Darkness at the Edge of Town (Iris Ballard #2)(72)

I lost what little strength I had left with that revelation. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I-I-I had no idea the DEA was in any way involved. What else did he say?”

“That I was to desist any further investigations and rein you in. Arrest you if need be.”

“And you had no idea they were conducting an investigation in your county?” I asked.

“No. None. And believe me, I brought that fact up.”

My mind spun a million times an hour. The group was being investigated for drug offenses. For how long? How much did the DEA have on the members? Did Billy know anything nefarious was transpiring? “I’ll sort this out. You won’t get in trouble. I promise. And here.” I gave him the files back. “I came to give these back anyway. And say goodbye.”



“Wait. You’re leaving?” Hancock asked.

“Yeah. I…” I shook my head.

“What the hell happened on that farm, Iris?”

I sighed, then scoffed. “Just keep an eye on them. Especially now. If the DEA’s involved, things will get real fucking messy real fast. When I looked into Mathias’s eyes…” I shook my head.

“Are those people in danger, Iris?” Hancock asked severely.

“I don’t know. Maybe not today, but I have no doubt that fucker is capable of doing anything to get what he wants.”

“And Billy’s still there? You left him there? That’s not like you. If this guy has you running with your tail between your legs…you’re scaring the shit out of me, girl.”

“Just keep an eye on them. Discreetly.” I stood from the chair. “And don’t let them know I’m the reason you are. Please.”

“Iris, what—”

“I’m sorry I dragged you into this. I’ll get you out of it, okay, if I have to call in every favor I’ve ever collected. This won’t fall on you. I promise.” I smiled sadly. “It was really good seeing you again, sir. Truly. I meant every word I said last night. I wouldn’t have become me without you. For better or worse.”

“Iris—”

“Bye.” I turned around before he could see the tears forming again. I couldn’t look at the deputies or Joyce as I hurried out of the station, not even when Joyce called to me.



I climbed into the safety of my car and began breathing heavily again in an attempt to stave off the tears. Another person I’d let down. Gotten into trouble. He could have lost his job. He could have gone to prison. Everyone in law enforcement did it, searching for unofficial reasons—hell, I had multiple times—but it was still a crime. God, I was ruining everyone’s lives. I was a black hole. I stopped one serial killer and I suddenly thought I was invincible. That I was the big damn hero everyone told me I was. What the hell was the point of being a hero if I couldn’t save the people I loved?

I didn’t know how to save Billy, but I could damn well save the sheriff. I got my cellphone and turned it back on. I’d shut it off after I called Hancock with the all-clear. I just wanted to get lost and be alone. To think. It hadn’t done a lick of good. I had three voicemails.

“Iris, why the hell is your phone off?” Hancock asked in the first message. “I just had a very angry, threatening call from the DE-fucking-A. You need to call me the moment you get this. I mean it. Call me.”

Number two. “Dr. Ballard, this is Special Agent Antoine Carmichael with the Pittsburgh branch of the DEA. I have just spoken to Grey County Sheriff Tim Hancock and he informed me you have been investigating The New Morning Movement. I respectfully request you stop any further investigation and call me at (412) 555-6757. Thank you.” As with Hancock, I could hear the undercurrent of anger in his voice. The same undercurrent in the next message.



“Iris, it’s Luke. I just got a call from a DEA agent in Pittsburgh asking if you were working for the FBI on something called The New Morning Movement. What the hell is going on? I-I’m…” He took a second to compose himself. “Please call me. Just call me. Please.”

That. That was what I’d been trying to avoid this whole time. Him worried about me. Getting drawn into my shit. Hearing the fear in his voice literally turned my stomach. I didn’t want to talk to him, but I so did want to talk to him. I had since the moment I reached town.

“Iris?” my best friend asked on the other end of the phone.

“Luke?” I asked, voice cracking.

“Are you okay? What is going on?”

“I-I-I’m…” I wiped my tears. “I’ve fucked everything up, Luke. I’ve fucked everything up. I-I-I don’t know what to do. I don’t know if I can fix it. I—”

“Iris,” Luke said, his voice as hard as a diamond. “Listen to me. Take a breath. Take a deep breath.” I obeyed. It did clear my mind about 5 percent. “Are you in danger?”

“No, not physically…”

“Tell me what is going on right now.”

So I did. I finally did. I began with Mom’s phone call, meeting the group, the interviews, that horrible evening at The Temple, Billy, all through the day’s events. Hell, I even threw in my confrontations with Merrill, Elliot, and Mom. The only detail I left out was kissing Paul. If it had been relevant I’d tell him, but I prayed it never became relevant. I was trying not to sob by the end of my recitation, narrowly succeeding.