by Levi Fuller
“I, uh, was heading out for a bit. You can come along. We can eat something on the way.”
“Okay. Oh, here, can you trace this name for me?”
Kyle stared at the name she’d held out, feeling another blow hit. He looked at her carefully. “You don’t know yourself? Jeez, Katie, I figured you to have a great memory.”
Kate’s eyes narrowed, and she hit his arm, hard enough to hurt. “You know not to call me that. And the name seemed familiar, but . . .” She shrugged.
Kyle rubbed his arm. So it seemed there was a distinction. Why, if the other knew everything, would this distinction not be adhered to? Did she want to be discovered? He needed Landers.
“Earth to Kyle. Hello?”
Kyle shook his head. “Sorry. How about I take you there? I’m sure you’ll remember then.”
She tilted her head. “Sure. Shouldn’t we wait for Jack?”
Kyle stopped and reached back to grab her arm. “No. He’s busy. Olsen set him on something. I don’t even think he’s in the building, but he had said to go on ahead without him.”
Kate frowned but fell obediently into step. “Okay, but if he moans about it later, I am blaming you.”
5
Kate knew Kyle was watching her and didn’t want to give him any cause to be alarmed. She still hadn’t found enough evidence to condemn either Landers or herself, but she didn’t feel like she could ask for much help. What would Kyle do if he realized that she might be the killer he had been tasked with hunting and bringing to justice?
Kate mentally shook herself and looked across the road again. The house had a yellow-painted front, an attempt at a warm, cheerful image. The plaque to the left of the door was too far away to read more than the name, Grace Thompson, but Kate didn’t need to get closer to remember. Grace Thompson, counselor, specializing in grief trauma with children.
“I can’t believe I had forgotten her name.”
Kyle chuckled, though it sounded a little forced. “You only came here every week for six years.”
Kate threw him a mock glare. “I can’t remember most of those sessions. I guess I blocked them. There was something awful about being reminded weekly of an event you were trying to get past, in order to function correctly.”
Kyle nodded slowly, his eyes still on her. “I remember. You’d often be angry or impulsive after her sessions. You’d almost always sneak away.”
Kate half smiled. “I’d go to you. To the one person who, despite having lived the horror with me, lived like it was in the past, not hanging over me like a dead crow.”
“Speaking of crows,” Kyle said, tilting his head to the side.
Kate followed the glance and saw Landers walking up the road. “What is he doing here?”
Kyle frowned and shrugged.
Kate put her hand on the door handle, then stopped, as Landers turned up the path to the yellow house. Kate turned to Kyle, knowing her eyes were showing her near panic. “We have to stop him. Just back me up, okay?”
With that, she threw herself from the car, not waiting to see if Kyle had heard or agreed, but she soon heard his hurried footfalls behind her.
“Mr. Landers!”
The little man turned, one hand still raised to knock. “Dr. Summers.”
Kate stopped short, as he stepped back down from the porch. He didn’t seem surprised to see her here. “Why are you here?”
“My question exactly.”
Kate felt a snarl building in her throat, but Kyle stepped beside her, voice smooth and commanding. “We’re here because it is our job. Mr. Landers, you will please refrain from interrupting an ongoing investigation, or I will gain the necessary power to remove you.”
Landers’s lips twitched, and he inclined his head as the door opened behind him.
The woman who looked out had dyed platinum hair, watery blue eyes that resembled faded denim, and a figure hunched at the shoulders, slightly overweight. “Katie Summers? Is that you?”
Kate felt a single shudder race through her, at the name, at the voice. While the face was more aged, the woman still gave off the same aura.
“I’ll wait in the car,” Kate muttered to Kyle and bolted, trying hard to stop the little tremors that seemed ready to pull her apart.
Kyle watched Kate get back into his car and hunch over in her seat, looking anywhere but at them.
“I don’t have much time, so I’ll be brief,” he said, turning back and watching Landers’s eyes sharpen.
“You have learned something.”
“Yes. The other came out to play today. Did a number on Jack. I think we’d better pay attention to what he does from now on too.”
“An ally? That was unexpected.”
“Not really. She’s always had an ally. Me, Matt up in New York, now Jack.”
Landers nodded thoughtfully, then raised his hands and laughed, shaking his head. “She was glancing over. The show is as important as the hunt.”
Kyle resisted the urge to turn back to see if she was still watching.
Landers lowered his hands. “She is back to holding herself together. What else?”
“When I believe she was not herself, she told Jack to call her Katie. I think we might be able to use her reaction to that nickname as a small tell.”
“Names are often good triggers.”
“Are you two going to stand on my garden path all day?”
Kyle jerked—he’d totally forgotten about Grace. “I need you to come in for questioning, regarding the death of Alexander Forbes.”
“Forbes? But he’s—”
“I will explain in a moment,” Landers cut in smoothly.
“And you are?” Grace asked, seeming to swell with annoyance.
“Simon Landers.”
By the effect of his name, Kyle put together another piece of Kate’s past. Grace Thompson had not been hired by Kate’s family, this he had already known, but now he knew that whatever powers backed Landers, had been the ones to send Grace to Kate.
