“It’s less obvious than the others.I’ll show you later.The point is, I think the killer chose those specific items and placed them in specific places to send a message.”
“I agree.I just…” He took a deep breath.“I don’t think the killer is Cox.”
There it is.“I know it’s a bit of a deviation from his ordinary pattern, but it still carries the most important hallmarks of a commandment killing.”
“It’s completely missing those hallmarks,” Marcus insisted, spreading his hands like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.Which, apparently, he couldn’t.“Cox and his disciples use murders to send messages to people.There’s no point message here.”
“He kills people who break commandments, and the ciphers explain to others how those commandments are broken.The cipher might be different here, but there’s definitely a message.”
“A message for who?No one cares…” He pressed his lips together for a moment, then amended, “People are upset by Schulz’s death, but notthatupset.And if he wants to teach people not to steal, then where’s the cipher?”
“He’s explaining to me,” Kate said, skirting around an answer.
Marcus frowned, and this time, there was emotion behind the frown.“Where’s the cipher, Kate?”
“The objectsarethe cipher,” Kate insisted.“Think about it.At each home, an object is placed in an odd position and pointed some way.”
“So these guys are untidy.”
“You’re being obtuse.”
“And you’re being obsessive.”Kate stiffened, but Marcus didn’t back down.“I know you hate when I say this, but it’s true.This is what I was worried about.You see himeverywhere, Kate.He’s gotten into your head.”
“I stand by my analysis of the scene,” Kate said tersely.“The objects are the cipher.I don’t know if Cox is the murderer, or if it’s one of his disciples, or if it’s just someone inspired by him, but I know for a fact that this is a commandment killing.I need you to trust me.”
Marcus took a deep breath, then released it in a soft whistle.He shook his head, but his face showed that he was going to acquiesce.“Okay.Let’s check Schulz’s criminal record and see what pops up.”
Kate sighed.“He doesn’t have a criminal record.”
Marcus threw his hands in the air.“Kate, Jesus.”
“Not all of our victims have criminal records.In fact, most of them don’t.”
“Okay, well, it’s hard to steal and not have a criminal record.”
“It’s hard to getcaughtstealing and not have a criminal record,” Kate corrected.
“So Cox somehow figured out that four different people in four different states stole stuff, and he’s using trinkets in their house to send you a message about it?”
“Yes.”
“And you can support that with evidence?”
Kate bit her lip to control her tone.“We’re looking for the evidence now.That’s why we’re here.”
“Well, we’re supposed to find the evidence and draw conclusions after we find it, not the other way around.”
Kate stared daggers at Marcus.He held her gaze.She took one deep breath, then another.As she exhaled, she said, “Very well.I will refrain from jumping to the conclusion that Cox is behind this until we have further evidence.You said he attended mass?”
“Yeah.Every Sunday morning.”
“Well, he was killed Sunday evening.Maybe he confessed something and word got around to Cox.”A lightbulb went off in her head.“Maybe he confessedtoCox.”
“You think Cox is working at the parish church?”
“I think we should find out.That’s your lead, so go to the church and follow up.See if there’s a new priest or a traveling priest.Bonus points if that priest is from Virginia.”
“Virginia?”
