A Killer's Mind (Zoe Bentley Mystery #1)(27)

She swerved right on Brooks Street and followed the small streets and avenues that took her to the Durant Pond trail, hidden from prying eyes. Heart beating from exertion and nervousness, she got on the trail.

The trees around the pond were mostly bare, the ground carpeted with brown leaves that crinkled as her bicycle wheels ran over them. Her heart was beating hard with the effort and the thrill, knowing that her parents would be horrified if they knew where she was.

Jackie Teller had walked this trail only a few days before, holding a leash. What had happened then? Had she heard a noise? Had someone approached her—perhaps even someone she knew? Had he attacked her immediately, or had he talked to her first? Asked her about her dog, mentioned the weather?

She reached the pond and cycled alongside it for a minute. Then she stopped and gazed at the water. The pond was completely calm, mirroring the view on the opposite shore: a line of trees, a clear sky. Many of their leaves had dropped onto the water, dotting the green surface with brown and yellow. A group of ducks swam in the center of the pond. The entire setting was tranquil.

Both bodies had been found in shallow water. Was that significant somehow? Did the killer stalk near water sources? She got off her bicycle and walked until her shoes sank in the muddy shore. She imagined this place at night, the search party walking along the trail, their flashlights illuminating the ground, and someone suddenly noticing a pale, lifeless form floating in the water. A dead body, her hands tied behind her back.

Heather had said she heard her brother crying behind his closed door every night. Her parents were seeking therapy for him.

The silence around her was disconcerting. She had expected to see a jogger or two, maybe a mother taking a baby for a stroll. There was no one.

Why would anyone walk in a park where a girl was murdered less than a week ago?

She didn’t want to be there anymore. She regretted not going to the café. She quickly walked back to the bicycle. She began cycling back, but then she spotted a figure between the trees. A man. He stood with his back to the trail, and she couldn’t see his face or his hands. Was he just taking a leak? She didn’t want to find out. Was it her imagination, or was he breathing heavily?

She began cycling away when she ran over a dry branch. It snapped noisily. Panicking, she glanced back.

“Zoe?”

She stopped her bicycle, exhaling. It was Rod Glover, their neighbor, and suddenly she realized how relieved she was that she wasn’t there alone anymore, that a responsible grown-up was there with her.

“Hey,” she said, smiling.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, walking toward her, hands in his pockets.

She shrugged. “I had some time off at school, so I thought I’d go for a ride.” She frowned. “Don’t tell my parents. My mom would have a fit.”

He reached her and grinned. “Your secret is safe with me.”

She nodded, feeling that she could trust him. He didn’t strike her as someone who’d blab. “What are you doing here?” she asked. “Shouldn’t you be at work?”

“Crazy thing,” he said. “There was a fire in the office today. Some sort of electricity malfunction.”

“Really? Is everyone okay?”

“Yeah.” He nodded. “Our secretary almost got caught in the flames, but I got her out in time. I had to carry her because she inhaled a lot of smoke and couldn’t stand.”

“Holy crap. Did they put the fire out?” A pang of worry flashed in her mind. Her dad’s office was two buildings down from the telemarketing office where Rod worked.

“Yeah, totally, but they sent us all home. The boss made sure to clarify that tomorrow is just as any other day.” He furrowed his brow and stuck out his lower lip, a face he always made when imitating his boss. “Eight thirty, all of you—we have phone calls to make and people to bother.”

Zoe grinned at him. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

He smiled back. “You shouldn’t really be walking around here alone. I’ll walk you out.”

The idea bothered her. When she was a few years younger, she’d enjoyed Rod’s company and even hung out with him a couple of times. It was thrilling, talking and spending time with an adult who spoke to her at eye level. But now it suddenly felt strange. The idea of him walking with her in this park made her squirm uncomfortably. Their ten-year age difference seemed a bit creepy instead of cool.

“It’s okay,” she said. “I’m just leaving. My bike will get me out in three minutes.”

He frowned. “Okay,” he said. “See ya.”

As she cycled away, she began to feel sorry for blowing him off like that. He’d only been looking out for her. They were neighbors, after all, and he was a nice guy. She’d have to remember to thank him next time they met and explain that she had been late to school.

What was Rod doing there, anyway? Did he want to see the pond where Jackie had died, like her? The thought reassured her. Maybe she wasn’t such a weirdo after all. People got curious. It was only natural.





CHAPTER 17

Chicago, Illinois, Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Abramson Funeral Home was just a few blocks away from the police station. Zoe patiently sat in the waiting room, its decoration equal parts expensive and tasteless. A large chandelier lit the room in a somber yellow light that gave the gray wall-to-wall carpet a sickly hue. The couch she sat on had rose-patterned upholstery that probably cost much more than it deserved. Several other leather chairs and couches lined the wall, but she was the only one waiting. Were there days when the seats filled up? Was there a good season for funeral homes?