by Laurèn Lee
He remembered falling off his bike for the very first time. He cried incessantly and wouldn’t let anyone touch him except for his mother. She kissed the scrape and put a bandaid on the unimpressive wound right away. He thought he’d be afraid to ever ride his bike again, but Meg promised him he’d be the best bike rider ever if he just gave it one more shot.
He remembered his mom trying to protect him when his father tried to beat him after a bad day at work. He couldn’t understand why his father ever wanted to hurt him. He didn’t know why he deserved to be his whipping post. His mother shielded her son and protected him as long as she could, until she, too, suffered the hard blows against her.
He remembered Gabby being born and holding her in his arms for the very first time. In that moment, he vowed to always protect her. He promised to never let anyone hurt his baby sister. She was the epitome of innocence, and he loved her more than words could have described.
He remembered childhood as a whole and the all-encompassing loneliness that had circled his entire life. He never quite felt like he fit it anywhere. At home, he was persecuted. At school, he was an outsider. He had no real friends and never had been in love. He suffered a desolate life, never letting anyone inside his walls, nor did he ever try to let them.
The only person he ever truly relied on in this world had been himself, and then his own mind betrayed him. Had he been born this way? Or, had circumstance paved the way for evil to grown and nest within his soul?
It didn’t matter now, though. The end was near. If only he could apologize to his baby sister with his one last gasping breath...
Epilogue
Earl’s heart stopped before the ambulance arrived and before he could officially be put under arrest. Gabby and Natalia corroborated Ricky’s story that Earl was the Stone City Slasher.
Once the news was reported, all hell broke loose. No one wanted to believe it had been Sheriff Davis all along, but nonetheless, the media and law enforcement took Ricky at his word. After further investigation, and with the help of the FBI, detectives found the lingerie under Earl’s floorboards and positively matched them to Jackie, Rhiannon and Candace.
The FBI requested all the GPS data from Earl’s cruiser and truck and were able to find the cornfield where he’d murdered Rhiannon and Daniel and also trace his whereabouts each night someone had been murdered. They even re-watched Saucey’s security footage; Earl had been caught on tape as he murdered Candace. Everything pointed to Earl, and the case was closed.
Stone City held a special election for a new town sheriff, and Ricky won in a landslide. He never thought about running, but the entire station and public encouraged him to do so. Who else would be a better fit to protect the city than the man who slayed the monster?
As for Gabby, no charges were pressed against her after she shot her brother. She’d been rewarded with a medal of honor and given a key to the city if she were to return. That night, though, Gabby made a promise to herself and to her family. She would never abandon them and never stop loving them with all her heart. And when Nate asked where Uncle Earl had gone, she’d tell them he went away for a very long time. She’d protect him from the evil truth forever.
It took Stone City months and even years to recover from the slaughters and darkness Earl inflicted upon them. But in the end, everyone held each other a little tighter and loved each other a little harder.
No one would ever know how Earl had come to be so evil, but it didn’t really matter. In the end, the light defeated the darkness once and for all.
Acknowledgments
Wow. This book wouldn’t have been possible without so many people. I’m truly grateful for all the friends and fellow authors I’ve met along the path of becoming a published author.
The women I’ve met in my Indie Author Support Group on Facebook are truly some of the greatest people I know. They help me with everything from blurbs, to marketing, to editing, and so much more. In no particular order, thank you: Mary, Krista, Sylvie, Lisa, Amy, Chelsea, Jennifer, and Megan. I wouldn’t be where I am today without you and your support!
Next, thank you Julie Hopkins for creating another beautiful masterpiece for my cover. You’re a genius and I’m so happy I have you in my life!
Thank you to Chelsea and Sal for being my beta readers. I hope I didn’t scare you away! I never would have been able to publish this book without you.
Thank you (again), Krista for editing my book. You’re stuck with me now!
A HUGE thanks to John Douglas for letting me use a Mindhunter quote in my book. You’re my hero and inspiration.
Last, but certainly not least, thank you to Mike, my amazing boyfriend, my dad, Aunt Barb, Natalie, and everyone else in my life who’s supported me. Thank you, Carole, for being my #1 fan.
Thank you, everyone!!!
Also by Laurèn Lee
Charlotte’s Pact (Demons in New York Book 1)
Liam Rising (Demons in New York Book 2)
Adriel’s Reckoning (Demons in New York Book 3)
When Houses Burn (Psychological Thriller)
Cranberry Lane (Crime Fiction)
Running in Circles (Psychological Thriller)
We’ll Begin Again (Women’s Fiction)
Collision Course (Post-Apocalyptic Fiction Series)
About the Author
Laurèn Lee was born and raised in Buffalo, NY. She loves hockey, chicken wings and craft beer. She enjoys spending time with family, friends and her boyfriend.
Reading and writing are her life’s passions. As a child, Laurèn became enamored with the Harry Potter series. As an adult, she loves psychological thrillers and mysteries with a twist.
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