my hand. Crimson smears, wet, fresh. Realization washes over me.
“Is that blood?” Stephan grimaces, coming to kneel beside me. The lead is coated in blood too. I scrub my hand down my jeans, frantic.
“Get him in the car. We have to go back,” I choke out.
“Back where?”
Leaping out the car with Bruno, I race toward the crowd of people all curious and waiting for a crumb of gossip. Stephan calls my name, but I continue to move with haste, pushing through the crowd until I’m at the front of the police tape, no Charlotte in sight. Officers stand guard, securing the scene. Forensics already has a tent up. Hernandez’s car comes into view, and I call out to the officers, “I need to speak to the detective in charge.” They look between themselves, muttering under their breaths. “Hey! I need to speak to Detective Hernandez now.”
“Calm down, ma’am. This is a crime scene. If you need to speak with someone, you can do it down at the precinct.”
I compose myself when I see the detective coming from the ally, and hold my hand up to him, anxious. He says something to the uniform cop, who then walks over, lifting the tape for me and ushering me toward one of the police cars. “Wait there.” Stephan has joined the crowd. Looking over at me, he mouths, “What’s happening?”
“Lizzy,” Hernandez says like we’re friends. He comes to stand before me, his gaze dropping to Bruno.
“I didn’t know you had a dog.”
“He’s not mine,” I rush out.
“Okay…” He continues to stare at Bruno, noticing the crimson stain on his fur. “What was so urgent?”
“The woman,” I struggle with the words, almost losing them in my throat. “The woman back there, I think I know her—sort of.” I shake my head, holding up Bruno’s lead. “I pass a woman and her dog every Tuesday on the way to school.”
“And?”
“I found Bruno, alone. He has blood on his fur and lead.” His eyes skip to my jeans. “I got some on my hand,” I defend, knowing it doesn’t look good.
Looking behind him, he gestures with a crook of his hand for officers to come over.
“Wear gloves and take the lead from Ms. West. Call a dog unit to retrieve the animal for forensic testing.”
“Is she dead because of me?” I ask, guilt gripping my throat.
“Who knows your routines, the routes you take, your class schedule?”
My mind races, trying to sort through the chaos. “Charlotte is probably the only one, but…”
“Write me a list of everyone you have contact with on these days, people you may regularly pass or stop to speak to. Do you pass any shops, stop for coffee? Have you noticed any strange cars around, new people in your life?”
Boom. Boom. Boom.
Clark.
No way. Can it be?
“How did she die?” I ask, swallowing down what feels like thick tar.
“I can’t disclose any information. You know that.” There’s whisker stubble on his jawline today, cracked lines etched through his forehead from stress. He’s no closer to catching this monster.
“Detective, please,” I beg. “Just tell me if she had any markers. Is this Willis?”
Looking behind him, searching for prying ears, he takes my upper arm and moves me farther away from everyone, so we won’t be overheard, or our lips read.
“She was missing her little finger, but this was done recklessly and quick. Her body isn’t even cold. This was recent.”
Dizziness wobbles my body, the colors distorting all around me.
“It is him?”
“It’s looking probable, and he’s escalating rapidly, deviating from his usual MO.”
“So, he’s coming for me.” I wrap my arms around my stomach. “That could have been me.” I give an irritable tug to my sleeves, trying to cover my scars. Vulnerability makes me feel like a flightless bird with predators closing in. Hernandez taps my arm, hovering for a few seconds before dropping it when I glare at his hand.
“I’m going to catch him, Lizzy. I promise. Until then, I think we need to consider some form of protection.” His promises mean nothing if I’m not alive to see it happen. His protection did nothing to help my mother. “I’m going to station someone outside your apartment for your safety.”
Straightening my shoulders, I say, “Don’t do me any favors.” Before turning away from him, I make my way in the direction of work. I’m not going to school until they find him.
“I’m going to need the jeans, Lizzy. Please let an officer take you home,” he calls after me.
“I’ll bring them to you,” I