by Dan Padavona
Fitzgerald turned away, and she grabbed his hand.
“Hey, you did your job. Don’t fool yourself into believing you didn’t. You covered Lambert and me. The only reason I shot with accuracy is because you fought by my side.”
The trooper’s eyes misted.
“Thanks, Aguilar. I love this job. Every day I wake up and hope there’s someone out there I can help. Thanks for reminding me.”
As Fitzgerald walked away, Aguilar pondered what he’d said. It was as if he’d mirrored her thoughts and expressed her fears. A sense of calm fell over Aguilar.
Thomas returned. She didn’t argue when he demanded that she go to the hospital. The doctors would treat her injuries and replenish her fluids. But the healing had already begun deep inside Aguilar, in the places their instruments couldn’t reach.
She was going to be okay.
52
Puffy clouds checkered the sky above Wolf Lake, reflecting off the water like insoluble shreds of cotton.
Thomas carried the baby back ribs from the A-frame to the grill. His friends mingled, some nursing beers, others content with the pristine view and friendly conversation. Darren worked the grill while Naomi finished cooking a pot of baked beans inside.
As Thomas approached the grill, the sweet scent of wood smoke caught his nose.
“Oh, dude,” Darren said, taking the plate from Thomas’s hand. “Those look amazing.”
“Imagine how they’ll taste.”
Darren laid the ribs on the grill one at a time. Barbecue sauce sizzled against the grates.
“Another case solved, and we’re still alive to talk about it.”
“I understand why you left the force, Darren. I’m unsure how much longer I can handle murders and kidnappings.”
The park ranger glanced at Thomas through the tops of his eyes.
“This was a tough one. But they aren’t all this bad.”
“That’s what I keep telling myself.” Thomas lowered his voice. “Justice Thorin buried his victims beneath the cages. Over a dozen bodies. Agent Bell predicted everything, as if she’d stepped inside Justice Thorin’s brain. Our old friend, Dr. Astrid Stone, led the excavation.”
“The forensic anthropologist who uncovered the skeleton below Lucifer Falls?”
“Right. An hour into her dig, she pulled a decaying arm out of the ground. It still had gray skin on it, so the kill must have been recent. The arm was missing a hand.”
“Harmony Santos.”
“Yep. Thorin kept her alive for four years. Can you believe it?”
“It’s horrible. So Aguilar . . .”
“Yeah,” Thomas said. “We found five bodies beneath her cell. When she dug down to loosen the bars, she missed a skull by inches.”
“How is she processing the situation?”
“Like any of us would. It will take time. Right now, she’s happy to be alive.”
“And Lonnie McKinney is alive because of Aguilar. That’s the part that makes all the horrors manageable. How’s the boy doing?”
“The kid must have someone watching over him. He spent one night in the hospital and went home the next morning. Talk about a survivor. The father says Lonnie will need counseling. But the boy survived food poisoning and multiple nights in a cold, dark cell.”
Thomas fished a strawberry and watermelon kombucha out of the cooler and twisted the cap off. He took a sip and puckered his lips. Aguilar had convinced Thomas to drink kombucha, but the initial sip always smacked him with a sour punch. He raised the bottle and clinked it against Darren’s beer. As Thomas took another sip, he spotted Aguilar and Lambert in the yard.
“Speaking of Aguilar, I need to speak with my lead deputy. You can handle the ribs by yourself?”
“Shep, the only danger is whether I’ll eat the ribs before they make it to the picnic table.”
“I trust you. Besides, my security cameras will catch you in the act.”
Darren laughed and flipped the ribs.
Sheriff Gray slapped Thomas on the back as he passed. They shared a greeting, and the former sheriff gave Thomas’s kombucha a cockeyed glance. Last evening, Thomas and Gray had spoken for two hours about Father Fowler. Though they’d never prove the priest drove Lana off the road, Gray finally had closure.
Lambert and Aguilar were speaking with Serena and Raven when Thomas walked over.
“Thanks for coming,” said Thomas.
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Lambert said. “Baby back ribs? I’m feasting tonight.”
“Contain yourself,” said Aguilar, nudging Lambert with her elbow. “I looked forward to this all day. Can’t tell you how much I need this.”
Thomas touched her arm.
“You’re welcome here anytime. I’ve told you this before, but anytime you need quiet, drive over and sit by the lake.”
“I may take you up on that offer.” Aguilar glanced at Lambert. “Sheriff Gray wants company.”
