“The article in the paper made it clear she was in town, but at this house?Just family—mine and hers—and a couple of heremployees.”
“Well, someone clearly knew her well enough to send adelivery.”
The man approaching the box stared at a piece of equipment he held in front of him.“I’m not getting any readings off it that would suggestordnance.”
“So, let’s cut the fucker open,”Carversaid.
The former EOD tech pulled on a mask, clearly worried about possible chemical threats.“Everyonegetback.”
The two other guys out front backed away, and Carver and I took two steps toward the house as well.Were we handling this with proper police protocol?No way in hell.We didn’t have time forthatshit.
The EOD tech cursed loudly at the same moment Ari’s scream split the air, so loud I could hear it in thedriveway.
As I broke into a dead run back toward the house, I heard them yell frombehindme.
“It’sahead.”
56
Ariel
No.No.No!
The image on my computer screen that someone just sent me was so gruesome, I couldn’t comprehend it at first.It had to be photoshopped.It wasn’t real.But I couldn’t stop screaming because something told me it wasn’tahoax..
The photo featured Erik’s head sitting on a table next to a cardboard box.His eyes were open, butlifeless.
Arms wrapped around me from behind, and I turned.The tears spilling down my face blinded me, so Ifought.
“It’s me, Red.It’s me,” Rhettwhispered.
“Erik.He’s—” I couldn’t say anything else.I leaned over and threw up on thefloor.
Footsteps pounded in the entryway before someone else burst into the kitchen.“We need pictures to make apositiveID—”
The buzzing in my head nearly drowned out Carver’svoice.
“I think your positive ID is on the screen.”Rhett pulled my hair back over my shoulder.“Come on, Ari.Let’s get you to abathroom.”
I shook my head, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, not even caring that it was disgusting.“No, I can’t.I have to analyze the picture.It could be fake.There’s no way it’s real.It’s not.Itcan’tbe.”
Rhett held me tighter.“Ari, we need to get youcleanedup.”
From his forced calm, I knew there wassomethingelse.
“What was in the box?The package?Oh my God.Please don’ttellme—”
“I’m so sorry, Ari.So fucking sorry.”Rhett’s grip on metightened.
“Nooo!”I screamed, tears burning paths down my face.My stomach rebelled again, and I gagged and chokedonbile.
This isn’t happening.This is anightmare.
I wanted to close my eyes and pretend this day had never started.Erik ...My body shook with sobs as a hundred emotions crashed into meatonce.
Esme ...My chest ached.My insides were shredded.My gaze dropped to the floor to see if there was blood puddled beneath my feet from the gaping hole in myheart.
“Why?”My question came out ragged.“Why would someone do this?Erik didn’t do anything toanyone.”