They did find out that his real name was Mark Jackson and he had fled the Chicago area after some crazy occurrence with his wife. The police there were re-opening that case.
He had fooled them all. They weren’t sure if Naya had been his intended victim the entire time, or if he had just spent time at her house and found her fascinating. Whichever it was, Naya wasn’t planning to give anyone a key to her house ever again. Well, except maybe Kevin.
Things were going well between them. And while she had been healing these past few weeks, he had been her rock as she mourned the loss of her only sibling. Who’s ashes were in her arms now.
She glanced over her shoulder to see her parents and Kevin watching her patiently. She had asked to be the one to do this and they had obliged. But now she wasn’t so sure.
“Hey Vance.” She whispered quietly as she turned back forward and looked out over the range of the Rocky Mountains. This was such a beautiful place.
“I know you’re not really in this urn, but I feel better holding what is left of you close to me.” She swallowed as the tears streaked paths down her cheeks.
“I know we said goodbye while you were still alive, so I’ll keep this brief. I just want to let you know that you are the best big brother. I know you were worried about draining my finances. But money is just money. I would give up everything to have you back.” She choked as the words died in her throat. She stood there silently with tears trailing down her face.
“I’m going to let you go now. But first, I just want to let you know that I’m going to be just fine. You made sure of that. You left me with a new home, and new friends. And we will always love you. Enjoy the next life, whatever that may be. And I’ll see you there someday.”
She stood there silently for an immeasurable amount of time before she turned and gave Kevin a slight nod. He walked up next to her and held out his hands.
Naya handed him the urn so he could take the top off and hold it for her as she used her hand to begin releasing his ashes into the wind.
She felt her parents come to stand behind her, her father putting a hand gently on her injured shoulder as they too said goodbye to their only son.
After she was finished, they all went and sat on the bench which was a few feet back from the cliff. They sat in silence, just watching as the mountains changed colors as the sun set behind them. Once they were fully cloaked in darkness, they said their goodbyes and headed to their separate cars. Naya’s parents were headed to their hotel, and she was headed to Kevin’s place with him.
Once they were safely in the car away from her parents Kevin turned to her and placed a hand on her leg. “How are you feeling?”
“As best as can be expected.”
“That’s not what I meant.” Naya looked over at his profile, illuminated by the headlights through the windshield. Kevin knew first-hand the nightmares which had been plaguing her since she had gotten home from the hospital. Every time she closed her eyes all she could see was the abduction. She was basically living in a state of chronic sleep deprivation.
She tried not to let her nightmares keep Kevin awake. Often times she would quietly leave bed and go read in the living room after they happened, but if he woke and noticed she wasn’t in bed, which sometimes happened, he would always come join her on the couch, even though she protested for him to go back to sleep.
“Are you avoiding the question?” He asked, making Naya realize she hadn’t answered yet.
“I don’t know.” She responded honestly. “I think I need to talk about what happened, but I don’t feel ready yet.”
“Well, I’m here when you are. You know that, right?” He gently squeezed her thigh.
“I know.” She looked out the window for a minute as the dark scenery passed by, not taking in any of it. Besides making their relationship official over the past couple weeks, they had also discussed what had happened during that last chat with Vance. And Naya knew Kevin was battling a large amount of guilt, which she wanted him to seek help for as well.
She placed her good hand on top of his. She knew they would work it out though. They were both strong individuals. And she was sure they were even stronger together. Whatever lay on the road ahead…
They would face it together.
Benjamin Rodger’s stood on his front porch, looking out over all the land he had acquired over the past few years. Most of it he had purchased, but some of it had come from old Dave, and that other farmer who used to be out here.
Benjamin was glad they had finally caught the culprit who had been killing those women and leaving them on his land. It had brought way too much attention him and events which should have been long buried.
He felt a little bad for the women who had died. But, well, stuff happens.
Benjamin crossed the porch and walked across his driveway, towards the spot where he had told the detectives that he had buried old Dave. And he hadn’t lied about that. No, old Dave had died very peacefully of old age.
Benjamin couldn’t say the same about the rest.
He let his eyes move from the obvious mound of dirt, to those alongside it which were becoming less and less obvious as the years went by. There were seven now.
He had told
