The Skull Keeper by Mariëtte Whitcomb

Author:Mariëtte Whitcomb
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Psychological Thriller, Thriller Suspense, Serial Killer, Amateur Sleuth, Crime Thriller
Publisher: Mariette Whitcomb
Published: 2023-03-20T00:00:00+00:00

Forty-one

Allysa

The gaping hole inside me filled with suffocating dread as the prison came into view. Morgan had offered to come with me, and now I regretted telling her I needed to do this on my own. Before I left the guesthouse, she’d asked me a question to ponder during the drive. What’s the most boring job? Two hours later, I’d narrowed my answer down to ten occupations.

Rows of pine trees and mountains surrounded Marcel Correctional Centre. No windows faced the outside world. The prisoners were allowed to see nothing but the sky above the recreation yard. I assumed they considered it a good day when a bird flew overhead, and didn’t defecate on them. Although, some cultures consider it good luck. The sheer number of pigeons surrounding the building made me wonder how often it happened.

Standing next to the rental car while staring at the building and wondering about bird poop, my phone rang. “Hello, I miss you.”

“Allie, when are you coming home? I’m worried about you.” Jake and I lived in the same house, shared the same bed, but our worlds couldn’t have been more different.

“It will only be a few more days. Are you bored without me there to drive you nuts? If you want, we can try phone sex later?” Sometimes I wished Morgan didn’t tell me everything.

Jake laughed. “If you’re serious, I’m game.”

“I’m going to book a weekend away for the two of us. We need some time to ourselves.” As do most parents. But I needed to come clean about my past in a neutral environment. The chance of Daniel overhearing was a risk I refused to take.

“Agreed. I’m going to a dental conference next Monday. Do you think you’ll be home by Friday?”

Not once in all the years we’d been married had Jake attend a conference. “Are you cheating on me? I warned you before we got married what I’ll do to you if you cheat on me. You’ve seen my forensic and thriller books. I’m going to take my sweet time and no one will ever find a single strand of your hair.” I teased. Jake was the most trustworthy man I’d ever known.

The sound of my husband’s laughter grounded me. “Slow down. No need to sharpen your scalpel collection. A weekend away will do us both good. A package was delivered to our house in Colorado yesterday. The sender listed their name, but didn’t give a return address. For the first time ever, it’s not an Amazon delivery.”

All my book mail and purchases were delivered to our second home. “Who sent it?”

“Rachel Pimento. The house keeper will send it here for you tomorrow.”

I pursed my lips. With my dad on the other side of the fence, multiple gates, and thick walls, I struggled to focus. My stomach sat in my throat. Rachel had never taken our surname.

“Allie, are you there?” Jake asked. “Do you know who sent it?”

“Yes, I ... will be back as soon as I can. Jake, I love you. Tell Daniel I’ll call him after school.

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