Cause to Hide by Blake Pierce

Author:Blake Pierce [Pierce, Blake]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Blake Pierce
Published: 2017-01-02T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

With the same nervous sort of queasiness overcoming her that she always experienced when visiting Howard, Avery found herself being led through South Bay House of Corrections, nearing B-Level. The guards that led her were making it quite clear that they did not enjoy this detail, doing so without saying a single word.

With only their footfalls to break the silence, the guards led Avery to the same small conference room she’d visited a few times before. And just like on those previous visits, Howard Randall was seated at a rectangular table, sitting in a prim and proper manner. He smiled at her as she stepped into the room. The guards shut the doors behind her, leaving Avery alone with Howard.

“Avery, I can’t even begin to explain how lovely it is to see you again.”

Avery only nodded as she took her seat. Howard looked to be in pretty bad shape. He looked thinner than the last time she had seen him. Something about his face looked hollow and almost empty. Still, it pained her to admit that something about him made her feel almost at ease. He might be psychotic and selfish, but he was familiar.

And given the way she had handled her life as of late, she could use a little familiarity.

“Thanks for agreeing to meet with me,” Avery said.

“Of course. I assume it’s about this deplorable man that is burning his victims?”

“How did you—?”

She had nearly asked how did you know? but they had been through this same song and dance before. He had avenues to information within the prison walls. Avery wasn’t sure where he got his information from but he had proven time and time again that he had very little problem keeping in the loop. This was especially true when it came to cases she was handling.

“It is,” Avery admitted.

“You know, it almost hurts my feelings that you never visit just to see me or to chat,” Howard teased, giving her a thin little smile.

“I’m sure you understand that I don’t have much free time to just swing by and chat.” What she thought but didn’t say was: If I can’t make quality time for my own daughter, I’m certainly not going to make it for you.

“Yes, I do understand,” Howard said, a little arrogantly. “Well then, let’s cut to the chase, shall we? What is it you need from me?”

“The mentality of someone that’s so closely linked to arson…it’s something I can’t quite nail down.”

“Arson?” Howard said, a little confused. “Why are you assuming arson has something to do with it? The man is burning bodies, not buildings.”

“Because he’s using fire almost like a weapon. He’s using it almost as a symbol.”

“Exactly,” Howard said. “And if he’s using fire for some sort of symbolic means, that does not necessarily mean he’s an arsonist.”

“But fire seems to be the most important aspect to this case. That or he has some sort of weird fixation on bones and ash. But you need fire to get to those things.

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