There was only one answer.
They had to stay ahead of this.
“We need to dig into Vina’s life, and fast. We also need to figure out what the messages he’s leaving means. The liar thing on the tongue has to connect. I just need some time to work through this. If need be, I’ll call Greyson and have him search the FBI databases for killings like this. If it’s not the skinning, maybe it’s the other message the killer is sending.”
They might need to do that.
Gene was honest, and he kept his voice incredibly low.
“I’m twitchy about them knowing the victim,” he whispered, making sure only Ethan heard him. “I know they are clean, and Dannie was helpful, but the media got to this scene fast tonight. They were here right after us.”
He was aware.
“If we don’t lock this down, something is going to get out, and we’re going to be the ones skinned next—by Greyson and Gabe.”
Ethan didn’t doubt that.
When the shit hit the fan, it would hit them first.
“I don’t want to have to do a media interview, other than the quick one I did outsideThe Tipsy Easel’,” Gene admitted. “It was bullshit. The next one won’t be.”
Yeah, him either.
“So, let’s divide and conquer,” he offered. “Vina’s house needs to be checked. We have to figure out where she was taken from, so let’s use them. That way, we can go over the information. I don’t want too much being filtered back to their boss. We’re going to have to lock them down so they don’t run their mouths or report in.”
Gene lifted a brow.
“I thought you said that Dannie found out it was their boss. Could he have lied?”
He nodded.
“Yeah, that’s possible. I mean, it also could be the ME. The homicide captain wants to keep his job, and he feels like the kind of dude who would want to protect it over any victims. The two detectives could be pissy we took over. The options are limitless now.”
Gene didn’t like that.
Not.
At.
All.
“The ME doesn’t like us. Could he have bailed this morning because he’s avoiding us because he’s involved? We thought that this person knows forensics, and the dude hates his job.”
Ethan didn’t know yet.
“That gives us a list of cops. On it, there would be the homicide captain, the two detectives, and the ME.”
Gene was feeling queasy, and he didn’t think it was the pain meds wearing off.
His partner saw his face.
“Are they involved? I don’t think so,” Ethan admitted, “but when you add in the fact that we don’t have shit… let’s just say that I don’t trust anyone but us.”
Gene wanted to make sure they kept this buttoned up, so no information was leaked.
It was time to be proactive. So, he headed over to their ME, and was stopped.
“It’s not morning yet, Agent,” Luis admitted. “I don’t have anything more to give you.”
