Read Chapter One of The Noises in My Walls…

APPLE BOOKS AMAZON NOOK GOOGLE KOBO CHAPTER ONEJack

With the recent murder of Hannah Runkle on everyone’s mind, Jack could feel the mood in town was much different than when he first came to Everly. The once All-American hometown vibe was now tainted by the fear that hung in the air like a foul odor.

As everyone who passed by took notice of him, and not in a pleasant way, Jack wondered if having breakfast in the busiest diner in town was the best idea. But having Karlie across the table from him, with a bright smile, how could he want to be anywhere else?

“Are you okay?” she asked. “Or am I rambling again?”

“I’m sorry,” said Jack, realizing that he hadn’t heard the last words she had spoken. “I’m just a little preoccupied.”

“Yeah, I’m trying to distract you. I guess it’s not working. I’m not sure how to feel about that.”

“It’s not you. It’s the case. I’d say I’ll do better, but the way it’s heating up, I know better.”

“You’ve got a lot on your plate. I get it.”

“I hope so. I keep thinking you’re going to get sick of me being preoccupied and decide that being with a detective isn’t what you thought it would be.”

“I’m good. As long as your ex doesn’t show up unexpectedly again, I’ll be even better. I promise.”

“I haven’t heard from her. She’s supposed to be staying in Coldwell until she gets things in order.”

“That’s not far enough, but it’s better than her staying in Everly.” Karlie’s insecurities had him a bit worried too, but he could only add that to the long list behind a lot of other things. The case was priority number one. And with the psychology of the killer coming to the forefront, Jack knew he had to do all he could to understand it.

“I just think maybe we should have had breakfast at home.” He glanced over to see a man sitting across the room, giving him a cold stare. “It’s like they’re mad I’m here.”

“They’ll get over it. They need to see you doing normal things.” She turned around and smiled at the man. “Hello, Mr. Waldrop. How are the wife and kids?”

“Just fine,” he said, giving her a warm smile.

“Have you met Jack Isaac? He’s our new detective.”

Jack gave a warm smile but was sure his embarrassment was clear on his face. “It’s good to meet you, sir.”

“Good to meet you,” said the man. “When are things going to get back to normal around here?”

“I’m making progress.” Jack didn’t know what else to say, but it wasn’t a lie. He had made some progress, and he was sure that once he followed the butterfly trail, he would have his man.

Karlie angled in her chair. “We’re just having breakfast before Jack gets back to the office. He worked well into the night, and I just insisted that he stop, take a break from it all, and have a hot meal.” She reached across the table and took Jack’s hand. “You men, you just don’t know when to slow down.”

“Well, he’s got a heck of a woman to keep him in line,” said Mr. Waldrop, who gave a hearty chuckle. And just like that, the man’s mood was better. He went back to eating his pancakes and turned his attention to look out the window.

“I don’t know how you do it. Thank God they like you. Or I’d be in trouble.”

“They will love you. You just have to get to know them. Talk to them.”

Jack had too much on his mind to play at introductions just to spare the public’s feelings. He was still newly back in town and he hadn’t had a chance to prove himself at the job yet. Now the case of his life was staring him in the face.

He knew he could do it. But he was going to have to step on some toes if people didn’t start giving him the respect of not getting in his way.

“It’s going to be okay,” said Karlie. “I can tell you’re so in your head. You’ve barely touched your food.”

“I’ll take it to go and eat it in the office later. I should probably take you to your office and get to work. I’m not good company.”

“Yes, you are. I could look at you all day and never speak, and you’d still be good company. But I do have to get to work too.”

They got the rest of his food to go, and as Jack paid for the tab, his phone rang. “Detective Isaac,” he said, hoping it was someone calling about the car that he still hadn’t located.

Instead, Sheriff Quinn’s voice sounded on the other end. “Where are you?”

“I’m leaving the diner and I’m on my way in. I won’t be long. What’s going on?”

“The county officials are holding an emergency meeting. We want you to come.”

“When is it?”

“Right now,” said Quinn. “Get down here.”

“It would have been nice to have a warning.”

