Ada Riddle

…The name fit the morning. Words tangled in my throat, but I managed. "'Something's after me. It's—it's on fire, and it walks.' Sheriff Ada Riddle studied me for a heartbeat too long, then popped the passenger door." Get in. We'll talk where there's water between us and the ruins. The vinyl seat scorched my palms with residual heat, too hot for fabric untouc…

…I wanted to skirt the place entirely, but my legs buckled at the sight of a black and white cruiser nosed into the weeds, county emblem flaking from the door, emergency lights cold. I staggered closer. With a hiss, the driver's window rolled down, and a woman in a tan uniform leaned out, exhaustion etched in the creases around her eyes. "'You all right, sir…