Page 104 of Fifty-Fifty

from some group or cult.’

‘Plus, she killed the cashier. The cashier was white.’

‘Nation First, the KKK, or whatever white supremacist group you care to mention, have no qualms about killing white people if they have to. But in this case, they didn’t have to. She planned to kill the cashier. Look …’

The video played, and Kate watched the figure more closely this time. It was clear to her now that it was a woman. The figure moved out of camera shot as

soon as she came into the store.

‘There. She came in, and the first thing she did was lock the sliding doors. So when the cashier saw what she did to the pharmacist, the cashier would run headlong into the doors, only they wouldn’t open as she expected. She could’ve

left the cashier alive. She didn’t. Nothing was taken from the pharmacy. No cash. No drugs. The killer used a blade. The axe is perfect for this. Heavy enough to cause massive damage, but light enough to wield and conceal.’

‘Why not use a gun?’

‘Guns leave rounds behind. Rounds can be traced. Plus, it’s noisy and it draws a lot of attention. Professional killers. Real pros. They get up close and personal with hits after a while. This woman …’ said Bloch, pointing to a frozen image of the figure in black on the screen. ‘This woman has killed before. She didn’t even run from the pharmacy desk to the cashier. She walked. Took her time. No panic. If …’

‘If what?’

Bloch studied the screen for a long time then said, ‘I’d say she enjoyed those kills.’

The waitress brought over a meatball sub, filled with marinara sauce. Kate’s salad and fries came next and Kate pushed the food away. Her appetite had left

the building. Bloch picked up the hoagie and bit into it. Marinara sauce dribbled over the side of her mouth and she wiped it away with a napkin.

‘I thought you were hungry?’ said Bloch.

Kate flipped her the bird. Bloch smiled.

‘I still don’t see how it’s related to the Avellino case,’ said Kate.

‘Well, it might not be. I need to check the sales records and stock reports for Haloperidol and take a look at the pharmacist. He was the main target. Have to be sure this wasn’t a revenge hit for him prescribing the wrong meds or something. I doubt it. All the same, I’d like to rule it out. There’s something else though, relevant to this case.’

Kate waited patiently.

Bloch took another bite of the sandwich. Swallowed it down, wiped her mouth and said, ‘You remember a few weeks ago – motion day? We saw a biker. All in

black. A woman. She cut us up and then burned a light right around the corner

from here.’

‘Come on. That’s nothing. Coincidence.’

Bloch used her tongue to dislodge a crumb of hoagie that had become stuck in her teeth. She took a long drink of coffee, leaned back and said, ‘I’ve seen her a few times since that day. Black leathers. Black helmet with a tinted screen. I saw her last night.’

‘Where?’

‘Across the street from your apartment.’

Kate froze, her mouth open, then she broke into easy laughter.

‘You almost had me, there. Come on, Bloch. You’re reading too much into this. Why would anyone be watching us?’

Bloch didn’t look like she was joking. She put down her sandwich and put Kate straight.

‘If I was on trial for a murder I committed, I’d be watching the lawyers too.

Both sides. Making sure no one figures it all out, and if they get too close – bam.’