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What I found interesting was the catch in his voice, almost as if he’d expected something of this nature.
“What do you make of it? Some vampire-type group hunting victims at random?” I sat back in my chair, folding my arms across my chest. My action drew his gaze, his eyes falling from my face to my chest then back up. I could swear the man was sneering.
“There are several active cult-style groups that are listed in and around the Denver area so that’s a remote possibility.”
“Why remote?”
“Because wannabe vampires drink blood. Some have altered their dentistry with implants in order to perform whatever bloodsucking act they think will garner them mortality.”
Sighing, I glanced at the pictures again. “Instead of ripping out their throats.” I studied the images, trying to make sense of what I was seeing. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say we were dealing with the paranormal.”
Max laughed, folding his hands together. “Meaning what, Detective? Ghosts? Demons?”
I swallowed before answering, unable to look into his eyes. “Werewolf.”
“There are no such things as werewolves.” There was such defiance in his tone, such certainty.
“Of course there isn’t. But there are dangerous criminals hell bent on crushing people’s lives.”
“Said like a woman who knows from experience.”
I laughed softly, once again unable to look him in the eyes. “My life is my life. Okay?” He didn’t need to know that every man I’d dated had faded into the woodwork the moment they learned I was a cop.
“I’m your partner and as such, we’re going to stay in direct communication. I want you to call me tonight when you get home and check in. Do you understand?”
“My God. You think you’re my keeper. That’s insane.”
“What I know, Kathleen, is that if you’re correct in your assumptions this is a very human killer, then you already got too close. The murderer likely knows who you are and given the nature of his crimes, he won’t appreciate having any loose ends. Do you understand what I’m saying to you?”
I didn’t answer right away.
“Do you?” he snapped.
“Yes. Fine. Okay? I get it. I’ll let you know I’m all right.”
He took a deep breath before moving away. “You’re one rebellious woman determined to go it alone. Just remember that monsters like the one who murdered these people feed off easy prey.”
As he walked away, his words haunted the hell out of me, and I shivered to the core.
* * *
“There you are!” My mother’s gleeful voice was full of happiness, her eyes lit up from the joy of the day as well as at least two glasses of wine. I couldn’t blame her. My father took every opportunity to gloat about his good fortune to anyone who set foot over the threshold. Today would be no exception.
“I’m sorry I’m late. Traffic was a bear.” I wasn’t lying. Just getting out of the city had taken me twice as long as normal but the real reason for my tardiness was the time I’d spent with Max. While he hadn’t laughed me out of the police precinct with my idea, he had attempted to undermine my theory.
There were no such things as werewolves.
Okay, so my rational side knew that, but what other explanation could there be? I thought about my grandmother’s beliefs and the stories I’d heard for a few seconds before shaking them off. The call we’d received from the medical examiner with his promised update only added fuel to my fire. Sadly, he’d been unable to identify the saliva found in the wounds. While he did mention it was possible the substance had been tainted by some unknown drug, he wasn’t willing to add a label stating either animal or human. The inconclusive findings could fuel whatever news reports were issued later on.
Which could start a citywide panic.
The call I’d placed to animal control hadn’t offered any help either. They’d caught four foxes, a bear, and shot two wolves, but their autopsies hadn’t revealed any human remains.
We were at square one with no other evidence. Captain Walters hadn’t taken the news very well either. The killer was brilliant in my mind, performing the kills without so much as a single drop of his, her, or its blood found at any of the crime scenes.
“Are you with us, darling?” my mother asked, narrowing her eyes.
“I’m sorry. Just working long hours.”
