The First Death (Columbia River, #4)(83)

“Clear!”

“Clear!”

More shouts.

“The structure is empty,” came the captain’s voice through the speakers.

“He’s here.”

Rowan spun around at Malcolm’s voice. He had silently entered the command center and was staring at the screens. “His truck is parked out front. That means he’s here. The only way to leave is on foot, and there’s nothing within walking distance.”

His voice was strained, his eyes full of torment.

“Could he get a ride with a neighbor?” asked one of the lieutenants monitoring the screens.

“No. There is no one. It was just Liam and me.” He paused. “Just our family.”

Rowan almost missed the last bit. Malcolm had whispered it. He’d referred to himself and his captor as a family a few times. He always said the word with a flat tone. It made her skin crawl.

The lieutenant relayed Malcolm’s information to the team, which started a new search of the area outside the structure. It’d been cleared by the snipers when they moved into position, but now the men would fan out farther.

“What about the other building?” asked Rowan. She pointed at the small square on the aerial photo.

“He still uses that shed,” said Malcolm. He met Rowan’s gaze as they shared a painful memory.

“Soon as they clear the area outside this building a little more,” said the lieutenant. “That’s next.”

“I need to step out,” said Rowan. The jumping videos were too much. Evan and Malcolm went with her, and she took a seat on one of the several stools outside the mobile command center. Thor pressed his nose against her pocket and then walked back a few steps, his eyes and ears alert.

play

Rowan pulled a small collapsible Frisbee from the pocket. “You knew the Frisbee was in there, didn’t you?” she said to the dog. She flung it, and Thor tore away.

“I need to look inside,” said Malcolm, watching Thor.

Evan and Rowan exchanged a glance. “Inside the building they just cleared?” Rowan asked.

“Yes.”

“Why?” asked Evan.

“I just need to. I need to get it out of my system. See it empty.”

“I’ll ask if we can do that now.” Evan vanished into the command center.

As she threw the Frisbee again, Rowan studied Malcolm, noting the determination in his eyes. She understood the need for closure. It was why she’d searched in the woods for years.

And now he’s here in front of me.

She’d immediately adjusted to his presence. Almost as if he’d never left. The twins had reacted more slowly, uncertain about the stranger before them. But Rowan had felt a piece click into place in her heart when she saw his face.

“We can go,” said Evan. “The lieutenant is alerting everyone that we’re approaching the house.”

Rowan stood and brushed off the seat of her pants. She took the slobbery Frisbee from Thor and shoved it back in her pocket. Dog drool didn’t bother her; pants could be washed. Malcolm immediately started in the direction of the house, and the others sped up to accompany him.

It was a long, silent walk. Pressure seemed to build in the air as they moved closer to the place where Malcolm had been mentally, emotionally, and physically tortured for decades. Even Thor was subdued. Rowan wondered what they’d see inside. Ropes. Restraints. Blindfolds.

She shook her arms, trying to rid herself of the crawling sensation under her skin, drawing a questioning look from Evan.

“I’m good.”

They approached the little building. Its door was completely off its hinges and had been tossed aside. From top to bottom, it was splintered and cracked. Malcolm stopped and looked at the door for a long second and then kicked it. Without saying a word, he went up the three steps into the rectangular structure.

He has a lot of buried anger.

As he should.

Inside, it was hard to see, and Malcolm flipped a switch, lighting a dim bulb in the center of the main space. There was a small seating area, a table with two chairs, and a tiny kitchen along a wall across from the table. An open door to their left gave a glimpse of a bedroom.

One bedroom.

Graphic images assaulted her. Malcolm had never mentioned sexual abuse. Rowan took three steps toward the bedroom door and then turned back to find Malcolm watching her, an understanding in his eyes.

“It wasn’t like that,” he said. “He never touched me in that way.”

Cooling relief flowed through her.

He walked past and shoved the bedroom door the rest of the way open. He paused and then deliberately stepped into the space. “I was never allowed in here.” He moved to one side of the bed, where there was a tall stack of books on a nightstand. “But I risked it for books.” He took the top one off the pile. “I haven’t read this yet.” He flipped a few pages and then set it back exactly how it’d been found. He squatted in front of the nightstand and ran a hand over a plastic box on the lowest shelf. He shrugged and stood, giving the room a last scan, and then passed Rowan and Evan, heading back to the main area.

Malcolm knelt and crawled under the table, which was shoved against one wall. He slid his fingers behind a loose wall panel near the floor and opened a tiny space. Rowan was surprised to see him remove a book. Her gaze slid to the folded blanket and extremely flat pillow in a corner under the table, and pain blossomed in her heart.