“Hey. Have you seen a man in a long, tattered, brown coat and a knit hat with a hole in the back?”
“You mean, Max? Yeah, he’s across the street at the diner.” He points.
“Thank you.” I nod.
We walk across to the diner. When we step inside, Max is sitting in a corner booth. Elijah and I slide into the seat across from him.
“Max?” I ask.
“Who wants to know?” He bites into his large double burger.
“I’m Detective Walker, and this is Detective Matthews. You just pawned a diamond ring at the pawn shop a couple of blocks from here.”
“Yeah? So?”
“Where did you get the ring?” Elijah asks.
“I found it.”
“Where?” I ask.
“I woke up this morning, and it was lying on the ground next to me. I’m not the only one, though.”
“What do you mean?” My brows furrow.
“There was a bunch of jewelry scattered around all of us. We each got a piece of the pie.” A piece of burger flew out of his mouth and hit Elijah in the face. It took everything I had not toburst out into laughter. “We all split up and hit different pawn shops.”
That’s why there was nobody around the alley except that one man. My phone rings. Pulling it from my pocket, it’s Officer Lee calling.
“What do you have, Lee?” I answer.
“Jewelry is being pawned all over Brooklyn,” he says.
“That’s because it was dumped around homeless people. Thanks for letting me know.” I end the call and turn my attention back to Max. “So you didn’t see or hear anything last night?”
“Nothing. I woke up to find the ring lying there, so I pawned it. A good meal is hard to come by these days.”
“Okay.” I slide out of the booth. “Thank you for your time.”
Elijah and I leave the diner. “So our Widowmaker is giving to the poor? Like he’s some kind of Robin Hood.” Elijah’s brow arches.
“It’s not about the money. He has no interest in the jewelry or what it costs. He only takes the items to make it seem like a robbery after he murders them. It’s all about the cheating. He’s punishing the men for cheating. Or should I say she?”
18
DAHLIA
Before
I thoughtKat had found the perfect man this time after moving to Rockstead. Brian Grisham was cute. He worked in construction and had the muscles of a God. The town envied them. They were the perfect couple—always smiling and happy and not shy about showing public affection. Brian loved Kat. I do believe that. But his love for her wasn’t enough to keep him from finding comfort in another woman’s arms.
Bastard.
How could he do that to her?
He needs to be punished for his sins. His fate was determined the moment he cheated on her.
Yes, Katherine will be devastated, but she’ll survive. She’ll rebuild her life and continue her search for the perfect man. Hopefully, when she does, I won’t have to kill him.
