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TWENTY-THREE
By dawn, Josie and Noah were exhausted and no closer to finding the killer. Luke and Blue had shown up ready to work but Blue was only able to follow the killer’s scent from Eve’s car out to the road and then about a half-mile south, which led Josie to believe that he’d stashed another vehicle out there for the purpose of leaving once he’d killed Eve. How he had gotten from the stashed vehicle to the park was another matter. On foot? Bicycle? By some other means? Had someone helped him? Josie shuddered to think a killer this ruthless had help. There was also the possibility that he’d used a ride-sharing service. She had prepared a warrant for all the area ride-share services to see if anyone had picked up or dropped off a passenger in that area in the relevant time period. They would have to wait for those results. Josie hoped it would not take more than a day.
When Blue’s search turned up nothing, they scrutinized the evidence available to them after Hummel and the ERT processed the scene and car. None of the prints found inside or out of the vehicle were in AFIS. The puzzle box found near Eve Bowers’s body was empty. Josie had no idea what kind of game the killer was playing but she knew that whatever it was, Beau Collins was the center of it. The killer had killed his wife and her assistant, leaving puzzle boxes from Beau and Claudia’s show at the scenes. In one of those boxes he’d left a page from their book. He’d gone to the trouble of removing Claudia’s engagement and wedding rings and putting them on Eve’s finger. The text to Margot from Eve’s phone was directed toward Beau.
Once Josie and Noah got access to Eve Bowers’s phone, it became clear that Beau had not been honest with them from the start.
As the sun rose over the ridges of the mountains surrounding Denton, Josie and Noah stood outside the door to Margot Huff’s apartment. Unlike Eve Bowers’s spacious first-floor unit with its small front walk and parking space, Margot’s place was deep inside a blocky, three-story building that boasted over fifty units. Threadbare brown carpet crunched beneath Josie’s feet as she pounded on the door for the third time. They hadn’t called ahead. A unit had been assigned to Beau Collins. Josie had only needed to call them to find out Beau had arrived at Margot’s place shortly after the scene at the studio the day before and had not left.
“Mr. Collins, Ms. Huff!” Josie said loudly. “It’s Denton PD.”
Down the hallway, a woman in a shower cap poked her head out her door. Josie managed a tight smile for her, and she retreated into her apartment.
Margot’s door swung open. Beau Collins stood before them in a white T-shirt and pair of dark blue pajama pants. He squinted against the harsh hallway lights. His hair was in disarray. A patchy beard covered his face. “What’s going on?” he said.
Noah said, “Mr. Collins, we need to talk.”
Wordlessly, he moved out of the way and let them inside. The living room was tiny, not much bigger than the interview rooms at the stationhouse. Beau had to edge around them, nearly touching them both, to get to the couch. He bent to move a bedroom pillow and blanket out of his way before sitting down. He hooked a thumb over his shoulder. A kitchen and two other doors stood in semi-darkness. The only light in the entire place came from the fixture over the sink.
“Margot’s asleep,” Beau mumbled.
“Not anymore,” came a sleepy voice from the semi-darkness. Margot stepped out from behind one of the doors, pulling a hooded sweatshirt around her. “What’s going on?”
“Sit,” Josie told her.
Margot perched on the edge of the couch, leaving two feet between her and Beau. She stared up at Josie and Noah with apprehension. Her voice squeaked when she asked, “Did you find Eve?”
Josie was a firm believer in giving bad news as quickly and directly as possible without dragging it out. Best to rip off the bandage and be done with it. “Her body was found about late morning yesterday. She was murdered. Our county medical examiner contacted the medical examiner where Eve’s parents live. They were notified about a half hour ago.”
Margot pressed a palm over her mouth. Her body rocked back and forth.
Beau blinked away any remaining exhaustion. “What?” he said. “You can’t be serious. I don’t understand. I just saw Eve—we were all here in this apartment Friday night. She was fine. Why would he kill her? Why her?”
Noah said, “We’re very sorry for your loss.”
“What did he do to her?” Beau demanded, voice stronger now.
“We’re not at liberty to give out those details,” Josie said. “I’m sorry.”
“But you think it’s the same guy?” Beau pressed. “The same monster who killed my wife?”
Noah said, “Yes, we do.”
Margot cried softly. Her hands curled into the sleeves of her sweatshirt, and she used them to wipe her tears. Beau looked over at her, as if he was considering trying to offer her comfort, but decided not to, returning his attention to Josie and Noah.
Josie took out her phone and pulled up a photo of Claudia’s rings. She showed it to Beau. “Are these your wife’s rings?”
Beau stared at it, uncomprehending. “Y-yes,” he stammered. “I don’t understand what this—”
“The killer took them from Claudia on Friday. After he killed Eve, he put them on her hand,” Noah said.
Beau pushed his hands through his hair. “I don’t understand.”
Josie said, “Neither do we. We were hoping you could explain to us why the killer would do this.”
“Me? How the hell would I know?”
“Mr. Collins,” said Noah. “We know you haven’t been truthful with us.”
