a deadly storm, an unsolved disappearance, and a small town brimming with secrecy;
an outcast girl, a boy who only knows how to hide, and the world against them;
what could go wrong?
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"Miss Taylor, what a surprise."
Startled back into reality, Boo looks up from Harry's shoulder and into the unexpected face of Officer Reynolds, stood only a few feet away and watching her with a curious expression.
"Officer Reynolds," she blurbs out, slightly pulling away from Harry's embrace. She wipes her teary eyes as Ashton gives her a concerned once-over. "What are you doing here?"
"Simple detail work, part of the initiation," he chuckles. His attention turns to Harry, watching stolidly behind Boo, and he warmly extends his hand. "Officer Reynolds, Harrisford Police."
"Harry," Harry says simply. "Pleasure to meet you."
"Same to you, sir," Ashton smiles genially. "You two enjoying the carnival so far?"
Boo knows he sees the remnants of grief still on her face but politely ignores it. Harry squeezes her waist reassuringly and chuckles. "Sure are, it's been a pretty great evening. Shame you don't get to try the spiked cider while you're in uniform."
He and Ashton exchange friendly laughter. Boo listens on absently as they chat in the background; the world revolves on normally around her while her sadness begins to pull her further into a sense of deep dissociation. Her mind is spinning with the weight of impending tragedy—unsolved deaths, Nathaniel's poisonous influence, Calum's strange obsession with Boo, and the underlying fear that her curiosity may lead her to a point of no return.
Her fingers dig into Harry's side involuntarily. He keeps his attention to Ashton while they talk but his hand gently slides into Boo's, wordlessly providing her the comfort she seeks. She glances up at Harry to see him nod his head subtly at Ashton, and Boo already knows what he means. Before she can say anything, Ashton turns away briefly to answer someone who calls his name off in the distance, and Boo leans up to whisper in Harry's ear.
"Are we sure we can trust him?"
Harry has a pensive look in his eyes. "I think our opportunity for a friend on the other side is slim. Take your chance while you have it."
Ashton turns back after a moment, a beaming smile on his face, and Boo clears her throat nervously. "Officer, is there any chance you've heard of a man named Hosk?" she asks quietly.
"Hosk," he repeats with a thoughtful hum. "Can't say I have. Is he a friend of yours?"
Boo can't help but snort derisively in reply. "Doubtful. I think he's a cop with Jack Creek's department but I don't recognize his name."
"Perhaps he's a new hire then," Ashton muses. "I'll look into it and see what I can find, okay?"
"Just . . . maybe refrain from mentioning my asking. The Taylor family isn't exactly a fan-club favorite at the department," Boo mumbles.
Ashton looks mildly confused but nods nonetheless. "Like I said, I'll see what I can sniff out. Jack Creek hasn't called for reinforcements yet but if it happ—"
