Unspoken (Shadow Falls: After Dark #3)(38)

“At least we know who the three extra spirits were,” Kylie said.

“Did they say anything?” he asked.

“I didn’t even feel them,” Della said, hoping to put distance between her and them.

“You’re still not working the case,” Burnett said, “but it’d help if you could confirm they were the same ones. You up to it?”

Della inhaled. “Yes. Of course.” But everything inside of her screamed no.

No to not working the case. She wanted to catch the Chis’ killers.

No to ghosts. They still freaked her out.

No to seeing more dead bodies. That was just wrong.

No to kissing Chase. She wasn’t ready for that.

Now all she had to do was figure out why in the hell she kept saying yes.

*

“You sure you’re okay to do this?” Burnett asked, right before they were about to cross the yellow tape.

“Would you stop worrying about me? I’ve slept. I’ve eaten.”

His brow tightened. “I was referring to … Never mind.”

She suddenly remembered the last body she’d identified. A young girl and her boyfriend had been murdered by a vampire. Della had puked her guts out.

She swallowed and vowed not to have a repeat performance.

“I can handle this.” And to prove it to him, and maybe even to herself, she took the lead and stepped over the yellow tape, walking closer to the storage shed that was located on the far side of the park. The same park where she’d met Lucas and had saved the girl from the weres. The park close to her house.

As she took her final steps up to the building, surrounded by an array of other FRU agents, she recalled how many times she’d played right here as a child. Had there been werewolves hanging out here then? Did her sister ever come out here at night now? The thought sent a whisper of fear running through her. And she made a mental note to warn her.

Della spotted three sheet-covered bodies lined up. Blood, the victims’ blood, filled her nose. With that smell came the horrid scent that Della recognized as death.

Burnett said something to one of the other agents. She should have been listening, but she was too worried about controlling her gag reflex.

One of the younger agents, Shawn, the warlock, who had a thing for Miranda, stepped closer and nodded at Della. Della returned the courtesy.

“You okay?” he asked.

Frowning, she nodded. She’d be a lot better if people quit asking her.

Another agent, a black-suited, older were, walked over to the three bodies and one by one pulled the sheets from their faces for Della to see.

Her stomach roiled, but she willed herself not to throw up. She looked from one tainted blue face to the other. As she worked at controlling her stomach, she lost control of her heart. She recalled seeing the three teens out for a fun Saturday night. They’d had their whole lives in front of them. More than ever, she wanted to catch the creeps who did this.

“It’s them,” Della said and heard footsteps behind her.

She glanced back at Chase and realized she should have known he would be here. He was working with Burnett now. Chase’s gaze, filled with concern, met hers and she saw the “you okay?” question in his eyes. Seeing it fueled her vulnerable side, and the emotion in her chest doubled. She recalled how good it had felt to lean against him earlier.

Her sinuses stung. Mentally giving herself a big swift kick in the ass, she glanced away and stiffened her shoulders. The last thing she wanted was Chase coddling her in front of a bunch of agents.

On second thought, the last thing she wanted was to need anyone to coddle her. What the hell was happening to her? Realizing she didn’t need to look at the bodies anymore, she walked a few feet away.

Burnett followed, and behind him, Della heard Chase’s steps. “We can’t prove it, but we’re pretty sure this is connected to the Chis’ murders.”

“It is,” Della said, remembering some of the vision. “I’m pretty sure these three walked past the Chis’ shop, probably smelled the blood, and they saw the murder scene.”

Burnett’s eyes widened. “How do you know?”

“A vision,” Della said.

“So you saw the killers?”

“Not their faces.” Bits and pieces of the vision filled her head. “But I heard—”

“I saw one of their faces,” Chase said.

Burnett’s brow creased. “You told me you didn’t see them.”

“Not earlier, but … in her vision.”

Burnett scratched his head. “You were in her vision?”

Chase nodded.

“It’s true,” she affirmed, even knowing it sounded bat-shit crazy.

*

It was dark when Della and Burnett got back to Shadow Falls. Burnett had sent Chase to the FRU headquarters to work with their sketch artist.

The camp seemed extra quiet as she walked to her cabin. Della could smell the bonfire, which meant everyone was in the woods cooking hot dogs and marshmallows. She debated going. Having something else on her mind besides her own problems might be nice, but the thought of trying to be friendly to everyone seemed too much.

The quietness of her cabin appealed more. She continued walking.

In the back of her mind, bits and pieces of the vision kept flashing in her head. Some little detail about the visions kept teasing her, as if it were important, but for the life of her she couldn’t put her finger on what it was. She was almost to her cabin when a bird swooped down. It didn’t hit her, but it came close.