“I just found out about it myself. I think that’s the idea. They might want to catch you off guard.”

Jack let out a breath of frustration and glanced at Karlie. “I’m on my way.” He ended the call and deepened the look of concern on his face.

“Was it bad news?” she asked.

“I don’t know yet, but something tells me it’s not good. I have to get to a meeting. Come on. I’ll get you to work so I’m not too late. It seems they planned the party without me.”

“Who is they?”

“The mayor and county officials. I’m sure they want to drag me down some more and yell at me for their project being canceled.” He took his receipt and walked Karlie to the door.

“It’s not your fault the killer chose to use that spot,” she said as she walked outside into the sunlight.

“Tell them that. Anyway, I’m sure it’s just more of the same. They don’t want me to do my job without their say. They hired me, so they act as if they own me.”

“Don’t let them treat you that way,” she said.

“I’ll refrain from my response about others who let people control them.” He gave her a pointed look.

“Ouch,” she said. “Good thing I don’t take that personally.”

“All I’m saying is that it’s easier said than done. And you should know that better than anyone.”

“Noted. Still, I just wish they’d realize what a great guy they hired.” She stopped at the car door, and he hit the locks and opened it for her.

Before she got in, she gave him a quick kiss on the lips.

Jack smiled and walked around to get in behind the wheel. “You’re the only one here who appreciates me.” He gave a soft chuckle, but Karlie shook her head.

“I’m pretty sure Brock cares.”

After exchanging a look, they both let out a chuckle, and Jack headed to the home of the Calder Pride.

He left Karlie after another quick kiss and sighed as he watched her walk into the building. All he had wanted was to settle into the town and figure out who was setting fires. Then multiple homicides had landed at his feet. He didn’t like doubting himself, but he wondered if he had bitten off more than he could chew.

All the way to the meeting, he wondered if he was going to meet the same resistance. How long would it take the people of Everly, including the Calder County officials, to trust him or allow him to fit in?

When he reached the county boardroom, he could hear angered voices coming from down the hall.

“Crap,” he said and let out a sigh. “What now?”

He walked into the room, and the men grew silent.

Quinn was the first to speak. “Detective Isaac,” he said. “We’ve been waiting on you.”

“I hope it doesn’t take you this long to respond to other calls,” Commissioner White said.

“I’m sorry,” said Jack. “I was having breakfast and had to take someone by their office. I came as soon as I could. I thought by all the loud talking, you had started without me.”

Commissioner White scowled. “We’re just wondering what we’re supposed to do about the Docken’s Warehouse site. We’re supposed to start work in a few weeks and have already signed the contracts with Walton.”

“I’m sorry. Until I get everything I need, I can’t let that happen. But the good news is, it shouldn’t take long. I’ll let you know.”

“Do you think it will go on as planned? Is that even possible?”

“I’m sure if it isn’t, Mr. Walton would understand,” said Jack, taking a seat with the men. “He seems like a reasonable man who cares about the county and the people in it.”

No one could argue that.

“What are we supposed to do about this killer?” asked Commissioner Madison. “We’ve got some nutjob on the loose, and this disgusting display of theirs can’t keep happening. It’s a good thing they found it when they did. God only knows who might have seen it.”

“Not to mention every woman in town is scared to death,” White said. “I know my wife canceled her bunco game this week. That was my excuse to get out of the house. Now she keeps calling me and asking if I’ll be home before dark.”

Madison nodded. “Mine woke me up at two in the morning thinking someone was breaking in to kill her. That’s the third time this week.”

“At least you don’t have an ex who expects you to drive across town and check on her and the kids,” said District Attorney Mora. “My girlfriend wasn’t happy.”

“I know it’s making our lives tough, but I can’t beef up patrol any more than I have it,” said Sheriff Quinn. “I put out the midnight curfew, but that isn’t doing much.”

“Especially when you don’t enforce it,” said Jack. “And I get it. You don’t have enough people. You need more officers.”

White shook his head. “Unless you want to take a pay cut, which I’m sure you don’t, I don’t think we can afford it. We’re strapped with the new project rolling.”

