Becoming The Shadows (Shadow Series #4)

13 - Hidden

One foot after the other, I sneak up on the car parked outside of a house, which I can only assume is the house of where that family was murdered last night. I keep low to the ground, able to keep myself covered by the other cars and not be seen by the person's side or rearview mirror. I dart to the car, slowly creeping up to the passenger's side. The windows are rolled down. 

Papers rustle together inside of the car followed by a soft sigh. I wait a few more seconds before bouncing up to slam my hands down on the inside of the car where the window would be if it was rolled up. "Hey there!" 

A few papers are thrown up in the air from being startled. Parrish's eyes widen and he sharply exhales out of his mouth. His eyes land on me, leaning through the window, grinning from ear to ear. "Claire, what are you doing?"

I cross my wrists over each other. "My ride ditched out on me." 

"Why didn't you call me?" Parrish straightens out the papers.

I reach forward to snatch them out of his hand. The pictures are mainly bloody with the remains of the family that was murdered last night. I rifle through them, curiously. "I didn't want to bother you at work." 

Parrish grabs the papers back, giving me a look. "Those aren't for the public's eyes." He stuffs the papers back away in a folder. His right hand motions towards me. "You didn't want to bother me? What are you doing now?"

I shrug my shoulders. "I didn't want to go home, so I thought I'd help you with the rest of your shift." I nod towards the empty house. "It must get boring just waiting here for nothing. Whoever killed them should be smart enough to not return back to this house." 

"Sheriff stationed me out here." 

"Well, don't expect much." I tell him. I point to the house. "I doubt anything is going to-" I stop talking when I see a shadow pass by the front door on the inside. 

"What?" Parrish notices my change in behavior. His head whips towards the front of the house. The driver's side door suddenly opens and Parrish climbs out of the car. "Stay here." He orders.

I roll my eyes before following behind him up the walkway. Parrish draws out his gun. A sigh falls from his lips when he sees me trailing behind him. With a shake of his head, he silently motions for me to stay behind him as we reach the front door. My right hand slides behind my back, fingers dancing over the dagger in the back of my jeans in the holster.

Parrish quietly opens the front door that was already unlocked. His right hand immediately goes back down to his gun to hold it in both hands. I push the front door open a tad more to allow the both of us to sneak in the house. The door creaks as it opens. 

"Beacon County Sheriff's Department!" Parrish shouts loud enough for anyone in the house to hear. "This is a crime scene. Show yourself!" 

I carefully step behind Parrish. My sneakers press down on the old, wooden floor to keep the floorboards from squeaking under my weight. Parrish's body turns toward the kitchen, but he quickly turns back to the stairs when someone walks out in the open. My hand grips onto the handle of my knife behind my back while Parrish points his gun at the person.

We both sigh in relief when we see Lydia. My hand falls back down to my side and Parrish lowers the gun. Lydia glances around the front entrance of the house before her gaze settles on us. She seems confused as to why she is in the house. I take a step towards my best friend. 

"Lydia?" I hold a hand out to her. I know my best friend and I know that she found herself here because of her banshee powers. 

Her eyes dart to mine. She sighs and shakes her head.