The Killer You Know

“What do you mean?”

“Well, when you live in a small town, where everyone knows everyone else, you feel insulated against the troubles of the world. So when something real bad happens, it shakes people up, makes them realize that they’re not immune to the dangers everyone else faces. Losing that Kelly boy...and never finding the killer...well, it was just too much.”

“His brother was murdered?” Quinn’s eyes bugged. “How awful.”

“And the family picked up and left town as soon as Silas graduated from high school. I heard the family broke up, went in separate directions.”

Quinn thought of the austere air about Silas and pitied the young kid he’d been. That was some rough stuff.

“Do you think there could be any connection between Spencer Kelly’s murder and Rhia Daniels?”

“No, I really doubt it,” Leo answered with conviction. “Whoever did that terrible thing is probably long gone but people who crave closure will grasp at any straw. I can’t blame the man for trying.”

She couldn’t, either.

The gears in her mind were moving quickly, testing out theories and possibilities.

“I imagine if, by some incredible chance, the cases are connected...that would be a pretty amazing coup to solve them both.”

Leo shrugged as if he thought the possibility was far too remote to contemplate and returned to his chowder, pausing to ask, “What’s with all the curiosity? You think you’re going to bust this case wide open and report on it?”

“And if I did?”

“I’d say that’s a helluva long shot.”

Quinn smiled. “That’s okay. I like a challenge.”

Leo’s brief smile felt vaguely patronizing but Quinn let it slide. Everyone was allowed an off day.

Besides, she had bigger fish to fry.

First and foremost...she needed to find a way to get Silas Kelly to trust her.

Given the fact that he seemed to have little respect for the press that would be a challenge indeed.

* * *

Silas felt it prudent to let his brothers know that he was in Port Orion. His call to Shaine went to voice mail—not surprising, Shaine was always undercover somewhere—so he left a brief message and called Sawyer.

Sawyer picked up on the first ring.

“You’re up late,” Silas said, checking his watch. “Working a case?”

“Yeah, possible fiduciary elder abuse case in Wyoming. Pretty sophisticated operation, too. What’s up?”

Silas decided to go straight for the meat. “I’m in Port Orion, working a murder case.”

A beat of silence followed before Sawyer said, “Why? Is it related to Spencer’s case?”

“I don’t know, but the victim was found in Seminole Creek around the same time as the anniversary of Spencer’s murder. Seemed like a good idea to follow up.”

Silas could feel the weight of his brother’s concern from across the line. “You know the likelihood that the two cases are related is very slim,” Sawyer said carefully. “I just don’t want you chasing after a ghost.”

“I’m only here for a few days to sniff things out. If it looks like the cases aren’t connected, I’ll leave.”

“Will you?” Sawyer didn’t sound convinced.

“Of course.”

“Good. Nothing but sadness left in that place. You need to give yourself some closure.”

“That’s what I’m trying to do.”

“No, you’re trying to find forgiveness. No one blames you for what happened to Spence.”

Silas struggled for a minute. That familiar choking sensation pressed on his windpipe. He was to blame. It was his fault. “I shouldn’t have left him.”

“You were a kid,” Sawyer said. “Spence should’ve gone home like he was supposed to. No one could’ve known what was going to happen that day.”

Silas knew all the rational arguments—didn’t matter. His guilt still crushed him every day.

And returning to Port Orion had only dredged up those buried feelings.

As if reading his mind, Sawyer asked, “How’s it being back?”

“Weird. Uncomfortable. Sad.”

“Seems about right.”

“Nothing has changed. Everything is as it was. Time doesn’t exist here. Mankins is still the sheriff. He should’ve retired a long time ago.”

Sawyer chuckled. “If it weren’t for Mankins, your ass would’ve landed in jail. He saved your skin more times than I can count.”

That much was true. After Spencer’s death...well, let’s just say that being a good kid hadn’t been big on Silas’s list.

“I went to the crime scene. You know that big rock that we used to jump off from?”

“Yeah.”

“Looks the same. Reminded me of the time Spencer wanted to jump and you didn’t think it was safe, but he did it anyway and then you pushed me off to make sure Spencer was all right.”

