They were all so different. Nothing bound them together. No common thread. No pattern. The random way the victims were chosen made it harder for the police to track the killer, and that had been what scared the city the most. Those victims could have been any one of them.
Steeling herself, she picked up the photos taken at the crime scene and looked them over. Now, the women did have something in common. The crude cross was carved into their chests post-mortem, according to the autopsy findings. Small mercies. She swallowed heavily and blocked out the images of their murders, clamoring to get into her head. Even the manner of deaths differed, as if the killer were experimenting with each one.
Or just having fun.
She touched the tiny gold cross around her neck reflexively as she sucked in a deep breath. The only thing left to her from her beloved grandmother. Its familiar warmth and weight never failed to calm and reassure her. Since joining the force, she’d needed it more than she liked to admit. Her hand clenched around the chain.
Oh my God! That’s it.
Shuffling back through the victim’s before photos, Kelly’s gaze fixed on each woman’s neck. Crosses. Each one wore a cross of some type. With shaking hands, she placed the pictures on the table, side by side and then found the corresponding after shots and coroner reports. Placing them neatly in a row below the others, she stared.
“Nate.” Her voice shook and she cleared her throat. His head jerked up. “I think I have something.”
His gaze sharpened on her then dropped to the photos she’d arranged. The screech of the chair on the tiles set her heart racing. Or so she told herself as he reached her side and leaned closer, his breath lifting the fine hair at her temple.
“What have you got?”
“It’s probably nothing,” she replied, suddenly doubting herself. Now that she had his attention, the idea seemed silly. Surely, the original police officers assigned to the case had already noted the link and discounted it earlier. One of them was standing right beside her, and she knew how thorough he was. Who was she—a rookie no less—to suggest they’d overlooked something this obvious?
“Always trust what your instincts tell you. You have good ones. Besides,” he sent her a self-depreciating smile. “Only blockheads ignore them against their own better judgment.”
She snorted. “Yes, well—that’s true.” Ignoring his pained look, she gestured to the images before her. “In this photo, I noted the cross around the victim’s neck, thinking it looked a lot like mine, and then I started noticing all but one of the victims wore a cross of some kind. Different designs, but all crosses. Yet in the crime scene photographs, all the victims’ necks are bare.”
Nate studied the crime scene photos then lifted his head, his eyes boring into her like lasers. “Why is that a red flag?” He turned, biceps flexing as he crossed his arms over his chest and rested his butt on the edge of the table.
Kelly felt her cheeks heat and squirmed inwardly until she realized he wasn’t belittling her. He wanted her to expand on her explanation. Her hand rose to touch the cross around her own neck once before taking a deep breath. “It’s the sort of jewelry that usually holds some kind of significance for the wearer. Often it’s about a religious affiliation or sometimes, as in my situation, it holds significance because of the person who gave it to them.” She shrugged. “Either way, I’d never be without mine, and I find it hard to imagine all of those girls left home on the day of their death without theirs. It’s too much of a coincidence.”
Nate stroked the underside of his jaw and nodded slowly. “I think you could be on to something. It ties in neatly with the killer cutting crosses into his victims. Maybe he’s some kind of religious fanatic. First, we’ll need to contact the families and check to see if the jewelry is actually missing.”
Kelly nodded and reached for the list of contact information she’d made for all the victims’ next of kin. Rapidly clicking her pen on and off, she wondered how to approach the families. Her mind raced with the best questions to open with. It was never easy rehashing details with the bereaved no matter how much time had lapsed. This case was still very painful for them all.
She startled when his large hand covered hers. Wide-eyed, she stared at him. Her pulse leapt as he gazed back with almost fanatical intensity. “What is it?”
“The one without the cross, she was the one Williams was photographed spying on, wasn’t she?” His eyes burned into hers.
“Yes,” she affirmed and frowned. “What are you getting at?”
