a turquoise gemstone. Only the stone was crusted with what looked like blood. And below the necklace was a note.

My heart hammered against my ribs, and blood roared in my ears. Boxy, black lettering. An angry bend to each one.

IT’S NOT OVER.





CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX


Kol




ILOOKED OVER THE MAP AS I DID MY BEST TO TUNE OUT Pete. He was droning on about some case he’d worked before. A story where he played the hero and everyone else was the fool. But I couldn’t help wondering if he had that backward.

The standard-issue map had nothing on the creations Orion made. His were works of art, drawn exactly to the specifications we needed. Not this one. Just a run-of-the-mill map.

Still, I did my best to mentally cross off possibilities. I’d personally overseen an additional search of Travis’s old property. With no next of kin, it would revert to the state, and who knew what they would do with it. Regardless, there’d been no signs of inhabitance there. No copycat serial killer in the making, using it to stow this latest victim. And there’d been no jump scare revealing that Travis was still alive and back in his favorite hunting ground.

So we were back at square one, surveying the campsite where Heidi had been taken. And I hated that with a fucking passion.

But there was only so much we could do. The camera feeds hadn’t turned up much. Two were down for maintenance—some issue with the solar power that kept them running. And all the vehicles on the road from the others had checked out.

Only two had been towing trailers large enough to house an ATV, and we’d been able to clear both parties. But someone didn’t just disappear into the ether. Whoever it was had gone somewhere.