Read Online The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting - Free Book Online
Authors: Kimberly Derting
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toward it. She felt a sharp twinge of fear, but still couldnât stop herself from moving forward.
âWhat is it, Vi?â Jay asked, and now his interest seemed genuine, concerned even. âCome back here. Iâll see what it is.â
But it was too late. Violet had already seen it. And she was in the water, wading toward whatever was hiding among the reeds along the lakeshore.
Thick, pale, and bloated skin surrounded milky-white eyes that stared out at Violet. A deathly echo created a halo of watery light as long hair radiated in tangled waves from the girlâs head.
Violet screamed at the same time that Jay reached her and saw what she was looking at. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and dragged her away in search of help.
CHAPTER 5
HELP ARRIVED FIRST IN THE FORM OF THE Bonney Lake Police Department and East Pierce Fire and Rescue, the first responders in this part of the lake.
Violet was wrapped in itchy wool blankets and perched in the back of the big red ambulance with an emesis basin hovering on the tops of her knees. She had puked twice since Jay had dragged her away from the watery grave sheâd discovered. Sheâd never been bothered this way by any of the animals she found, but somehow the image of the dead girl, lying lifelessly beneath the waterâs surface, made her feel sick. It wasnât until the immediate shock had worn off that her stomach finally settled down. The bowl she now held was just a precaution.
Besides, there were other distractions to take her mind off her weak stomach.
Being in the presence of so many menâand womenâwho carried guns for a living was a little disturbing for Violet. Not because she was afraid of them, but because in general, those who carried weapons had a higher probability of using them. And those who used them had a greater potential for bearing the imprints of death on them.
Innocent people carried imprints too.
Hunters, occasionally. War veterans, possibly. Police officers, certainlyâ¦maybe not all, but definitely some.
The ones she could sense at the moment, aside from the obvious echo from the girl in the water, were faded and bland, but in general, this was the kind of scene Violet would avoid whenever possible.
Unless, like now, she was the one who had discovered the body.
Her uncle Stephen had been called, at Jayâs request, and even though his jurisdiction was almost a half hour away, heâd arrived in less than fifteen minutes. Violet wondered how many stoplights heâd blown through, with his sirens blaring, to get to her so fast.
She didnât ask, because she didnât care. She was just so grateful that he was there. She had felt immediately better when she saw him rushing toward her, and sheâd let him wrap her in a bear hug like when she was a child. Having him there made her feel safe.
When he finally released her so she could breatheagain, he slipped an arm loosely, but protectively, around her shoulders. âGeez, Vi, sucks to be you sometimes, doesnât it?â He squeezed her once again, quickly, and then added more seriously, âIâm really sorry you had to see that.â
Violet shrugged.
Her uncle seemed to understand that she didnât want to talk about it. âI think theyâre almost finished taking Jayâs statement. Iâll stay with you while they talk to you, okay? I promise I wonât leave you alone.â
Her parents arrived separately since her dad had come straight from work. They were both stressed and worried, and they too buried her in embraces, and whispered gentle reassurances, as she endured recounting the events several times to several different people from several different agencies.
She and Jay had each given the details that led up to, and included, finding a corpse floating in the shallow waters of the lake, cradled in the willowy grasses. Although in Jayâs recounting there were no lies to tell, no stories to
âWhat is it, Vi?â Jay asked, and now his interest seemed genuine, concerned even. âCome back here. Iâll see what it is.â
But it was too late. Violet had already seen it. And she was in the water, wading toward whatever was hiding among the reeds along the lakeshore.
Thick, pale, and bloated skin surrounded milky-white eyes that stared out at Violet. A deathly echo created a halo of watery light as long hair radiated in tangled waves from the girlâs head.
Violet screamed at the same time that Jay reached her and saw what she was looking at. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and dragged her away in search of help.
CHAPTER 5
HELP ARRIVED FIRST IN THE FORM OF THE Bonney Lake Police Department and East Pierce Fire and Rescue, the first responders in this part of the lake.
Violet was wrapped in itchy wool blankets and perched in the back of the big red ambulance with an emesis basin hovering on the tops of her knees. She had puked twice since Jay had dragged her away from the watery grave sheâd discovered. Sheâd never been bothered this way by any of the animals she found, but somehow the image of the dead girl, lying lifelessly beneath the waterâs surface, made her feel sick. It wasnât until the immediate shock had worn off that her stomach finally settled down. The bowl she now held was just a precaution.
Besides, there were other distractions to take her mind off her weak stomach.
Being in the presence of so many menâand womenâwho carried guns for a living was a little disturbing for Violet. Not because she was afraid of them, but because in general, those who carried weapons had a higher probability of using them. And those who used them had a greater potential for bearing the imprints of death on them.
Innocent people carried imprints too.
Hunters, occasionally. War veterans, possibly. Police officers, certainlyâ¦maybe not all, but definitely some.
The ones she could sense at the moment, aside from the obvious echo from the girl in the water, were faded and bland, but in general, this was the kind of scene Violet would avoid whenever possible.
Unless, like now, she was the one who had discovered the body.
Her uncle Stephen had been called, at Jayâs request, and even though his jurisdiction was almost a half hour away, heâd arrived in less than fifteen minutes. Violet wondered how many stoplights heâd blown through, with his sirens blaring, to get to her so fast.
She didnât ask, because she didnât care. She was just so grateful that he was there. She had felt immediately better when she saw him rushing toward her, and sheâd let him wrap her in a bear hug like when she was a child. Having him there made her feel safe.
When he finally released her so she could breatheagain, he slipped an arm loosely, but protectively, around her shoulders. âGeez, Vi, sucks to be you sometimes, doesnât it?â He squeezed her once again, quickly, and then added more seriously, âIâm really sorry you had to see that.â
Violet shrugged.
Her uncle seemed to understand that she didnât want to talk about it. âI think theyâre almost finished taking Jayâs statement. Iâll stay with you while they talk to you, okay? I promise I wonât leave you alone.â
Her parents arrived separately since her dad had come straight from work. They were both stressed and worried, and they too buried her in embraces, and whispered gentle reassurances, as she endured recounting the events several times to several different people from several different agencies.
She and Jay had each given the details that led up to, and included, finding a corpse floating in the shallow waters of the lake, cradled in the willowy grasses. Although in Jayâs recounting there were no lies to tell, no stories to
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