Sawyer chuckled at the memory. “Racked your nuts if I recall correctly.”

“Hell, yes. It’ll be a miracle if I can have kids.”

“Well, we all babied Spencer.”

Everyone but Silas. “Yeah, made me jealous. Why did he get special treatment?” he said, half joking but it was difficult to talk about Spencer without sinking into the tar pit of banked grief. Silas returned to the reason he called. “Look, if there’s a chance to solve his murder, I have to take it. My boss thinks I’m chasing after a ghost, too. But I don’t care. My intuition says I have to be here. For whatever reason that may be. But I can’t leave.”

“So tell me about the recent case,” Sawyer said, resigned. “What are the details?”

“Sixteen-year-old girl, popular, pretty. Dumped into Seminole Creek two nights ago. I’m waiting on the autopsy report to see if there were any trace forensics that I can compare to Spencer’s case.”

“No preliminary cause of death?”

“Hand marks on the neck suggest strangulation.”

“Similar to Spencer. But choking a victim out isn’t unique,” Sawyer pointed out.

“True. That’s why I’m pulling Spencer’s case file to refresh my memory.”

“I would’ve thought you had that case file memorized by now,” Sawyer said.

Truth was, Silas had put Spencer’s case far out of his mind so he could focus on the cases that landed on his desk today. “I could use a refresher. I know the basics but I don’t want any detail left on the table.”

“I don’t know, Silas. Refreshing the details of Spencer’s case seems like an unnecessary agony.”

Silas knew that it was different for his older brothers. They’d mourned Spencer’s death like any sibling would, but they would never understand Silas’s driving need to find who had killed the youngest Kelly.

A beat of silence passed between them and then Sawyer exhaled, knowing Silas wouldn’t be deterred. The Kelly men were known for being stubborn.

“I know you’re going to do whatever you feel is necessary. Be careful and keep me updated.”

“I will,” Silas agreed.

“All right. It’s late. Be safe, brother.”

Sawyer clicked off and Silas plugged his cell in to charge for the night. It felt good to talk with Sawyer. Even though they were all adults, the Kelly brothers had a special bond.

Spencer’s death had drawn them together in a way that he would never wish on anyone but he was thankful for their support.

He couldn’t say the same for his dad.

Silas was the only Kelly boy who hadn’t attended the funeral.

Dad never forgave Silas for what’d happened to Spencer. Messed up, yeah, he knew. But even though he could rationalize his father’s feelings, the kid inside him still hurt for the rejection.

And he’d never get closure from his father.

Dad had died a handful of years ago with harsh words lodged between him and Silas.

He stiffened his backbone as a shock of pain jolted him. Even if Silas had been willing to patch things up, his dad couldn’t.

Just...couldn’t. Each time his dad had looked at Silas, the corners of his mouth would pull as if he was being reminded all over again that it was because of Silas that Spencer was gone.

Thankfully, his mother hadn’t drawn such a harsh line. Though there were times Silas wondered if deep down, she harbored a secret resentment against him. Maybe it was his guilty conscience, but it was hard to ignore just the same.

Climbing into bed, he closed his eyes, willing himself to sleep. His alarm was set for five a.m. and seeing as it was past midnight already, that didn’t leave much time for shut-eye.

But as he was drifting, Quinn Jackson popped into his last conscious thought and he was left with a feeling that he hadn’t seen the last of the redhead.

Silas frowned, irritated at himself that his thoughts kept gravitating toward Quinn.

What was it about her that his brain stubbornly refused to latch loose?

The easy answer—her looks.

But that wasn’t it.

Silas was old enough to recognize the pitfall of chasing after a pretty face and perfect figure.

She had a sense about her that made people stare.

Including him.

Raw, boundless energy crackled around her.

Like a...kitten.

No, not a kitten.

Like something wild.

Untamed.

And completely dangerous.

If he were smart, he’d steer clear.

Chapter 5

“Please, Lester,” Quinn pleaded. “What’s the point of being local if I can’t even get some kind of exclusive content?”

“Isn’t there some environmental catastrophe you could report on? Maybe go piss off some timber company and leave this case alone.”