His lips twisted into a humorless smile. “She was never meant to be in the mix. The poor girl had the bad luck of attracting the killer when she drew Williams’ attention. When the killer caught him perving on her, he was the perfect set up. That’s how the killer got the cigarette butt.”
Kelly inhaled sharply. “You think this photographer is the killer?”
He nodded and closed his eyes briefly, nostrils flaring as he sucked in air. He looked pained. When he opened his eyes again, the green had hardened to jade. “It makes sense, don’t you think? What better way to throw the police off his trail than to lead them to someone else? Frame someone else as the killer. When he heard about Williams’ background afterwards, he must have thought he’d won the lottery.” He laughed without humor. “He couldn’t have chosen a better scapegoat if he’d planned it.”
Kelly drew a heavy line underneath the image of the girl while he talked. She glanced up once he’d finished. “What if he had planned it?” Her words came slowly as the thoughts formed in her mind. “I don’t believe in coincidence—do you, Nate?”
He stopped on his way back to his seat and faced her. “What do you mean?”
Dropping the pen, she linked her fingers at the back of her head. The chair creaked as she leaned back, taking the time to sort the jumbled thoughts in her head before voicing them. “I don’t believe he just happened to come across Williams that night. Think about it. If we’re right about the connection with the necklaces, it suggests he’s very deliberate in who he kills. In his own warped mind, he has a valid reason and he sticks to that. The police had never been close to catching him, so why would he feel pressured to kill an innocent just to get us off his back? It doesn’t make sense.”
Dark brows shadowed his eyes, hiding his expression from her. “So what was the valid reason he had for killing this girl then?”
Kelly shrugged. “It wasn’t about her. The girl was the means to an end. I think he deliberately set out to punish Williams. I don’t think he just happened to come across the man during an evening stroll. I think he followed him for a reason and it was personal.”
“Bloody hell.” Nate stared at her, his eyes widening in dawning horror. He sank into his chair. “I think you’re right. This guy is more conniving than I gave him credit for.” He blew out a long breath and shook his head. “Until we find him, we may never know what drew him to Williams. But those girls are our main priority, so let’s get to work.”
Reassured to hear the decisiveness back in his voice, Kelly picked up her cell phone and made the first call. After she’d identified herself, the first victim’s mother was surprisingly gracious. Kelly cringed and made sympathetic noises as the woman spoke about her shock at watching the news last night.
“I’m sorry for the pain you must be feeling at seeing that, Mrs. Coates. I can’t begin to comprehend how you feel, but rest-assured we will find the one responsible for this copycat attack.” She crossed her fingers behind her back at the word. One of those white lies Nate mentioned earlier. She was becoming one of them. She paused to listen again. “Yes Ma’am. The reason we’re calling now is because one of our officers noted that Nina wore a necklace in the photos you shared with us, but she was found without it. We just need to know if you have her necklace at home with you.”
“No, it’s not,” the older woman confirmed, her voice breaking. “She wore it all the time, but I haven’t been able to find it anywhere. We thought that maybe it would turn up
during the crime scene examination. When it wasn’t, it was like another little death.”
“And you’re saying Nina never took it off?”
“No, never.” Mrs. Coates paused, her quick inhale harsh in Kelly’s ear. She bit her lip at the audible attempt the woman made to regain control of her voice, before bravely continuing. “Constable Appleton, if you find it, is there a chance we might get it back? It would mean so much to us. We have so little of her left.” Her words faded off to a whisper.
Kelly squeezed her eyes shut and dug her fingers into her scalp. The sharp pain forced her to focus. “I will do everything I can to make that happen Mrs. Coates,” she vowed. Silently, she swore to herself to do everything in her power to see her promise through.
After hanging up, she took a deep breath and found Nate’s hard gaze on her, one dark brow raised in enquiry. Ruthlessly swallowing the lump in her throat, she straightened and returned his stare. “Missing necklace number one. How did you get on?”
“Same here.” His mouth pressed into a grim line. “Only two down, but already it’s looking like your theory is good. How the hell did we miss this before?”