“Go on inside—I’ll follow shortly.”
Grace nodded and retreated, looking dazed.
Landers glanced back at Kyle. “Is there more?”
Kyle fought to find his original train of thought. “I have reason to believe that the other, Katie, does not lose time as our Kate does. She knew things that only our Kate should know.”
Landers huffed. “I had expected this too.”
“You had?” Kyle asked, anger bubbling in his voice.
“Your Kate has every reason to deny the existence of the other. Whereas Katie, the other, does not need to suppress Kate’s existence, in fact, she is a useful shadow to hide in.”
Kyle shut his eyes. “So what do we do?”
“We follow the plan. Things are moving faster than expected, but I imagine Katie wants me gone. I know she is there, and I challenged her. Bring your phase forward, but don’t forget to take precautions.”
****
Kate sat in the little courtyard she’d first spotted Simon Landers in. She couldn’t take being inside anymore. Kirk had sent her a message when she and Kyle were on their way back. He’d sent Matt over to her apartment. She was waiting for the message that would prove she wasn’t insane—that Landers was likely behind all this.
Her phone rang and she put it to her ear before checking the number. “Kirk?”
“Er, no. It’s me, Matt.”
Kate shook her head. “Sorry. Kirk said he’d let me know when you were back. Did everything go okay?”
“Well, that’s why I am calling. I’m still in your apartment, and while I’ve checked the place top to bottom, I can’t find what you want.”
Kate froze, as the ice-filled wind had finally made it past her layers of down and wool, turning her into a statue. “The box is in the attic. I know that for sure, Matt. I saw it there just before I came here.”
“Oh, I found the box in the attic just fine.”
“Then what’s the problem?” Kate asked, relaxing slightly.
“Well, you’d said it was new, factory sealed. It isn’t.”
“You mean it has been opened?”
“Yes. And the microscope is missing.”
Kate’s world fell silent. Matt’s voice faded, the wind pushed through the trees, but no branches creaked; the birds she could see sang no songs, their beaks opening and closing mutely. Then it all crashed back.
“Are you certain?”
“Jeez. I thought something had happened to you, you took so long to answer me.”
“Just, Matt, please, are you certain?”
“I can send you some photographs if it helps.”
Kate took a steadying breath, “Yes. Please. Then take the box with you; I want it swabbed inside and out for fingerprints.”
“Hey Boss, is everything okay?”
“Yes, Matt, everything is fine. Or it will be. Just help me out. Last time—I promise.”
Matt chuckled. “Sure thing. And don’t sweat it.”
The line went dead, and Kate sat there a moment longer. The outside of the box would likely have dozens of prints, but the inside should be cleaner, and hers should not be in it. She had no memory of opening the box.
But I guess that doesn’t mean much anymore.
Kate rose stiffly and turned to look at the building she had fought to access: to find her family justice. She’d never have guessed it would lead to a moment like this. Was the evidence trail really going to lead to her? And if it was, would she lose time and find this building to be the next one going up in flames?
Kate shuddered at the thought, at the growing possibility that inside her was a monster that relished in fire and death. She had to make a choice. Here. Now. If she was going to fight, she couldn’t give up, no matter how many times she failed.
She lifted her head, and in her office window, another repeated the movement. Kate took in her reflection, as it, in turn, took her in. She heard Simon Landers’s voice in her head again.
Sometimes, it is almost as if a stranger is looking back.
6
“What is all this?” Kate asked, stumbling into Kyle’s house. The living room now resembled a hoarder’s basement.
“I wanted space to lay everything out. Olsen refused my request for a meeting room to be converted, so I brought everything home instead.”
“You mean this is everything on the case?” They’d had a meeting earlier today, going over everything that both sides of the investigation had come to know. The weapon that caused the gouges in the bones had been identified and was unusual enough to give some hope. A silver-tipped object, whose diameter and shape had let them to only one match. The claw of a bear. After hours of intensely staring down the barrel of a microscope, Kate and Adams had independently found enough traces to support this and pin down the species to a sun bear.
Something like that might have a record somewhere. After all, sun bears are native to Asia, not America, and border customs were always tight on the transportation of animal goods.
“I only have tonight to go through it all though. Olsen didn’t give clearance for longer. Neither did Adams.”
Kate brought herself back to the present. “Right. Well. I’ll help.”
“Aren’t you meeting Jack tonight?”
“What? Why would I be?”
Kyle straightened. “Because you told him you would be. Sealed the deal with a kiss and all.”
Kate felt herself pale and heard Kyle swear softly. “I . . . I didn’t think you knew.”
She couldn’t bring herself to meet his eyes. She was lying, of course. She couldn’t remember the event any more than she could remember the others. Something had to give.
“You’re hurting yourself,” Kyle said, his hand gently closing around hers. “You’re not alone, Kate. Let me help you.”
Kate stepped back. “I’m fine, really. Sorry if this is all awkward for you,” she said, ignoring the burning on her arm, where her absent-minded scratches were swelling instead of fading. “I guess I’d best get ready.”