“Why are you so intent on pushing me away from this case?” she asked. “If I didn’t know better I’d say you’re afraid I’m going to uncover something you’d rather keep hidden.”

Oops. Too far.

Lester narrowed his gaze at her. “Watch it,” he growled and she immediately changed her tactic.

“I just want justice for this poor girl. I mean, the whole school is grieving right now. The town is hungry to know what happened. We need to be able to give them the answers they seek in the most responsible manner possible. Do you really think that the big presses are going to care if the case is handled sensitively? Hell, Lester, I saw news vans camped out in front of the Danielses’ family house yesterday! How awful, right? You don’t see me doing that, but if you don’t give me something I can work with, I might have to.”

Lester appeared to take her point under consideration. After a long pause he said, “All right. You’re worse than a damn bloodhound. The autopsy is scheduled for this morning. If you want, you can sit in and watch.”

Watch an autopsy? That wasn’t exactly what she had in mind but she’d take it. “Perfect! Am I allowed to ask the coroner questions?”

“No. Keep your lip zipped.”

“Then why am I watching?” she said, frustrated. “C’mon, Lester, you’re tying my hands at every turn. Don’t you love me?”

At that Lester softened. “Of course I do. I just think this case is above your pay grade, sweetheart.”

That really stung. Quinn tried not to let her bruised pride overrun her mouth but it was hard. “I’m trying to elevate my pay grade,” she replied with quiet dignity. “I need a case like this to do it.”

“What does your uncle think of you poking around on this case?”

“He doesn’t have an opinion,” she answered, frowning at the odd question. “Why would he? It’s my job.”

Lester nodded, conceding the point but not before adding a few stipulations. “You are to be quiet so the doc can do his work. The only reason I’m letting you do this is because you need to see the ugly side of the work you want to do. Rhia Daniels is more than just a story angle for your career. She was someone’s daughter, and her parents are grief-stricken.”

“Of course,” Quinn said quickly. “I’ll be very respectful.”

“See that you are. Or else this will be the last time your pretty pleas will work on me.”

“Is that it?”

“No. I want you to steer clear of Silas Kelly, too.”

“Why?”

“Because his agenda has nothing to do with yours.”

That stipulation put her in direct opposition with her plans. She needed Silas. Seems out of everyone, Silas was her best bet to get solid leads.

The irony was not lost on her.

“Sure,” she lied. “I mean, it’s a small town so we’re bound to run into each other but I won’t go out of my way to spend time with him.”

“Fair enough.” Lester leaned back in his chair, looking suddenly very weary as he gestured for her to go. “You’ve got your marching orders, now go on.”

“Thank you, Lester,” Quinn said, pleased with her victory. “You’re the best.”

Lester snorted at her flattery and she left with a smile.

Her first autopsy. Should be...fun.

It might be disgusting, but at least she could get a look at the condition of the body, which might turn out to be good color for her story.

Quinn pulled her hair into a messy bun on top of her head, wound her scarf around her neck and headed for the morgue.

The tiny flutter in her nerves betrayed her nervousness. Even if she didn’t want to admit it, she wasn’t entirely sure how her stomach was going to react to seeing a dead body.

What if she puked?

She liked to think she was tougher than that but the only way to know was to go through with it.

Quinn pushed open the double doors of the morgue and shivered at the icy chill in the sterile room. She found Silas already there, looking austere and unapproachable. Maybe if he smiled more...no, don’t go there. Even when he was looking as if a giant stick was wedged up his behind, he was still pretty handsome.

So...no smiles necessary.

“What are you doing here?” Silas asked.

“I have permission to be here,” Quinn answered, lifting her chin. To the coroner, she assured him, “I promise I won’t get in your way.”

Quinn didn’t know the doctor, and she didn’t usually make a habit of rubbing elbows with the man who poked and prodded the dead, but he didn’t give off the impression that he was open to making friends either.

With a faint scowl, the coroner nodded and motioned for them to come over to the table where the body of Rhia Daniels lay beneath a white sheet.

“Is this really necessary?” Silas asked her in a low tone. “What can you possibly hope to put in your story from this angle? Try to remember her grieving family.”

