When Tara finished eating, she ran off to her bedroom to change. Within seconds, she was heading for the back door. "Hold on. Where are you going?"
"Outside. The leaves are pretty and I want to play in them."
"I don't know. The last time you went outside-"
"I won't run off, mom. I promise."
"You'll stay where I can see you?"
"Yes."
"You promise?"
"I swear."
Sasha nodded reluctantly and watched as Tara cheered and opened the door. More than anything, Sasha wanted to join her daughter but her nerves were far too shot. Instead, she would sit on the couch and attempt to calm herself down. The little orange bottle of Xanax danced in her mind, taunting her to take one. She would hold out as long as she could, hating the way they made her feel.
She closed her eyes and tried some of the calming techniques her therapist had taught her. She was only part way through picturing herself on a tranquil beach when she heard a scream that turned her blood to ice. Before Sasha could even register what was happening, she was up from the couch and running out the door. Instincts took over and she snatched her daughter from the ground. Tara pointed down at the grass near the base of the home and Sasha knew instantly what had scared her. A human heart, still dripping with fresh blood, rested only a few feet away.
Bile rose in her throat as she rushed her daughter inside, forcing herself to choke it back down. Sasha called the police and a deputy told her the sheriff was on call and would be there as soon as he could. Sasha did her best to thank the unconcerned sounding man and hung up.
Less than five minutes later, the sheriff was knocking at the door. Sasha was relieved with his response time but also a little shocked. She swung open the door with a grunt of panic and stared at the man at her front door. "That was quick." She said.
"I was in the neighborhood."
Sasha scanned the driveway and noticed his truck was missing.
"How did you get here?"
"I was very close. Please, may I come in?"
Sasha ushered the sheriff into her home and offered him some coffee, to which he politely declined. She nodded and tried to hide the fact she was shaking, though she knew she was doing a poor job.
"Smith tells me you found something in your backyard."
"My daughter did, actually."
"Sorry about that."
Sasha nodded.
"What did she find?"
"It's better if I just show you, I think."
Sasha led Harrison to the backyard and pointed at the heart still sitting there. Harrison coughed, clearly not expecting to see it.
"Jesus Christ," he said.
"Yeah, how do I explain this to my daughter?" Sasha asked, averting her eyes from the bloody organ. "Better question, why is there a heart on my lawn?" She was close to screaming now. "Is it some sort of terrible prank because we're new? Is this how the town tells us we're not welcome?"
"Of course, not-"
"Then are me and my daughter in danger?"
"Please, allow me to exp-"
"You're the sheriff, you need to do something about this. First the dead woman and now there are organs showing up on my lawn. What kind of shit is this place into?"
"Ma'am, please calm down and I'll explain everything to you."
Sasha placed her hands against her temples, nursing a major headache. The stress was too much to handle. She needed that Xanax now but she refused to take it. Sheriff Harrison took her by the hand and ushered her inside. Getting her a glass of water, he sat her on the couch and did his best to relax her.
"Here's the thing, and please keep this between us for now. There was another body found."
"What?"
"Yes, this morning in fact. The scene was morbid. The victim's heart was missing."
"Oh my God."
"I have no idea why it was left at your house. It may have been dropped by mistake."
"How could it have been dropped by mistake at my house?"
"Well, the body was found in a small clearing in the woods not too far from here."
Sasha's blood ran cold. She knew the very spot. Tara had found it only yesterday. Her hands began to shake in terror. Was the killer out there when she had fetched Tara from the woods? Was he watching them? Could Tara have been killed if she had not made it to her in time? Maybe the heart was a warning they were next. Her mind raced with idea after idea until she could no longer take it. Out of breath, she raced into the kitchen and grabbed the little orange bottle, spilling several pills on the counter. Harrison watched as she gulped down a pill and nearly vomited in the sink.
When the panic attack began to subside, she started to feel ashamed. She couldn't help it. It was embarrassing. It was beyond embarrassing.
"I'm so sorry about that."
"Please, don't be. I understand."
"Do you? Do you understand what it's like to lose sleep because you can't shut off your mind? Do you understand what it's like to hate yourself and spend every waking moment scared of what might go wrong? Or, do you understand what it's like to believe that your family would live a better life without you?"
Sasha breathed heavily now, regretting everything she had said. It had been nothing more than an angry outburst. At least, it's what she wanted to believe. But something happened that she had not expected. Sheriff Harrison looked up at
