She screamed, staggered back, and tripped over the edge of the carpet, landing hard on her butt.
A shot rang out, then another, and the serial killer crumpled to the ground.
He didn't move again.
"Eden, are you okay?" Ben asked sharply.
Okay? she thought, feeling stunned and shivery. Hell no, she wasn't okay. But at least she was still breathing.
"I'll be fine." Her hands shook so she clasped them in front of her. She decided to stay seated on the floor since she was sure her legs were too shaky to stand on. A line of perspiration sped down her spine. "You wanted me to help find the s-serial killer--" She took a shuddery breath. "Mission accomplished."
Her stomach churned and she was afraid she would be sick right then and there. She tried to focus on something, anything until she could calm down. Her gaze moved cautiously toward the prone body of the dead man she knew she'd have nightmares about for weeks--possibly years--to come.
She frowned. "Hey, do you see that?"
"See what?"
"That." She pointed at what looked like a thin, dark shadow emerging from the serial killer's gaping mouth and trailing along the floor like a black scarf.
That is definitely not normal, she thought.
Ben shook his head. "All I see is a dead body. It's okay now, Eden. You're safe."
The shadow paused as it moved across the floor between her and Ben. Then, before she could do anything else or figure out what on earth it was, it shifted direction and, in a split second, flew through the air toward her. She shrieked and instinctively put her hands up to block whatever it was, but the moment the shadow touched her . . . it disappeared.
She looked at her hands.
What the hell just happened?
Had it only been her imagination?
Ben held out a hand to help her back up to her feet. "Are you sure you're okay?"
She swallowed hard. "I will be--you know--eventually."
He squeezed her hand in his. "Good."
She definitely needed a drink. A big one. Straight up.
She knew she should have stopped for some lunch earlier. A piece of toast and a glass of juice nine hours ago was not enough for proper mental alertness. She shook away the strange feeling and tried to relax while Ben got on his phone and called for backup.
Constable Santos ran in and swept the room with one look. "Eden! Damn, you sure work fast! You found the killer!"
That she did. And now the killer was killed.
But she still felt like she wanted to hurl. Missing dogs were much easier to deal with than serial killers. That was the lesson of the day.
At least it's over, she thought wearily. She'd be very happy to go back to her regular life now.
No more traumatic experiences for her, thank you very much.