“Why does everyone assume that I don’t?” Quinn shot back, irritated. “Maybe her family would like some closure. I imagine your family would’ve liked to know who killed your brother.”

A flash of heat in his eyes warned her to tread carefully. Maybe that comment was a little too much. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be hurtful. I’m just trying to put things in perspective.”

“Perspective for whom?”

“You, of course,” Quinn answered. “You seem to have something against me and you don’t even know me.”

“You’re press. That’s all I need to know,” he said.

“Well, that’s painting with a wide brush. Not all press are the same.”

“In my experience, they are. The story is always more important than the feelings of the people involved. I’ve watched reporters step all over people to get their story, no matter who was standing in their way. Reporters are worse than ambulance-chasing lawyers.”

The coroner looked up, annoyed. “If you’d like to continue your conversation elsewhere, that would be appreciated. I’m trying to do my job.”

“My apologies,” Silas said, shooting Quinn a look as if she was the problem and not him.

Quinn chose to ignore Silas for the moment and concentrate on taking in every detail she could without losing her breakfast.

Rhia Daniels, young, beautiful and dead.

Black-and-blue smudges betrayed where fingers had gripped her slender neck, squeezing the life out of her.

The hands looked large on her small body. Quinn struggled with the little voice inside her head that disapproved of being there.

It seemed...disrespectful.

Silas’s expression remained stony, stoic—devoid of emotion as the doctor went about his exam, speaking his notes out loud to his digital recorder.

“Victim is female, age sixteen, healthy, with visible defensive wounds on her arms and legs. Bruising around the neck that suggests strangulation.”

Quinn couldn’t imagine how terrified the girl must’ve been. Had a stranger done this to her? Or was it someone she’d known?

A jealous boyfriend, perhaps?

“A sexual assault exam, as well, Doctor,” Silas reminded the coroner, which was not appreciated as the older man cast Silas a dour look.

“You do your job; I’ll do mine.”

Silas didn’t bristle at the rebuke.

Probably because the man was made from stone.

He wouldn’t know a genuine emotion if it was dumped on him.

Harsh, Quinn. Don’t play into the stereotype of a heartless journalist.

Quinn managed to hold herself together until the doc started the incisions, then she had to excuse herself.

Quickly.

Gulping big breaths of fresh air, Quinn struggled to keep from upchucking her breakfast burrito.

Moments later Silas joined her, a small smirk on his chiseled face.

“Maybe you could do a narrative piece on your first autopsy.”

“What makes you think it was my first?” Quinn bluffed, still feeling hot and shaky. She pressed a cool hand against her cheek, fishing a bottled water from her purse.

“Because you look green, which surprisingly isn’t a good look with your red hair.”

“Okay, it was my first,” she said, blowing out a breath before guzzling the water. Quinn wiped her mouth. “I take it you watch autopsies in your spare time?”

“I’ve seen my share—and it’s never something I take lightly.”

Darkness rippled around Silas like an aura, emanating mystery.

There was something primal about Silas, something alluring. She caught herself when she realized she was leaning toward him, trying to catch a whiff of whatever spicy, manly cologne he was wearing.

“Eau de FBI,” she murmured, mostly to herself but Silas caught it.

“Excuse me?”

Heat flushed her cheeks and she shook her head, saying quickly, “Nothing,” before adding, “Sheriff Mankins says I should steer clear of you. Says you have your own agenda. What would that be, I wonder?”

Instead of denying the claim, Silas just shrugged and said, “You ought to listen to your sheriff.”

“Why?”

“Because maybe he’s right.”

“So what is your agenda?” Quinn asked boldly.

Silas regarded her with a quiet intensity that she felt like a physical thing as he replied with a faint smile, “That would be my business, now, wouldn’t it?”

And then he left her standing there, looking like a dope.

Quinn groused to no one. “Well, that went swimmingly,” and tossed her empty water bottle in the trash before heading to her car.

She wasn’t sure what she could use from the autopsy and she’d learned less than nothing from Silas.

Time to do some more digging on her own.

* * *

Silas left the autopsy and headed for the sheriff’s office. Spencer’s case file should be ready as well as the preliminary report from the investigating officer on the Daniels case.