Kyle watched her go and fought down the urge to chase after her and lock her somewhere. That way, the other would cause no trouble, and he might be able to get through to Kate.
“Tell Jack that Kate wants to meet at work.”
Kyle spun, hand flying to his heart, as he faced the kitchen doorway. “Jesus. Landers. What the—”
“Do it. We don’t have time. My contacts in New York have just been in touch.”
Kyle lowered his hand. “And?”
“And you were right. Let’s just hope your Kate can win.”
Kyle watched the man slink back out of the house and let loose the curse he’d held back. Kate was fighting. Good. Hopefully, in time, he’d be able to tell her she wasn’t fighting alone.
****
Katie glanced at the phone when it buzzed.
See you at the precinct.
She frowned. She had been going to meet Jack at his house. Perhaps Olsen had kept him back.
She shrugged and looked in the mirror in Kyle’s guest bedroom. This room was a familiar memory. After Grace Thompson had foolishly pushed every button, Kate would come here, and Katie would enjoy taking over for a bit, especially as they got older and her and Kyle’s relationship became more interesting.
She could hear him now, shifting boxes and papers. The investigation was getting too close. They’d already realized that the killer had to be within their ranks and that Landers was becoming unlikely for several finds. She glanced at the bracelet she’d tossed under the bed. Kate had a liking for charm bracelets. A piece had stayed behind at Forbes’s. She’d tossed the bracelet there, so Kate would think it lost.
Now she needed to destroy what was here. How, was the question. Fire was her thing, and it needed to be fire, but it needed to point to Landers too. She had to get Kate cleared of suspicion and him taken care of.
She pulled out his button, careful not to touch it. She’d swiped it earlier, when he was too busy making a fuss over some comment Olsen had made. He hadn’t seemed to notice. His waistcoats were all tailor-made, the buttons as unique as the garments themselves. This one should only bear his fingerprints and was stamped showing it was solid gold. As long as this was on the outskirts of the blaze, and she was careful about the type of fire, it would survive.
Kate listened to Kyle begin to whistle and knew he was about to start making his own supper. Such a creature of habit.
She went into his room and pulled out his metal baseball bat. A quick blow to the head. A small trail leading from the stove to the things that needed destroying, and it would all be over.
****
Kate didn’t want to be here. But she needed time. She’d been preparing her own stash of evidence but was waiting on the results from New York to bring it to Adams. Until then, she needed neither Jack nor Kyle to have any inclination that she was their man.
Jack stepped from the car, looking suitably groomed for a dinner date. She glanced down at herself, not even remembering what she’d bothered to put on. From the icy breeze snaking up her legs, she felt sure it was a dress. She’d only brought one. It’d fit in with his suit and tie just fine.
“Are you ready?”
Kate managed a nod and bit her tongue to refrain from asking where they were going. If she was already meant to know, it would defeat the purpose of being here. The fewer questions the better.
Kate took to glancing out the window as Jack drove, making the appropriate noises as he told her about some case he had worked on a few years back. For a moment, she didn’t know what she was seeing, then her distracted mind snapped everything into focus.
Fire. A big one, by the amount of smoke rising above the trees.
No. Impossible. I am here. With Jack. I can’t have . . . it can’t be.
“Turn around.”
“What?” Jack asked, losing his story thread and looking a little lost.
“Go back. Take me to Kyle’s house. Now.”
Jack frowned. “Katie .
. .”
“Look! There’s a fire, now move!” As Jack obeyed, his face suddenly lined with worry, Kate dialed the fire department, barking Kyle’s address at them. They already knew; they were already responding.
Please be alright.
Jack skidded to a halt, and Kate flung herself from his car, her high heels threatening to topple her with every step. “Kyle!”
The house was mostly doused, the odd flames still fighting here and there. It wasn’t completely obliterated. Only the kitchen and living room were gutted, the rooms above them damaged and structurally unsound.
She turned as Jack reached her side, looking dumbfounded. “How did you know it was his house?”
“He brought stuff home. If the killer is watching us, then I guess they wanted it gone.”
She had answered on autopilot, her eyes still raking the scene. Finally, she spotted what she had been looking for. An ambulance, parked to the side and hidden mostly by trees. She was running again, but as she rounded the corner, her urgency abandoned her.
Jack caught up to her again and, this time, wrapped an arm around her waist. “Look. He’s fine— see? They’re allowing him to sit, so it can’t be all that bad.”
Katie could only glare. How had he gotten out? That had been a solid hit with the bat, although she had almost lost control as she swung. He’d said her name. Maybe he had woken in time.
Kyle spotted them, and Jack made to move.
“You go on ahead. Give me a moment.”
Jack nodded, kissed the top of her head, and went to Kyle, who was beckoning again.
“You look disappointed.”
Katie turned slowly. Simon Landers was standing in the shadows of the trees, watching. She checked that no one was looking and sidled closer, pitching her voice low. “Clever. Did you pull him out?”
“I did.”
She looked back at the house. Had he managed to get her planted evidence too? “A pity you could save nothing else. Our whole investigation will be set back now. I mean, we can’t prove very much anymore.”