She shrugged. “We were handed a suspect who fit the crime. We didn’t need to look any further. What’s the old saying? Never look a gift horse in the mouth.”
He winced at the reminder. “Yeah, but now we’re finding out all its teeth were rotten.” He sighed heavily and reached for the next file on his list, mumbling under his breath, “I never was a fan of horses, now I know why.”
She shook her head with a small smile. Picking up another file, she punched in the next number and braced herself for the emotionally draining call. It had the same result. She sat back and waited for Nate to finish his conversation with the fifth and final call, but listening to his side of the conversation, she could tell it was unanimous.
When he turned to face her, his skin was drained of color and his hands shook. “Shit. Every single one of them. You too?” At her nod, he swore again.
She sat up straight in her seat and stretched the kinks out of her back. “So I take it, there was no jewelry found at Williams’ Funeral Home during the warrant?”
He shook his head and leaned back in his chair, hands gripping the armrests. “No. Not that anyone looked. But the search was thorough. We would have found the crosses if they were there.” His mouth twitched in a parody of a smile. “Mr. Williams didn’t strike me as a particularly devout man.”
“So,” she said slowly, thinking aloud. “The question is why is the killer removing the jewelry? Are they reminders of his kills? His trophies? Is it that simple, or is there another reason?”
Kelly’s cell phone chirped at her elbow and she glanced at the screen with a frown. Sergeant Blackwood. “Hi, Sir. What’s up?”
A man of few words, he didn’t bother with any niceties. “Are you there with O’Leary?”
Her gaze cut to Nate. “Of course. He’s getting much better by the day, thanks,” she added, but as usual, the sarcasm went over his head.
“Excellent, but that’s not why I’m phoning. We have a situation here. The copycat struck again.”
Her stomach cramped up and she closed her eyes.
“Did you happen to see the news report last night?”
“Yes, sir.”
“The reporter from that segment was found by a jogger this morning, her chest carved with a cross.”
Ice gripped her by the throat and a strangled gasp escaped.
“The media are going to be surrounding you guys, especially after tonight’s current affairs show airs. They’ll be baying for blood, saying we haven’t done our jobs, and making the community feel nervous. I want you to reassure them we have and are actively pursuing the copycat. Got it?”
“Yes, sir,” she answered and hung up. Her hand shook as she placed the phone on the table. Nate’s eyes bored into hers, waiting. She studied his face as she relayed the Sergeant’s call.
“Why her?” Even as he asked the question, his gaze cut to the lounge room and hers followed. She swallowed heavily and moved woodenly to the television, Nate at her back.
Pointing the remote at the screen, she found the story, re-wound a few frames, and then paused on an image of the reporter. A gold cross rested in the hollow of her throat. Kelly’s gaze collided with Nate’s. “That’s why.” Habit had her fiddling with the cross around her own neck.
He frowned and jerked his chin at her subconscious action. “That’s how he’s choosing his victims. Why they don’t seem to fit any pattern. The necklace is the common thread. They’re random until that point.”
Kelly shivered and dropped her hand, unsure of how to broach the other thought in her mind. From the moment he’d mentioned it, it had disturbed her. Finally, she decided just to say it. “The shadow figure you saw earlier—it kind of smacks of the Grim Reaper doesn’t it?” She rubbed the sudden goose bumps pebbling her skin. “Maybe there’s something to it.”
He stilled. “I’ve been wondering the same myself,” he mumbled, then clearly uncomfortable, changed the subject. “We need to see the scene photos of this latest victim. See if she’s also bare-necked before we can be totally sure. Until then, our theories are just that.”
Kelly nodded. “I can swing by the station while I do a spot of food-shopping. We’ll starve otherwise. I’ll have my phone on me, so call if you need anything, okay?”
“Yeah, go,” he waved her off impatiently, his tone curt. “Weren’t you telling the big cheese just moments ago how much better I’m doing? I can handle a couple of hours on my own.”
