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Malone held up a hand. “All right, before we get too carried away, let’s see what’s circulating online. Heck, I’ll see to that in a minute. Rideout, run us through what you’re seeing here. Cause of death?”
“What you see is what you get here,” Rideout said. “Knife wound to the heart. Death would have been instant.”
Amanda butted her head toward the knife. “Same as the one used on Felicity Kelley?”
“Looks like it’s from the same set.” Rideout pulled it from Burr’s chest with a gloved hand and looked at it as Liam rushed over with an evidence bag. Photographs were taken, and Rideout said, “Yes, same set, different type. A chopping knife for Felicity, as you know. This one’s a carving knife.”
“The killer may be taking knives from his own kitchen,” Trent suggested.
“Find me the killer, and I’ll let you know,” Blair said lightly.
Rideout tucked the knife into the bag, and Liam zipped it up and handled it from there.
Donnelly entered the room and shook her head, but Amanda would need more than that to decipher her message. “What’s that for?”
“I searched for signs of forced entry. Found zip.”
“Then she let her killer inside.” Much as she and Trent had figured for Felicity Kelley and Naomi Chapman. Was it a mere coincidence that aspect spanned all three cases? Had all three known their killer, or had he used the same tactic to gain entry to their homes? Either way, it was one element that added some proof to there being one killer. It also meant they were on the right track, looking at the Chapman case to provide direction. “We’ll need uniforms canvassing the neighborhood, see if anyone noticed whether Burr had a visitor last night.”
Malone nodded. “They’re already out there asking that ahead of TOD, but they are inquiring about the last twenty-four. I figured that ought to have covered it. What’s the next step for you two? The bar probably isn’t open yet.”
Amanda consulted the time on her phone. There was still thirty minutes until opening, but she might be able to talk herself inside. “It will be soon. We’ll head over now.”
They pivoted to leave the room, and Malone called out, “I’ll let you know what’s hit online.”
She nodded, still somewhat shaky at the thought of a copycat of a copycat.
“I can tell you’re freaking out a bit here, concerned all the murders aren’t linked, but my gut tells me they are,” said Trent. “So does what I’m seeing. Even if rumor hit the news of someone copying the fictional killer, that can’t explain how the knives are from the same set.”
She didn’t respond, wondering if she was being paranoid, but they’d already heard of a leak in the department. Maybe she was just the right amount paranoid. “Have you heard whether we have access to Kelley’s cloud storage yet?”
“You’d be the first I’d tell, but no approval when I checked a moment ago.”
Was it too much to wish for this cop’s name to be in the cloud?
“What about you? Any word from Briggs on the fan emails?”
“Nope. I’ll follow up with him. But what next?” Not literally, rather an exasperated cry out to the cosmos.
“It might be best not to serve that question up to the universe.”
“You might be right.”
They got on the road to the Tipsy Moose Alehouse, and while Trent drove, she texted Briggs on his personal number.
THIRTY-SEVEN
Amanda had a response from Detective Briggs before Trent parked in the lot for the bar. “Briggs said he’d get to it tonight when he goes in. He apologized for the delay but said a lot has come across his desk lately.”
“It would help his shift pass faster, but it’s a sad reflection on the world.”
“Our lives are a sad reflection,” she countered. It was unfortunate there was a need for the justice system. But crime and violence would never go away, and if she gave too much thought to human atrocities, it would send her spiraling into the darkness. She preferred not to visit there willingly.
She made two more calls from the parking lot—one to Lee Steedman and the other to his client. She hung up and brought Trent up to speed. “Steedman’s alibi is solid, and he can’t think of anyone who would have wanted to hurt her.”
Trent looked over at her. “That should add more assurance—not a copycat of a copycat.”
“You’re probably right.”
