Page 4 of Coordinates of Death

Wheeler cursed. “Great. Can’t wait for the press to catch wind of this.” He hissed out a breath. “Hunt, if you’re right and this is SBK, you need to finish what you started two years ago. No mistakes this time. No distractions. Catch this guy.”

Aurora winced at her sergeant’s underlying message.

Do your job before I strip you of your promotion.

She squeezed her eyes shut to block out the scene before her and her leader’s doubts about her ability to catch this killer. Not that she totally blamed him. Her guilt over letting SBK get away still haunted her—and her dreams.

“Hunt, I’m finished.” Black’s voice bellowed for her attention.

She popped her eyes open. “Sirs, Black is calling me. Gotta run.”

“Be safe,” Hill said before disconnecting the call.

Aurora pocketed her phone and hurried back to Black’s side. “What do you have?”

“No prints, so we’re ready to open the box. Not that we expected there would be. Do you want to do the honors, or shall I?” She moved the box closer.

Aurora squatted in the snow. “I’ve got this.” She pulled off her gloves and willed her shaky fingers to still. God, give me strength. Aurora felt around the box in search of the concealed clasp she guessed was there. Finding it, she pressed the button. The glass-encased flower lid sprang open, and she peered inside.

And gasped.

A bloody index finger lay nestled in the folds of a wine-colored velvet cloth with a logo and name embroidered at the top.

Aurora.

She sucked in a breath, her pulse jackhammering. “No!” She dropped the box and fell back onto her butt, catching herself with her hands.

Dr. Sharpe used his magnifying glass and observed the image before moving back to the woman’s body, inspecting her ear. “That logo looks the same as the one on the victim’s earlobe.”

“That’s new. According to the files I read, he only included the logo on the box last time, and it’s slightly different, like it’s evolving into a complete symbol.” Black shifted the discarded box. “Wait, there’s something beneath the finger.”

Aurora set aside the terror whizzing through her body and analyzed the contents.

A cell phone was tucked under the cloth.

“Let me examine it.” Black checked for prints. After a few minutes, she turned to her. “Nothing. Go ahead.”

Aurora tapped, bringing the phone to life.

A fingerprint image appeared, indicating how to unlock the screen.

She eyed the finger. “This guy is sick. He’s taunting us to unlock the phone with the finger.”

Dr. Sharpe removed the fur muff from the victim and let out a cry.

The woman’s entire right hand was missing. He rushed from his position. “Let me do that. It’s part of her body and my jurisdiction.”

“Understood.” Aurora backed away.

The coroner carefully lifted the finger from the fabric and pressed it against the screen. The phone flashed and came to life, revealing a message.

Rory, you have to play the game in order to save my next victim. Your first clue is hidden on a mountain. She has 36 hours. Only you and one other person can play. Not your constable friends. I will know. Click on the website below to find the rules. Can you survive the elements before you finish the race? I know how you hate winter.

Ticktock. SBK

The website link was included beneath the message.

Multiple questions tumbled through her mind. How did SBK learn so much about Aurora? Did he have a spy within the force? And who could she bring in to help? One name came to mind.