Free Fear for Me by Cynthia Eden Page A

slits. “Who said I was done?” She wasn’t some piece of fluff who couldn’t get a job done, even though this was
way
past just being a job.
    This was about Karen. About a friend who hadn’t deserved to die in agony.
    So much blood…
    Lauren slammed the door on the image and took off after Stacy. The doorknob twisted easily beneath her hand. Anthony was right behind her, shadowing her steps.
    Stacy was on her knees, crying, her arms wrapped around her stomach.
    As Lauren approached, Stacy’s head whipped up. Her stare locked on Lauren. “Get out of here!”
    Lauren didn’t move. She stood in the doorway, the light coming in behind her and Anthony, and she hurt for the woman.
    Stacy might have shouted her support for Walker years ago, but this woman, broken on the floor, looked terrified.
    Stacy swiped her hands over her cheeks and lurched to her feet. “This room is for staff only. You can’t—”
    “You know he killed them all.” Lauren’s words were soft.
    Stacy’s shoulders slumped.
    “When did you start believing it?” Lauren asked. Stacy had been so solidly behind Walker during the trial. Lauren actually thought that Stacy was one of the main reasons he hadn’t gotten the death penalty. She’d kept telling the jury what a good man he was.
    He’s so good to me. He’s never hurt me, never.
    A tear leaked from Stacy’s eye. “I knew when I found the necklace.”
    Lauren kept her expression blank. “What necklace?”
    “The one with the twined hearts.” Stacy’s smile was broken. “The one I saw Ginger Thomas wearing in that damn picture that was always on the news.”
    Ginger Thomas. The mom of two Walker had killed.
    “It even had her initials on the back.”
    They’d never found one of Ginger’s trophies at Walker’s cabin. The crime scene teams had looked and looked. “Where did you find it?”
Why didn’t you turn it in?
    Her lips trembled. “In the bottom of my jewelry box. I didn’t see it before. I was looking to pawn some old gold, and—” She broke off, shaking her head. “It was there.”
    Walker had shouted in court that the cops had the wrong man. He’d said he went into the Peterson house because he’d heard sixteen-year-old Kathy Johnson screaming when he’d been out jogging. He’d tried to help her and become covered in her blood.
    When the Petersons came inside, they’d seen him crouched over Kathy, covered in her blood, because he’d been trying to save her.
    It wasn’t me!
Walker’s story, over and over again.
    “It was him,” Stacy whispered.
    Anthony pushed closer to Lauren. “Where’s the necklace now?”
    Stacy swallowed. “At the bottom of the bayou. I didn’t want that damn thing anywhere near me.”
    That was called destroying evidence. “You should have turned it in,” Lauren said, her voice hardening. “We could have—”
    “Jon was already locked up! What good would it have done?” She swiped away another tear. “I just wanted it
over
.”
    “It’s not over,” Anthony said, his voice rumbling. “Walker is out. He’s hunting.”
    Stacy’s face seemed to become even paler. “I never did anything to him.”
    “Neither did his other victims,” Lauren said. “He’s a sociopath. He kills because he wants to.”
    “I loved him. You’re the one who sent him to jail.” Her voice had risen.
    Lauren kept her own voice calm. “Have you seen him, Stacy? Has he tried to contact you?”
    More of the frantic head shaking.
    “Are you sure?” Lauren pressed softly. “You don’t have to be afraid.” She could all but feel the woman’s fear filling the small room.
    “The marshals can offer you protection,” Anthony added.
    “Marshals?” Stacy’s voice cracked. “Is that what you are? A marshal?”
    He nodded. “I can keep you under guard. I can—”
    “Forget it. I don’t need protection.” Her hands fisted. “I’m leaving town. I got me a new boyfriend, and we’re leaving aftermy shift tonight. There won’t be no more