“I’d suggest you hold off on the project and hire some new men.”

“I hate to say it, but I think he’s right,” said Quinn. “I know the project is important to you all, but the health and safety of this town should be a priority.”

Jack looked around at the men, who each had similar reactions of frustration.

Before anyone could comment on that, the subject was changed when District Attorney Mora spoke up again. “Can you give us an update on where you’re at with this case? I heard there was some kind of bug found at the scene? Do you have something to go on?”

“It was a butterfly. I’m not sure what it means yet. This is all coming at me pretty fast. Besides, I have a few things. The car. It’s still unaccounted for, but I have calls out and have been in touch with some owners of similar cars. I’ve pulled surveillance and have a name and description, but before I got too deep in that, we had the teacher go missing, and well, you know how that turned out.”

“What can you tell us about the killer?” asked Mora.

“Do you think it’s one man?” added Commissioner White. “That last display seemed pretty tough to pull off alone.”

“I think it is one man. He treats them like they are a project. The bodies are wiped clean. Even the ones with horrible wounds have been cleaned up with a bleach solution that kills anything I could normally pull from them, like the killer’s DNA. I know that the last two women knew each other, and I know that Hannah Runkle met this guy at the Cinder Springs Trade Days.”

Commissioner White scoffed. “That damned event attracts all of the riffraff. You should see some of those hippies who show up selling junk.”

“It’s a profitable event for Cinder Springs,” said Commissioner Madison. “There’s never been any trouble out there before. You just don’t like it because your wife spends too much money there.”

“It’s a bunch of junk,” White said again.

District Attorney Mora shook his head. “Can we just focus on the matter at hand? I know we’re all aggravated, but we have a serious problem that is only going to get worse if this killer isn’t caught.” He turned his attention to Jack. “Do you think you can get him? And I mean without the help of the FBI.”

“I think I can. But I do need something. From each of you.”

“Well, I’m sure we’ll all do what we can.”

“I was hoping you’d say that because I need your acceptance and cooperation. I need you to get behind me. And I mean in a public way. For starters, it would be good if the sheriff made that curfew earlier. No one is out after dark unless they are conducting business. Close the park. No one under eighteen out after six in the evening. And for God’s sake, at least two more officers to patrol and enforce it.”

“I think we can all agree on that,” said Mora. “Can’t we, gentlemen?”

The men all exchanged looks, and the moment wasn’t as tense as Jack expected. Perhaps they had all gotten so desperate they were willing to do anything. Even play nice.

White shook his head. “We can’t hire. But I suppose we could pay some overtime?”

“What’s the difference?” said Madison, who still seemed sore at White for the trade days comments. “How about a couple of part-timers? Or volunteers? I might be able to get some of the men over at Cinder Springs to lend a hand? Maybe Coldwell could do the same for Everly?”

“I think that could work,” said District Attorney Mora. “I’ll make some calls and see if we can’t get some men from surrounding departments to help out. Even if they just spread out the patrols, it could work.”

“I like it,” said White, with a big grin. “I think that’s going to do just fine.”

“Good,” said Mora. “Because I need to have a press conference, and you’ll all need to be with me. We’ll put our support behind Detective Isaac and reassure the town that we’re taking every measure possible in order to protect them. And this time, we make sure they can see it happening.”

Jack was surprised to hear District Attorney Mora taking charge. But the man had probably taken some heat from his peers over his silence. While the sheriff had put out a call for a late-night curfew, none of the others had spoken up yet.

“You’ll get that site approved for clearing?” said White, making sure Jack was going to stick to his word.

“Yeah, I’ll see what I can do.” He had to try and work with the men. If he wanted to get their support, he had to be supportive of them in return. And that meant giving a little.

Besides, the scene was wrapped up anyway. And while Jack liked to know that he could return and think about the killer’s methods, he had enough photographs to paint a clear enough picture. All the necessary samples had been taken in the area, and he had gone over it with a fine-toothed comb.

When the meeting ended, Jack left feeling like the men were finally on his side. Or at least for the time being. But Jack would take what he could get. Whatever their motives, any cooperation was better than none.