“Is that your way of getting rid of me?”
“I need to speak with Thomas for a minute.”
Lambert shrugged and walked off. Thomas wiped the hair off his brow.
“What’s going on?”
“Walk with me to the water. There’s something I need to say.”
They strolled together through the thick grass. A boat motored across the lake, pushing waves against the shoreline. Aguilar turned to Thomas, but kept her eyes on the water.
“The night Thorin kidnapped me, I was rehearsing a speech.”
“A speech?”
“Thomas, I planned to resign the next day.”
Thomas swallowed. He sensed Aguilar was struggling with the Avery Neal shooting. But he never believed she’d leave the job she loved.
“And now?”
Aguilar set a hand on her hip and stared out at the lake.
“I finally understand everything Dr. Mandal taught me. It still hurts, but I realize Neal brought everything upon himself.”
“You did your duty, Aguilar. Lambert and Fitzgerald owe you their lives.”
“Choosing between Neal and two fellow officers was an easy decision. But I’ll never come to grips with taking someone’s life.”
Thomas shifted his jaw.
“Good. That’s what keeps us human.” She glanced at him. “You think I don’t lose sleep over the Jeremy Hyde and Thea Barlow cases, that I don’t wake up in the middle of the night and picture Skye Feron locked inside a psycho’s house for six years? We’re the gatekeepers, Aguilar, the guards standing between society and the monsters who prey upon the weak. As Agent Bell says, it comes at a price.”
Aguilar fell silent as the water sloshed over the shore. Seagulls squawked overhead.
“If you need to walk away, I understand. Nobody will think less of you.”
She shook her head, and Thomas was surprised and relieved to see confidence gleaming in her eyes.
“I’m not going anywhere, Thomas. Besides, how are you gonna run Nightshade County without me?”
“I can’t.”
“Exactamundo, Potsie.” Aguilar turned toward the others as Scout wheeled herself down the path. LeVar walked beside the teenager. “So the amateur investigators helped with the rescue?”
“They did. Scout caught Thorin on camera with a drone. I never would have thought of that. A brilliant idea, really.”
“It’s a shame Scout never met the FBI agents before they flew home. Scout meeting Agent Bell would be like any of us hanging out with our favorite celebrities.”
Thomas hid his smile and gestured at the party.
“Let’s make our way to the grill before Darren steals the ribs.”
Serena hugged Thomas next to the picnic table and planted a kiss on his cheek. His face reddened.
“What masterpiece did you concoct this time, Serena?”
“Naomi and I baked a sweet potato pie that will knock your socks off. The secret ingredient is—”
Thomas held up a hand.
“Don’t tell me. Let me guess after the f
irst bite.”
“You’ll love it. But you only get one guess.”
Chelsey stepped off the deck, with Tigger and Jack trotting beside her. She carried a grocery bag of snacks under one arm. She kissed Thomas as Jack ran circles around them. Tigger seemed embarrassed by Jack’s excitability.
“Did you know there’s an SUV parked behind LeVar’s car?”
Thomas cleared his throat.
“Must be a neighbor. How was work?”
“I shouldn’t complain because we need the business. But the infidelity cases are growing tiresome.”
“Too many Casanovas running around the village. The lake is rather romantic, don’t you agree?”
She bit back a smile without answering. He took the grocery bag as she bent to pet Jack. They wandered back to the party, taking their time and enjoying each other’s company. Thomas set the snacks on the picnic table and called to Darren.
“How much longer on the ribs, ranger?”
“Another ninety minutes. You can’t rush perfection.”
“You better not be stealing samples.”
“Ticket me, Sheriff.”
A gust of wind kicked up and scattered paper plates across the lawn. As Scout chased the plates in her wheelchair, Thomas jogged over to collect the items. He stacked the plates and placed them under a soda bottle.
“I watched the drone footage, Scout. Where did you learn to fly a drone so well?”
“YouTube videos. But you only saw the good parts, not the footage where I almost smashed the drone into a tree.”
“Well, you had a helluva week. Were it not for your footage, we wouldn’t have found the underground enclosure. And you prevented an armed robbery. Not a bad week, if I may say so.”
She wore an embarrassed smirk.
“Mom says I should become a profiler someday. But I’m not sure. How am I supposed to climb ladders, take down robbers, and chase serial killers?”
“I’m certain there are consultant positions that don’t require you to fight anybody.” Thomas glanced at the A-frame from the corner of his eye. “But I’m not a profiling expert, and there’s only so much advice I can lend.”
