Taking You HOME | EN

Chapter 17 - In the Shadows

As the car rolled over the gravel and he ducked a little further behind the juniper bush that hid his form. The camouflage-patterned anorak made him blend in perfectly with his surroundings as he pushed down a branch blocking his field of vision to get a better look.

Dr Taylor's dark grey Honda rolled along the gravel path and stopped a short distance from the house.

He hated this car. Far too swanky for Silvershore. Anyone in their right mind would drive an SUV or a car that could handle the rough roads. But not the bloke from the city who had made a name for himself as the great, great model doctor of the tiny town in the arse end of the world. Hrmpf. Hypocrite.

The previously serious features froze into hard stone as the doctor exited the car and walked casually towards the cottage. The doctor, with the smile of a surfer boy, stepped inside, and his eyes narrowed.

A while ago, Riona had left with the dog - no doubt for Silvershore, as she had turned right at the crossroads. So now the stranger, the mother, and the son were in the house. Either the doctor was here because of the old woman or Evelyn ...

A dark growl like that of an irritated animal left his lips.

There seemed to be silence in the house for a moment, then the cottage's new craftsman appeared at the front door and heaved it off its hinges. He placed the worn piece of wood outside the wall with a loud bang.

Perfect.

If he got the angle right, the clear passageway would now give him a view of the inside of the house.

He let his gaze wander vigilantly over the property. He had to hide in the little greenery that clung to the primarily bare branches of the bushes and trees to avoid being seen. Some plants were green all year round and even survived the frosty winter. Others had already changed color and were increasingly illuminating the forest's darkness as a sign of the approaching winter. A double-edged sword: Autumn made it possible to see better - even from a distance. At the same time, however, it also took away valuable cover.

Hidden under the foliage, telltale branches were difficult to spot, and the dry leaves crackled with every step he took. A small branch cracked and broke under his weight as if he had sensed it. He immediately stopped and crouched down.

No movement, not another step.

It smelled of rain from the day before and of earth. Fresh and precise, while the conifers added nuances of bitterness and freshness. Birds were chirping somewhere. The rustling in another place belonged to a smaller creature, perhaps a hedgehog or a squirrel. The sounds wove themselves perfectly into the deceptive peace of the autumn forest ... and devoured his own like a benevolent ally.

With success.

No one in the house seemed to have noticed his presence. No dog was around this time, so he had to distract and calm down. The path was clear.

He approached the house under the cover of the thicket.

Hidden by a bush of wild laurel trees, he leaned forward a little and peered inside through the open door.

Dr Taylor was talking to the boy and the blonde. The dark mop of hair kept turning at the door, and the next hammer blow was not quite so precise. A few more attentive eyes, it seemed...

He growled.

Neither man should be here.

The fingers of his left hand clenched into a fist, and he felt his fingernails dig into his palm under the boiling rage. An urge inside him wanted to reach for the gun, put it on, and pull the trigger ...

'No. Not now. It's too soon,' he thought, trying to calm the roar inside him. The urge to kill was almost overpowering, but ... he could control himself. At least a little. He couldn't be hasty. Not to rush it. Otherwise, it would only diminish the pleasure in the end - and he wanted to enjoy it.

"You'll regret this," he murmured softly, "soon I'll have you." His lips curled into a happy smile at the thought. "I'll savor it when the light goes out in your eyes. Just wait ... soon. Soon."