He entered the building and went straight to the receiving window where a woman sat behind thick glass.

He flashed his credentials. “I’m here to pick up the case files on Spencer Kelly and Rhia Daniels.”

The woman nodded and pulled two manila envelopes then pushed a log book under the window opening. “Just sign here.”

Silas scrawled his name across the book and accepted the envelopes, tucking them into his jacket to protect them from the weather.

It wasn’t raining yet but the dark clouds signaled that a deluge was imminent.

He was nearly to his car when he ran into someone he would’ve been content to avoid while in Port Orion.

“Well, look who’s gracing Port Orion with his presence. Big shot Silas Kelly...what are you doing around here?”

Marc Boggs, former friend turned adversary, still wearing his jealousy over Silas’s accomplishments like part of his uniform, eyed him with banked dislike.

“Marc,” Silas acknowledged with a small nod. “Just doing legwork on a case.”

“Here? In Port Orion? It’s gotta be that young girl we fished out of Seminole Creek.” Marc didn’t wait for Silas to confirm or deny. “Hell, that girl is giving our little town as much publicity as the last time a kid was found in that place.”

Silas narrowed his gaze at Marc. “Yeah, it would seem.”

Marc sighed as if he felt some kind of empathy for Silas but Silas knew better. Marc only cared about Marc. But it seemed he was interested in playing the part of “long-lost friend” and threw out an offer to get a beer. “Me and a few buddies, you know those of us who chose to stick around, we get together on Saturday nights to blow off some steam down at The Pier. You’re welcome to come by and join us.”

“Sorry, another time. I’m on the clock.”

Marc chuckled. “Damn, Silas, loosen up. Big shot now, can’t hang with the lowly peasants, right?”

“Not here for a good time,” Silas said.

The subtle downturn of Marc’s mouth gave away his displeasure at being rebuffed. Likely the scenario that played out in Marc’s head was a night of getting under Silas’s skin with veiled insults and condescending jokes.

Yeah, no thanks, Silas thought.

“Catch you later, Marc.”

He didn’t wait for Marc’s reply.

Silas sat in his rental car, wondering how many sour apples he’d run into while in town.

Damn this place. Same people, same buildings. Same bullshit small-town politics.

Everybody talking about everyone else’s business with little regard for how their tongue-wagging might hurt someone else.

He preferred the anonymity of a large city. His neighbors didn’t bother him or poke their noses where they didn’t belong.

Quinn came to mind and he grimaced, though not entirely for the same reasons as he would’ve liked.

That red hair...it was like a halo of fire around her head, which only accentuated the green of her eyes.

She looked out of place in Port Orion but she’d fit right in walking the shores of Ireland.

An odd moment of whimsy struck him. Ireland with Quinn.

The discordant thought twanged like an out-of-tune guitar string.

Shake that shit off. What was he doing thinking of Quinn in any way aside from professional?

It was the strain of being here, he rationalized. His brain was clawing at any possible way of providing relief, a distraction from the bone-deep grief that remained lodged in spite of how many years had passed.

Quinn was annoying, a pest. And way too young. He preferred women with more seasoning.

But that hair was distracting.

Flowing down her back in wavy ripples, curling at the ends.

The stubborn cowlick near her forehead probably gave her fits.

Silas shut his eyes, trying to push Quinn from his mind.

But all that did was provide a rich curtain for thoughts that immediately caused him to shift inside his trousers.

Damn it. He needed release. All the tension from arriving in Port Orion, memories jamming his brain, were causing his impulses to come out sidewise.

He didn’t want anything to do with Quinn.

He didn’t want to work with her and he certainly didn’t want to bed her.

Focus on the case.

He breathed deeply as he willed his stubborn erection to fade.

Maybe later he’d take care of himself. Release that tension. Quick and efficient.

In the meantime, it was time to get to work.

That was a better distraction anyway.

Chapter 6

Quinn pulled up to the Daniels home and frowned when she saw news vans still camped out in the street.

That’s not very classy, Quinn thought with a sniff, even though she was there for the same reason.

But it was different for her. She actually cared about the family.

She started up the steps when a car door closed behind her.