by WL Knightly
Max rushed down the hall, past the interrogation room. Darek could tell the guy was looking for him. At the same time, their phones started to ring, and they were paged to the front counter.
Darek stuck his head out the door. “What’s going on?”
“A body’s been found down at the pier. It’s inside a container, and it looks like it’s been there a while. I’m betting it’s our guy.”
Darek cursed under his breath. “Fuck.” He glanced at Lizzy who went into action, leaving the medical supplies on the table and storming out the door and down the hall.
Darek went behind her, trying his damnedest to keep up, and she was in heels.
They jumped in the same car—hers—and she sped through traffic with the lights on.
She drove like a maniac, and Darek wondered if she was a racecar driver in a previous life. One more sharp turn, and his stomach did a somersault. “Don’t kill us. I’ve got a divorce settlement to win. If I’m dead, not only will she get the fucking house, but she’ll get my life insurance. Don’t let that woman have my fucking life insurance.”
Lizzy let out a wicked laugh and cut him a sideward glance. “I’m surprised she didn’t kill you for it.”
He couldn’t even laugh. Not because he thought Megan would do something like that, but because he knew in his gut who the victim at the pier would be.
None of his many drives to the pier had gone so fast, and he looked over to see the spot where he liked to unwind after a hard day. The coincidence wasn’t lost on him. Once again, the message was clear.
He jumped out of the car before it came to a complete stop and slammed the door. Lizzy shut the engine off in a hurry and did the same. She was right behind him as they weaved through the crowd of workers who had gathered to see the day’s big find.
Darek pressed through a crowd of onlookers as the other officers who had responded to the scene tried to move them back. “Excuse me, NYPD. Get back. Out of the way.” He practically mowed down half the crowd, but people started clearing a path, especially when they saw Lizzy taking the lead.
She was fierce and confident, and it was damn sexy. “Back up, people!” She got to the front of the crowd and was stopped by one of the other officers, who had on a mask and gloves and was obviously from the forensics lab. “What have we got?”
“Deceased male, fits your description. It’s pretty bad in there. You should take a mask.” He waved one of the others over and grabbed them both some masks and gloves. “He’s been there a while, and there are rats. The guys from the work crew said they’d been here every day for weeks, and this must have been opened up overnight.”
She gloved up and then secured her mask, and Darek did the same. They exchanged a look and then turned and headed over. Darek took a deep breath before they stepped inside.
They weren’t kidding about the rats. One scurried across the floor in front of Lizzy, and he was surprised when she kicked it out of the way. It squeaked, and she kept on moving with more determination than ever. It was like she was a different person, more like the way she was the first day he’d met her.
Approaching the body, Darek saw the man’s shirtless form was slumped forward a bit, unable to keep himself upright anymore.
Lizzy walked over and pointed down to the large V that was tattooed in the center of his chest. The words “Alpha” and “Omega” were in a banner just below it. A large slash stretched across his stomach, underlining the tattoo. In his mouth, there was some kind of card, and after snapping a few photos, Lizzy pulled it out from between his teeth.
“A driver’s license for Victor Barnes. The Alpha and the Omega?” She glanced at Darek.
“The beginning and the end,” he whispered.
“Does this mean it’s over?” Lizzy asked and shined a light upon his forehead. “Oh wow, is that a burn?”
Darek’s stomach did a flip. “It’s a branding.”
Victor had been branded, and the mark looked like it was a perfect match for the one Tad had seared into his arm. Darek felt the sting from his own brand burning beneath his shirt, and he forced himself not to reach over and rub the pain away.
Lizzy noticed he was freaking out inside. “If you need to take a minute, please do. I don’t want your puke compromising this crime scene.”
He should have been offended, but too much was already going around in his head. He gave her a tired look. “It’s not that. I’m just thinking.”
The dead man pitched forward, and they jumped back as a large rat scurried away.
“Sorry,” Lizzy said. “My bad.” She’d been trying to see the back of his head and bumped the makeshift chair he sat in.
Victor had been carefully propped up in a semi-seated position, and now, he lay forward as if wanting to show them his back. Darek took a look, and sure enough, there was something carved deeply into his flesh. It was far too messy to read the words, but he knew it was another message. This time, there was no question who it was for. Someone had been trying to send him a message all along.
“We have to get photos.” She waved the camera guy over and had him take a few more shots. “Walk around back.”
The man did as Lizzy instructed, and then he snapped more pictures before a few men came over to help hold him forward so the detectives could get a better look.
“Prepare to bleed,” Darek read aloud. The words might as well read, Prepare to pay. Pay for what they’d done. He thought about the last crime scene and the markings they’d found. The Zodiac tattoo. The Capricorn sign had been first. “Fuck.” He said the words out loud, but Lizzy couldn’t know why.
“Another warning,” Lizzy said. “Shit, Darek. This is too much.” She shook her head and glanced over at him. He turned his head to meet her gaze. She looked back at the dead man and let loose a tired breath. “We’re dealing with a serial killer.”
Darek knew it was more than that. So much more. He thought of Bay’s words and swallowed hard: Bring it on.
To Be Continued…
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About the Author
WL Knightly is a thriller/murder mystery co-writing pen name for USA Today Best Selling Authors Lexy Timms and Ali Parker.
When she’s not writing, Lexy can be found dealing in Antique Jewelry and hanging out with her awesome hubby and three kids.
Ali is a CPA turned fiction writer who is married to her best friend and lives in Texas. She spends her days writing and chasing three kiddos around the house.
The two friends met years ago when they both started writing and publishing in various young adult genres and needed a critique partner. The rest is history…