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“So how was the third victim linked back to the Countess?” Carson asks suddenly.
My chest prickles with apprehension, and I don’t look his way. “I’m not sure yet.”
“But if you don’t know, then who does? If the UNSUB is mutilating women based on the Blood Countess’s murders, then—”
“Carson. The UNSUB’s methodology is evolving. Even though he’s emulating Bathory, he’s still his own killer.” I face him then. “He’s a sadist who derives pleasure from torturing and killing his victims. He’s delusional—he’s built an alternate reality for himself where Bathory plays a role, but he’s still feeding his own sick need to kill. He’s capable of anything, really.”
Carson studies me closely, brown eyes flicking over my face, and I suddenly regret giving him an inch back there to get close to me. “You’re saying you think the third murder of the rope suspended victim was more his own method and not related to his overall masterwork?”
“Yes.” And for the most part, I have to believe that. Because the alternative is too frightening to admit. That both the victims at the last crime scene were a message to me—and that the UNSUB knows intimate details about my relationship to Colton.
“I’ve already covered all this with Quinn and Wexler,” I say, exasperation edging into my voice. “You’re on a need-to-know basis as far as the full profile goes, Carson. Work your assignments. Or else you’re just going to tick Quinn off even more.”
I glimpse his smug smile from the corner of my vision. “Not when I give him the report about the victims’ connection to The Lair.”
Shit. With the new crime scene taking precedence, I nearly forgot about that detail.
Carson moves forward, not waiting any longer to give Quinn that information. As soon as Quinn hangs up with the reporter, Carson is there, ready to gain Quinn’s favor again.
“Dammit,” Quinn shouts, then cups the side of his face.
“You should really get that root canal,” I say as I walk past, quickly getting out of the line of fire before he can lash back.
Leaving Carson to give the full report on the victimology linkage, I put my full attention on the current victim. With the Bathory crest in full view—something bold that differentiates from the past, subtle hints—the UNSUB is very well trying to tell me something new.
Now that the UNSUB is abducting victims to torture for longer periods of time, that means he could already have another woman. I take out my phone and make a note to update the task force to start scouring the local reports of missing women, starting from the last twenty-four hours and going back through the past month.
“Avery,” I say to myself, “where are you.” I really need the M.E. to give us a timeline. How long the victim was tortured, her time of death…and if possible, an identity. I need to know if this victim was also a member of The Lair.
“Group up,” Quinn hollers. I look over to see him motioning to me and other members of his task force.
Falling in behind the rest, I reach into my pocket for a piece of gum. My nerves are about hacked today, and I’m tempted to just buy a damn pack of cigarettes.
“Listen up,” Quinn starts. “There’s a leak in this department.” Curious grumbles travel the task force. “Shut it. When I find out who it is—and I will—that person will never work in law enforcement again, you can bet your ass. But for now, we have more pressing matters.” He points to his first in command on the force, Kyle. “You’re in charge of forming a low key stakeout. I’ll give you the location soon. I want four unis at this location tonight.”
Kyle nods. “Do we have a suspect?”
Quinn runs a hand over his jaw. “We have new information on the victims, and a possible point of abduction. We’re going to watch this spot and the surrounding area closely. I want anything—anything that looks the least bit suspicious—reported to me immediately.”
He finishes giving the task force their new assignments—mine being to backtrack the new information on the victims—then closes out with a reminder to everyone that this is highly confidential information.
“If I hear that it’s anyone on this task force—” his gaze sweeps the group “—I shouldn’t have to repeat myself. I’m tired of this sadistic bastard making us chase our tails. Let’s bring him in, people.”
With the task force now watching The Lair, it’s only a matter of time before Quinn makes the connection between Colton being the first vic’s neighbor. Which means he’ll soon be brought in for questioning.
I start toward Carson’s car, ready to put my own skills to more useful means to find the UNSUB, when Quinn approaches me. “Bonds, I need you for a minute.”
A sinking feeling grabs ahold of my stomach. I know Quinn well enough to predict when he’s about to request something that I’m not comfortable with. “What do you have?”
“Nothing, really. A feeling. I don’t know.” He shakes his head. “But that’s why I need you to look into something for me. Just you.”
I raise my eyebrows. “You mean I can’t include boy wonder over there?”
He gives me a mock smile. “Funny. Carson’s a good kid. Maybe a bit too eager, but that’s not such a bad thing when working a case like this. He did give us the only major break we’ve had on the vics so far.”
Hell. A break that has the ACPD about to swarm all over The Lair, Colton…and then inevitably me. My member file is located in that club. I might have joined under a pseudonym, but that won’t deter detectives. Especially stubborn, case-making detectives like Quinn.
“He’s not all bad,” I say, shrugging. “But I seriously do not need to be babysat, Quinn. I work alone. You know this.”
