Winter (Four Seasons #1)

  Any of these symbols mean anything to you?

  I immediately recognize one of them. The one that looks like a number eight on its side is fairly common. It’s the symbol for eternity. I scan over the other markings, trying to think back. Are any of them familiar? I can’t be sure. I don’t think so. I flip over the piece of paper to see if Luke has explained anything on the reverse, but it’s blank. I sit up in bed and stare at the symbols for another five long minutes. Why is Luke asking about them? And why is he not explaining himself? The endlessly curious part of me wants, no, needs to know.

  Is that why he did it? To make me call? I shove the thought aside and slip the envelope back into the draw. After a few minutes spent arguing internally with myself, I take out my cell phone and bring up Luke’s number. I refuse to call. No, after the other night outside his apartment, the vile look on Casey’s face, the horror on his? I can’t bear the thought of hearing his voice. I go with a text message instead.

  Me: Why?

  I hit send before I can chicken out and tuck my cell under my pillow, trying to put it all out of my head. It buzzes a couple of minutes later.

  Luke:It’s important.

  Me: That’s not an answer.

  Luke:It’s related to the Wyoming Ripper. I still have a friend back at Break PD. They did me a favor. I’m looking into a couple of things.

  I have no idea what Luke is doing snooping into the Wyoming Ripper case, but it can only mean one thing: trouble.

  Me:You have the file? Can you get it?

  I wait, wide awake, for at least half an hour before I get a reply.

  Luke: I’m at work right now. I finish at 8am. I’ll call you then.

  I don’t bother replying. What’s the point? He’s going to call regardless, and I really want to know if he has that file. There has to be evidence in there that my dad is innocent. There certainly isn’t going to be any evidence to prove his guilt, of that much I’m certain. If Luke has it…if he has that file, I am going to see it. I am going to tear it apart until I find a way to prove my father didn’t kill all those girls.

  ******