Evil Never Dies

Brittany and Cathy were the next to arrive, their arms loaded with birthday gifts for Nicholas. Cathy visited often, and the two of them would sit outside and enjoy long talks while Nicholas played close by. Lizzy had heard from Brittany that her sister was dating again, but apparently Cathy wasn’t ready to introduce him, since she hadn’t brought him to the party.

Brittany was a sophomore at Sac State. She’d grown another inch. With light-brown hair and a smile that didn’t quit, she was beautiful.

“I told you we weren’t going to spoil Nicholas,” Lizzy said to the two of them. “No presents, remember?”

“Mom’s fault,” Brittany told her as she slid the gifts under the food table. “Where did that puppy come from?” She pointed toward the pond, where the dog barked at Kitally as she climbed into the kayak and pushed off.

“Detective Chase thought Nicholas and I needed additional protection.”

“I think that’s a good idea,” Cathy said. Her face paled when she saw a Mercedes pull up and park alongside all the other cars in the gravelly parking area.

It was Jared’s mom and dad.

Cathy turned to Lizzy. “Did you invite them?”

Lizzy nodded. “I thought it was time they met their grandson. You two make yourselves at home. I’m going to go get Nicholas and have him say hello to his grandparents.”

A few minutes later, introductions were made. Jared’s father became teary-eyed. Nicholas, being a perceptive little boy, took the old man’s hand and dragged him off to see his new puppy.

“Is he going to be OK?” Lizzy asked Mrs. Shayne.

“He’ll be fine. I think he’s overwhelmed by how much Nicholas looks like Jared at that age. We have the pictures you’ve sent us, but seeing our grandson in person is quite a shock. I’m sorry it took us this long to come see him.”

Lizzy didn’t mind. Everyone had his or her own demons to deal with. She and Mrs. Shayne watched the two of them walk off—the tall man with the slow gait being led by a one-year-old who reminded them all so much of Jared.

Tommy was the last one to pull up the long drive and join the party. Everyone converged on his car, straining to see if he might have brought anyone else along for the ride, but he was alone.

After Hayley had made certain that Lizzy would survive Be

Tommy often stopped by to see how Lizzy and Nicholas were doing. He would play with Nicholas, do odd jobs around the house, and then Lizzy wouldn’t hear from him until the next time he showed up unexpectedly.

Lizzy greeted Tommy as he climbed out of his car. “Any word from Hayley?”

“Not so far.”

Watching Tommy jog down toward Nicholas, Lizzy wondered if he knew anything about the list that she, Kitally, and Hayley had put together so long ago. She’d probably never know the answer to that, since she had no intention of ever bringing up the subject. Far better to let it lie. As she watched, he picked up her son and twirled him about, making Nicholas laugh.

Hayley would come back eventually, Lizzy thought. She was certain of it.

Tommy had been driving for an hour on the highway when his phone rang. He hit Talk on the console.

“Where are you?” she asked.

“I’m on my way to your place. I’ll be there in another thirty minutes.”

“Did you see everyone?”

“I did. They’re all good. Nicholas is a great kid. He’s already so big. Lizzy looked happy.”

“I’m glad.”

After Hayley left Sacramento, six months had gone by without a word, but she finally made contact. Tommy had been certain she would, and he was right. He had seen her dozens of times since that first call. She had rented a tiny dilapidated cabin with a leaky roof in the Sierra Nevadas, a riverfront home on the South Yuba with turquoise water for miles and countless swimming holes.

He no longer tried to talk her into coming back to Sacramento. Although it had taken him a while, he finally understood she needed time to heal, time away from people and society.

Until she was ready, he would be the conduit between Hayley and the people she cared about. He would keep her updated, and he would spend as much time with her as she would allow. With Hayley, he would always be patient. All she had to do was call, and he would be there. She was sassy, maybe even badass, but she was loyal to the core, and she would always be his girl.

Lizzy put Nicholas to bed. Her son fell asleep the second his head hit the pillow, the puppy curled up next to him. No nighttime story necessary.

She walked out of the room and strolled out onto the front porch, where her gaze roamed over the area dotted with pines and oaks. She knew she would have to remain vigilant if she wanted to protect her son. Today had been a day of celebration, and Lizzy had felt about as carefree and relaxed as she ever would. She’d come to terms with knowing she would have to remain watchful and alert. Always.

Six months after Nicholas was born, Lizzy had received a letter from Zachary Tucker:

Dear Lizzy,

I was saddened to hear you quit the PI business. I haven’t been able to stop thinking of you since we met at the gallery downtown and then again at my beautiful waterfront home. Your niece, Brittany, is lovely, and I find it to be such a delightful coincidence that your niece and I share a passion for art. As I have been on my best behavior since arriving at my new residence, I have been given full access to the prison library. I have done my research, and I must say I find your fondness for serial killers to be a charming trait. I only wish I had checked you out more thoroughly while I had the freedom to do so. It is for this reason I am writing to you now. I appeal to you to please find it in your heart to visit me here in prison. If I do not hear from you or see you in the coming months, I would like to take this moment to wish you and your son, Nicholas, much happiness. I have absolute faith I will meet him someday, and see you and your beautiful niece again.

Until then,

ZT

Lizzy went back into the house and walked around, making sure every window and door was secure. After the alarm was set, she went to her bedroom, where she unlocked the fireproof steel door she’d had installed where the closet used to be.

Since the Wayne Be

She did a lot of practice shooting on the property. She was ru

Zachary Tucker’s letter was on the shelf next to the ammunition where she’d left it—her constant reminder that evil never dies.

She shut the solid steel door and then turned the dial, locking it tight.

“Come and visit me anytime, Zachary. I’ll be ready for you.”