"No," she snapped. "Why would you even think something like that?"
He looked nervous and ashamed. Sasha did her best not to be mad at him.
"Whoever is doing this seems hell-bent on targeting you. It’s almost as if someone is trying to send you a message, not frame you."
"I'll tell you what's going on. Someone in this town doesn't want me here. They're willing to kill just to run me out of town. This has nothing to do with me. How dare you think it does."
"I'm sorry, Sasha. I had to ask."
Another brick landed against the front door and Harrison grew angry. As he turned towards the door, undoubtedly to give his town's people a piece of his mind, the distinct sound of glass shattering filled the air. They thought it had been one of the windows at first but Harrison realized something far worse had happened. Someone was breaking into his truck. He removed his pistol from its holster and flung the front door open. Before anyone could react, he put a single round into the bed of the truck. The group of angry townspeople who had been grabbing at any bits of the truck they could get their hands on, had backed off.
"This has gone on long enough people. Give it a rest. Is this what you all have come to? Breaking into my truck? I'm a God damned officer of the law and that's a felony. You people have lost your minds. I know we're all scared-"
"What the hell is this?" A man next to the truck cried out and held something above his head. Harrison's eyes took a moment to adjust and spotted the black candle. Even from where he stood, the name S-A-S-H-A in bold, carved letters was clearly visible.
"That's evidence from a crime scene. Put it back."
"Evidence?" A voice returned. "It was hidden in your truck. You're covering for her."
"Her name was found at the crime scene. She is guilty." Another voice cried.
"It doesn't make her guilty," Harrison pleaded. "I believe someone is trying to scare her. And right now, you all are. Please, everyone return to your homes so I can do my job."
But the crowd was no longer listening. Instead, they yelled and screamed and hurled insults at Harrison. "We demand she be arrested." A voice called out and Harrison ignored it. Sasha watched the whole thing from the window, making sure to remain unseen. The last thing she wanted was a rock to smash through the window and break her jaw.
Seeing the candle had nearly made her faint. Her name was carved on the side, clear as day. Harrison was right, it was a message for her. But who? And why? Her husband was out of the question. But maybe he had a friend or a connection that knew what she had done. Maybe they had come looking for her. Maybe the town was right. She might have brought this killer with her, albeit unknowingly. Though, she didn't think the town would care much about that.
Another voice broke the silence. It was one Sasha had not heard before, having narrowly missed her speech at the town hall meeting. Mrs. Hazel called out, "It's proof that she's studying the dark arts. Only a witch would use that candle."
Witch? What the hell? Sasha was beyond confused now. What kind of town, in modern America, believed in witches. Was everyone in Carlisle a complete lunatic or was she truly losing her mind?
"I'm not even going to dignify that with a response, Mrs. Hazel," Harrison said. But the old woman didn't give up so easily.
"You find demonic symbols on the body and black candles and you don't think it odd? The witch must have you under her spell."
"Mrs. Hazel, you've lost your mind. Why would her name be on the candle if she were the witch? Shouldn't someone else's name be on it for a curse or something like that? Jesus, I can’t believe I'm even entertaining this farfetched idea."
Mrs. Hazel shook her head. "I don't know anything about black magic but that whore of a woman in there sure does."
"Hey, watch it."
"That's right, you slept with that woman. Maybe Mrs. Hazel's right, maybe you're under some sort of spell." An angry voice cried out.
"Get a fucking grip, people. There's no such thing as witches and there are no spells."
"Maybe she hypnotized you then." The same voice said. Harrison shook his head and rubbed his temples. This was only getting worse and he needed to put a stop to it fast. Sasha couldn’t help herself from shaking, terrified of what the people of the town might do to her. They were accusing her of witchcraft now. It had escalated faster than she thought possible.
"That's what someone would say if they were being controlled." Mrs. Hazel said. Someone who had once been viewed by the town as "off her rocker" was now being idolized and followed blindly by countless people. It didn't matter what she was spewing was utter nonsense. The irony of the situation was palpable.
"Alright, I've had about as much of this as I can stand. Everyone disperses now or I'm going to start arresting people. You're going to go back to your homes and lock the doors. Everyone stays inside tonight. I'll keep Sasha at the station under supervision for her protection and to prove she's not guilty. I should be out on the streets tonight looking for a killer but you all have forced my hand. Instead, I'll be babysitting an innocent woman. I hope you all are happy. If another person dies tonight, the blood is on your hands. Go home and think about that. Now! Or you’ll sleep in a cell."
He screamed the last sentence and the group started to break apart. Sasha sighed and dropped to her knees. Finally,