Scout dropped her eyes.
“I wish I’d met Scarlett Bell before she left. There were so many questions I wanted to ask. I suppose I can write to her again.”
“Or you can ask her now.”
Scout lifted her head when Gardy and Bell emerged from the A-frame. Gardy wore another gaudy Hawaiian shirt and mismatched shorts. Scout swallowed.
“Is that—”
“They fly back tomorrow afternoon. Agent Bell refused to leave until she met the one and only Scout Mourning.”
A tear trickled out of Scout’s eye as Gardy and Bell made a beeline toward the teenager. Dressed in casual attire—jean shorts and a tie-dye sleeveless tee—Scarlett Bell didn’t look like the FBI’s lead profiler. Already, she fit in with their Wolf Lake family.
“So you must be Scout,” Bell said, bending to shake Scout’s hand.
Scout stammered.
“I, uh . . .”
“Do you know how long I’ve wanted to meet you?”
“Me?”
“Hell, yes. After the work you did tracking down Justice Thorin, we’re practically partners now.”
Gardy blanched.
“What about me?”
Bell tilted her head at Gardy.
“You see the way he dresses? I can’t take him anywhere.” Bell inhaled and closed her eyes. “Dinner smells unbelievable. How long before we eat?”
“The grill master says ninety minutes,” Thomas said.
“Perfect. That gives us time to catch up with Ms. Mourning. Is there a quiet place we can talk?”
LeVar called to them from the picnic table.
“The guest house is all yours.”
“Well, then. Let’s talk careers in criminal profiling.”
Agent Gardy pushed Scout’s wheelchair down the concrete path as Bell walked beside them. Scout turned her head back to Thomas and mouthed, “Thank you,” before they disappeared inside LeVar’s home.
Thomas swallowed the lump in his throat. He found Chelsey staring at him.
“That was a beautiful thing you did.”
Thomas scratched behind his head.
“It was the least I could do.”
“You made her year, Thomas.” Chelsey kissed his lips. “Every day, you remind me why I love you so much.”
He placed his hands on her hips.
“You’re no slouch, yourself.”
She set her hands on his shoulders and stared into his eyes.
“The answer is yes.”
“Yes? What are we discussing?”
“I see what Raven and Darren have, and I can’t wait any longer. Thomas Shepherd, I want to wake up beside you and share every moment. If you’ll have me, I’d like to move in.”
“You’re serious? How soon?”
“Let’s spend the night together and work up a plan for moving my things to the lake. I’ll call the realty agency in the morning.”
Thomas’s smile stretched ear to ear.
“I can’t believe this is happening.”
Chelsey stared down at her legs, where Jack and Tigger frolicked on the lawn. Then she held his gaze.
“I love you, Thomas Shepherd.”
Thank you for reading The Shadow Cell.
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Copyright Information
Published by Dan Padavona
Visit my website at www.danpadavona.com
Copyright © 2021 by Dan Padavona
Artwork copyright © 2021 by Dan Padavona
Cover Design by Caroline Teagle Johnson
All Rights Reserved
Although some of the locations in this book are actual places, the characters and setting are wholly of the author's imagination. Any resemblance between the people in this book and people in the real world is purely coincidental and unintended.
Acknowledgments
No writer journeys alone. Special thanks are in order to my editor, Kimberly Broderick, for providing invaluable feedback, catching errors, and making my story shine. I also wish to thank my brilliant cover designer, Caroline Teagle Johnson. Your artwork never ceases to amaze me. I owe so much of my success to your hard work. Shout outs to my advance readers: Donna Puschek, Mary Arnold, and Teresa Padavona, for catching those final pesky typos and plot holes. Most of all, thank you to my readers for your loyalty and support. You changed my life, and I am forever grateful.
About the Author
Dan Padavona is the author of the The Darkwater Cove series, The Scarlett Bell thriller series, Her Shallow Grave, The Dark Vanishings series, Camp Slasher, Quilt, Crawlspace, The Face of Midnight, Storberry, Shadow Witch, and the horror anthology, The Island. He lives in upstate New York with his beautiful wife, Terri, and their children, Joe, and Julia. Dan is a meteorologist with NOAA’s National Weather Service. Besides writing, he enjoys visiting amusement parks, beach vacations, Renaissance fairs, gardening, playing with the family dogs, and eating too much ice cream.
Visit Dan at: www.danpadavona.com
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