Page 63 of Playing With Temptation

“Did he mention the smell?” Ethan asked.

“The man was pale, shaking, and looked like he was going to pass out. I got what I got and sent him on his way with instructions he wasn’t to leave the hospital until you got there to question him.” She paused and transferred her attention back to Samantha. “Anna’s on her way.”

Those last words were spoken softly.

It took a lot to shake Paula Anderson. Before she was promoted to Captain, she moved through the ranks. She was a good police officer with just the right amount of compassion and skepticism. Right now, she was letting her compassion for the victim bleed through her normal composure. Which was another reason I liked and respected the woman—she was human and she never gave her officers the barest hint they needed to bury their feels and not care about the horrors we saw. It was the opposite—she led by example, showing everyone in the department she cared deeply about every case and they damn well better too, because by her way of thinking, policing was the most important job there was.

And I didn’t disagree.

So, hell yeah, I respected her, as did every man and woman who was under her command.

“Crime scene on their way, too?” Ethan inquired.

“Yeah. I called in Jake and Devon.”

Jake and Devon had processed the scene at Bryant Commons Park.

“You think we have a serial?” I asked.

“You don’t?” she shot back with a raised brow.

“I do. Just wanted your take.”

Captain Anderson looked back down at Samantha. “I’m no medical examiner but I’ve seen enough autopsy photos to know this woman was strangled, just like Ashley Monroe was. Both dumped in water. Recently broken up with their boyfriends. Both dark hair. Roughly the same height. Five-year age gap between them but still fits a tight target age group. Whoever did this is either ramping up, or they’ve done it before and gotten away with it. My guess, they’ve done it before. It takes a lot to strangle someone without a struggle and the GBI didn’t find sedatives or drugs of any kind in Ashley’s system, and no defensive wounds. She was overtaken, overpowered, and killed quickly. That takes practice.”

She echoed my thoughts—recently broken up with a boyfriend.

“Did you find an online dating profile for Ashley?” I asked Ethan.

“No, and no dating apps on her phone. But on our way to the hospital, we’ll call Nikki and ask her to work her magic.”

Nikki Collins was one of our cyber techs. If Ashley had a profile, she’d find it.

“Are we waiting for Anna?” Ethan went on.

I didn’t need the years we’d been partners to cipher his preference.

“I’m good.”

“We’ll see you back at the station, Cap,” Ethan bid her goodbye.

“Jase,” Captain Anderson called out as I was walking away. “I don’t know what you remember from the hospital. I told you then and I’ll say it again, I’m happy you’re alright.”

“Thanks, Cap.”

“Saying that to take the sting out of this,” she went on. “If your medical clearance isn’t on my desk tomorrow before you hit yours, I’m sending you home with a written warning.”

Fuck.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Go. You have a witness to interview. Doctor first thing in the morning.”

“Yes, Cap.”

We were back in the car when Ethan muttered, “You got off easy, brother.”

“Yup.”