“Power.” Elliot’s eyes meet mine. “He didn’t enjoy the murders themselves. He liked the power he had over his victims. That was his motivation.”
I nod. “I’m sure Meena would love all the insight you can share. Maybe we can find him together after this case is over?” The idea of Elliot actively seeking out a criminal makes my claws itch with the need to stab anyone who looks at him wrong, but I know he needs to hear this.
He smiles at me, one of those rare slight hitches on either side of his lips. It brightens up his entire face. Nodding, he tightens his grip on my hand.
Sam sighs a loud sigh. “So Raymond ran and left Elliot alone because he was running from your super agents? Ugh, you guys are grossly meant to be together.”
***
The surveillance pays off. Another murder happens just two days later, three days before Meena had planned to pull manpower from the case.
I got the call from the off-site agent who was posted outside the victim’s home last night. He took pictures of every car that went inside the building, as we’ve been doing for the past week. While he was doing a routine sweep of the victim's floor before his shift ended, he picked up a faint scent of decaying flesh.
I leave my apartment in a rush, thanking all the stars I was working too late on the theft case last night, enough that I didn’t go over to Elliot’s and Mickey spent the night there. I have a feeling I have many late nights ahead of me.
I thought about calling Elliot about the recent development, but dismissed it. He won’t appreciate being woken up at five, even if it is to catch a murderer who’s copying his identity.
I reach the apartment complex in half the time it would have taken me at any time of the day, but Matt's there before me. I park right behind his truck, across the street from the victim’s building.
Matt is leaning against his car, his hands folded across his chest, when I walk up to him. “You know it’s preferable if the agents investigating a murder arrive at the scene alive.”
He laughs, then shakes my hair. “Not all of us drive like a grandma, little bro.”
I shake off his hand before glaring at him as we walk towards the building together. We stroll in confidently. Theguard has already been distracted by a complaint about loud music on one of the floors. We saunter through the long, expensive-looking reception area with golden sconces and pristine white walls. Entering the elevator, I push the button for the victim’s floor.
“So what do we know?” Matt asks me as the elevator climbs up.
“Jason caught the scent right before his shift was about to end. So, the man must have been dead for hours. Marcus is already at the apartment.” The elevator stops on the ninth floor.
We make our way to Apartment 906, which we would have found even without the apartment number. I can smell two werewolves, one of whom is very dead, as soon as the elevator doors open.
I twist the doorknob and walk into a clean living room filled with polished wood furniture and dark red accents. Everything about it screams expensive. Matt follows me in and closes the door behind him. We can’t see Marcus or the body anywhere.
Looking around for any lingering evidence, I follow the smells into the bedroom where Marcus is sitting on a chair beside the bed where the copycat killer’s latest victim lies. Lucas Hall. “I know this guy,” I mutter, surprised.
“Yeah?” Matt asks from behind me.
I nod, looking at the face I’d only seen once, but it was hard to miss since the LAPD has been looking for him for over a week regarding the missing prototype case. “His team at the university reported a theft a few weeks ago.”
“Well, then you should definitely search this place.” Marcus joins us at the bedroom door. “The man has been involved in way too many crimes not to have stolen whatever was stolen.”
“Maybe. Do we know the time of death?” I ask. We don’t have much time here before we have to disappear. I can get a warrant for the place after his body is discovered.
“Between ten and twelve hours ago. I’ll know more later,but I’m sure it’s sometime between that,” Marcus says.
Matt takes out his phone. “I’ll tell Bree.” He walks away to make the call.
“We’re sure it’s them?” I ask, even though every single cell in my body knows it is.
Marcus confirms it. “Definitely. I’ll do proper bloodwork when the body comes in later. But it's a heart attack, alright.”
I sigh in relief. It’s almost unbelievable how easy this was. But it makes sense since this new killer is pretty green compared to Elliot and Sam, who’d been at this for almost a decade. Committing murders isn’t easy, and one way or the other, the killer always slips.
Matt comes back a few seconds later. “She’s looking through the pictures. We should have something soon.”
We scatter to look around a bit more without disturbing the place. Matt chooses to stay in the corner watching. In his words, he’s just here to provide moral support, not that I needed any.
By the time we leave, the apartment looks exactly like we found it. Marcus takes the elevator out, and Matt and I take the stairs in case the killer left something there. It’s just as clean and white as the reception, right down to the gold railings. Not even a speck of dust on the floor, let alone whole ass evidence.