“Great. See you soon.”
He grunted in response and carefully made his way back to the table to pore over the paperwork. Effectively dismissed, she set her jaw, snatched up her wallet and car keys, and strode down the hall. The man could be a block of ice. His voice stopped her at the door.
“Kelly.”
She glanced back over her shoulder to see that he’d followed her as far as the hallway, his hands clenched around the edge of the doorframe.
“Be careful out there.”
Her jaw loosened and she smiled. “I will,” she responded and left his apartment with a glow warming her belly.
Chapter Seven
After a brief conversation with the receptionist about Nate’s health, Kelly pushed through the heavy door that led to the offices out behind the station. Her appearance met with whoops and loud greetings from the mainly male staff. Dishing out smiles, she wound her way towards her desk.
“Hey, Kelly. What brings your fine self back here to brighten my day? Thought you were busy nursing that lucky son-of-a-bitch, O’Leary.”
She grinned at Reece McCabe, the precinct’s serial womanizer and blew him a kiss. Compliments tumbled naturally from his full, sensual lips to every woman who crossed his path, as easily as river water over rocks. Even though she knew that, it never hurt to have a gorgeous man lift her confidence. Her gaze ran over the tall detective, not for the first time, admiring the thick, black hair, gym-fit body, and devastatingly handsome features. Although she could appreciate his appeal, he did nothing for her.
“You finally thinking of giving me a go, darling?” he asked. His tone, deliberately pitched low, sounded intimate.
Her gaze shot to his, and he gave her a slow wink.
“Just checking out the pretty packaging is all,” she teased back. “With all that fancy advertising, it’s a shame the product underneath doesn’t have much substance.”
“Ouch!” With theatrical flair, he clutched his chest and flopped back in his chair, his dark eyes twinkling up at her. “You wound me, fair lady. Since you’re not here to whisk me away, it must be about work.” He sobered and straightened up. “You’re here about the copycat killer.”
Kelly’s smile dimmed and she nodded. “The boss around?”
He shook his head. “Out playing golf with his cronies. You’re safe for the moment, but you’re meant to be on leave,” he admonished.
> “I know. But the sergeant phoned to inform me about the latest development in those killings. He wants me to pacify the media when they pounce, and you know how O’Leary is,” she rolled her eyes. “He’s antsy. I figured it would be better for everyone if he’s kept in the loop. He’s being a pain in the ass and if he’s busy, it might just keep me from smothering him while he sleeps.”
McCabe grinned. “Good move, Appleton. I always knew you were more than just a pretty face.” He reached for a file on his desk. “I’ll copy these for you and let you be on your way. Can’t have the Neanderthal home alone for too long. I bet his patience is wearing thin right about now. I wouldn’t put it past him to start canvassing the area already.”
“Patience?” She snorted. “That’s assuming he had some to start with.” Her gaze followed him as he strode to the copier. She bit her lip and reined in her own impatience, wanting to view the photo of the crime-scene. Distracting herself, she glanced around the familiar drab building divided by partition walls into makeshift cubicles. Her first day now held the dreamlike quality of memories from a lifetime ago.
As a new recruit, she’d expected and prepared for a bit of good-natured ribbing. And she’d gotten that in abundance, by Reece in particular. Her mouth curved at the memories.
Nothing prepared her for the impact a set of green eyes had on her from the very first meeting. Nate had been cool and remote when they were introduced. Although he was not as overtly muscular as Reece, the power in his tall, lean body was apparent. The power of his will had shown behind those hooded eyes even more so. They shook hands and his grip tightened fractionally. Had he felt it, too—that zing of instant recognition? She bit her bottom lip to prevent the gasp from escaping, and his gaze had dropped to her mouth, the cool green of his eyes sparking with heat. Then in the next instant, he released her hand and stepped back. A frown heavy on his brow made her doubt the explosive connection even occurred outside of her imagination.
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