A dark voice in the back of Marcus’s mind, one he hadn’t heard since his military days, suggested it might be best to put him down for good this time.
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Hmm.That doesn’t sound like a cipher.”
Her face fell.“That’s what Marcus says.And I get that it’s not a cipher according to the textbook definition, but it’ssomething, right?I mean… I’m not crazy.This sounds like something Cox would do, doesn’t it?”
Gabe’s tone was gentle when he replied, “I would never presume to call you crazy, Kate.However, I have to admit that itdoesappear to be a stretch to believe these murders are connected to Elijah Cox.”
“They have to be,” Kate insisted.She was aware that shesoundedcrazy, and that did nothing to improve her mood.“Everything else fits.”
“I can’t speak to what else you’re seeing,” Gabe replied, still in that gentle tone, the tone someone might use to calm a hysterical patient.“But I can say that there’s nothing on the surface that suggests acipher, per se.”
Kate grabbed onto that,per se, like a lifeline."But itisa message, isn’t it?”
“Of a sort, yes.A deeply hidden one.The killer is pointing out something specific about each victim, daring people to understand.Or perhaps one person.”
Yeah.Me.“What do you think it means?”
“Well, the eighth commandment is thou shalt not steal.If thisisCox, then it’s safe to believe that he’s punishing them for breaking that commandment.”
Kate paced back and forth in front of the house.Detective French was on his way to the crime lab to drop off the ceramic bird.He promised to be back to take the two of them to a rental car agency so they could have their own transportation, but for the moment, Kate was alone.
“They have no criminal records, though.None of them.I checked while I was talking to you.”
“Oh, sothat’swhy you sounded distracted.You know, I much prefer face-to-face conversations for that reason.You can’t ignore someone when you’re looking them in the eye.”
"I wasn't ignoring you.I was fact-checking to ensure I was on the right track."
“I also prefer face-to-face conversation because it’s easier to tell when someone is teasing that way.As for the criminal records, that only means they haven’t been caught.”
Kate relaxed slightly.“That’s what I told Marcus, but he didn’t bite.”
“Well, it’s still a rather thin case,” Gabe replied.“But I’m not a detective, so I’ll limit my help to the question you asked me.If this is a cipher of some sort, then Cox is using those objects as symbols of the theft committed that justified their death.”
“How?”
“That, I believe, will end up being the primary question you must answer.Send me the photographs.I’ll take a look and see if I can find an historical analogue.I know that betrothed women were required in some societies to provide bloody sheets as a token of their virginity either on or before their wedding nights.Perhaps there are other examples of objects used as accusatory evidence in religious settings.”
Kate wrinkled her nose at Gabe’s example.“I’m pretty sure Cox isn’t taking their virginity.”
“No, but he is shedding their blood.You’d be surprised at the parallels between the taking of virginity and the taking of a life throughout history.Blood is sacred in many cultures, and when it’s shed, even through something so simple as the sexual act—”
“Sounds fascinating,” Kate interrupted, “but I see Marcus coming, so I’m going to have to cut you off there.See what you can dig up for me.”
“I will.How are you doing, Kate?”
Kate tensed a little.“Fine.I’m good, really.I have to go, Gabe.We’ll talk later.”
“Of course.Just take care of yourself.Please.”
Kate hung up before Gabe could make things even more awkward and smiled at her partner.“Get anything?”
Marcus walked stiffly, hands in his pockets, eyes narrowed, mouth pinched together in an almost childlike moue.He looked at Kate and deflated, shoulders and head dropping.“Yeah.”
“What is it?”Kate asked.
“It’s Cox,” Marcus said softly.
