Page 77 of Fire Harbor
Chapter Twenty-Two
Two nights later, inside Marigold House, Linus lit a fire in the living room—which was slowly becoming their go-to hangout spot—hoping they could both kick back with the dogs, relax, and spend a quiet evening together for the first time in days.
In fact, the entire town could sleep better knowing the serial killer, who had been active for more than fifteen years, had been transported out of town to the county jail.
“Confronted with the fact that we found Abby so quickly, Derrick finally started talking. He admitted that Joely Harrison was his first victim back in 2008. Imagine committing your first murder at nineteen,” Linus said, looking up at Lake with his head in her lap.
“What do you think he was burying the night Abby saw him in the yard, besides a bunny rabbit, of course?”
“Rumors are already floating around that the cops found a few souvenirs in a metal box—specifically driver’s licenses—tying him to Amanda Jenner, Gail Pinter, and Cillia French. Given time, I would think that tearing his place apart would reveal more things he kept from the other victims. Who knows what he decided to bury in the same hole he dug for the pet bunny? Is that when he dropped the tin box in the hole or beforehand? Whatever it was, it will eventually come out. Did I tell you I got an email from Sofia? I forwarded it to Brent. Jimmy said that the guy she described fits what Derrick looked like ten years ago. She even sat down with a sketch artist in Denver and provided a very good likeness. And it seems Derrick had access to a black SUV that belonged to his uncle.”
Lake ran her fingers through Linus’s hair, lost in thought. “It’s chilling to think that he had so many victims. Imagine how many lives could have been saved if he had been caught after the first one went missing.”
She paused, her fingers still feathering his hair. “We may never know what he was burying that night,” Lake continued, her voice tinged with unease. “But I can’t shake off how he looked when I apologized that morning. I’ll remember that smirk on his face for a long time.”
“He certainly had me fooled.”
“Not really. You had a gut feeling something was off. I keep wondering if Fiona Fowler suspected anything?”
“They always ask the wife or the girlfriend what they knew. It’s a fact Derrick was most active at nighttime. Maybe he waited until Fiona went to work the third shift when he had all the time in the world to stalk his prey.”
He twisted in her lap. “I can’t believe he lived and worked among us for so long without anyone suspecting a thing. When I think of how I felt the day I found Gabby’s remains, I’m sick at heart. To know Derrick did that… How many more are out there like him, blending into our daily lives all the while harboring such evil intent?”
The weight of Derrick’s gruesome dark side hung heavy over their moment of peace. She shuddered at the thought of the horrors he had inflicted on the unsuspecting women simply crossing over that bridge to get somewhere else. “Unfortunately, the world is full of predators we can’t always recognize as such. We can’t always determine good and evil in a person. They hide that part of themselves. Maybe Fiona had no clue who he really was. What’s important is that we brought light to this one horrible man. We found Abby, and we stopped him from hurting anyone else. That was our goal, and we did it.”
“Yeah. But it was your idea to go to the monastery, a brilliant move. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have found her until it was too late.”
“Wonder why Derrick kept her alive and not the others. Why did he take her there, to that spot?”
“I heard Eastlyn and Birk talking about that. They decided it was because he knew her. Abby was a neighbor and had lived around the corner for years. The other victims were yanked off the bridge as strangers and killed right there without having any emotional ties to them.”
“Even though Derrick was angry with Abby, you’re saying he couldn’t kill her outright. I’m not sure I believe that. A killer’s a killer. If she’d stayed there much longer, she would’ve died from exposure or starved to death.”
“It’s their theory, not mine. I’m sure they’ll look into Derrick’s past association with the boys’ school or whatever it was when Derrick spent his summers out there. The answer could be in its close proximity to his family’s cabin. I suppose time will tell.”
“You have to admit, it was a decent choice. If you hadn’t remembered the cabin or the monastery…,” her voice trailed off at the implications.
He picked up a strand of her mahogany-colored hair and twirled it through his fingers. “Do we have to keep talking about this? I realize we need to pick a time and celebrate Abby’s release and Derrick’s incarceration, but does it have to be tonight? Can’t we focus on other things?”
Lake smiled mischievously, tracing a finger along Linus’s jawline. “By now, I know what that look means. Aren’t you exhausted from all the running around we did today?”
“Exhausted, yes, but not too tired for a little celebration of our own,” he whispered, sitting up to take her chin. On one elbow, he pressed his mouth to hers.
A tenderness spread through Lake’s chest as she pulled him closer, the weight of the day slowly melting away as they lost themselves in each other.
The doorbell rang.
“Damn it!” Linus muttered. “What now? Can’t we get five minutes to ourselves?” After a bout of grumbling, he got up to answer the door but hesitated. “Maybe you should see who that is.”
Sputtering with laughter, she looked down at his building pants. “Yes, I think I should.”
“Check the door camera first,” he cautioned as he watched her sashay past him and out to the entryway.
“It’s Eastlyn,” Lake provided as she opened the door. “What are you doing here? Is Abby okay?”
“She’s fine,” Eastlyn replied. “Quentin kept her overnight at the hospital for dehydration. In a couple of days, she’ll be good as new. Although the traumatic experience will remain, I’m sure.”
Lake ushered her inside, leading her into the living room. “Then what brings you here after such a busy day?”