#Chapter8 22 ACACIA AVENUE

Sam was in her parked cruiser, just down the block from a house that was under suspicion of drug activity. She watched the comings and goings of various people, some on foot, some in vehicles, and kept a record of what she observed. Her hope was to catch a glimpse of Raggedy Man. There were plenty of vagrants, but so far no luck spotting the killer.

Aside from the house’s visitors, the night outside was quiet; peaceful. Everything around—the trees, houses, the street—was painted in a blue ambient light.

Inside the cruiser, Kathy’s voice drifted from the cell phone on the passenger seat.

“Weeeeell?” Sam’s foster...