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"Entomologists and insect enthusiasts gather to share knowledge, trade specimens, and discuss innovations in the field," Darrell explained, a hint of pride creeping into his voice. "It's a big deal for people like me."
Obviously, Fiona knew this and was an entomologist, but Jake could see her holding in her desire to talk about it for now.
Jake studied Darrell's face, searching for any signs of deceit. The man seemed genuine enough, but there was something about his story that didn't sit right with him. Still, he couldn't dismiss this lead without proper investigation. He let out a slow breath, feeling the weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders.
"Fine," he conceded. "We'll look into your alibi. But don't think this gets you off the hook, Darrell. If we find anything that contradicts your story, you'll be the first to know."
"Fair enough," Darrell replied, his eyes locked onto Jake's. "But I'm telling you, I had nothing to do with those murders."
“We’ll see about that,” Jake said.
***
The atmosphere in the briefing room hung heavy with frustration and disappointment, a stark contrast to the bright sun that streamed through the window. Jake slumped in his chair, his fingers tapping impatiently on the table as he stared at the case files spread out before him. The hard evidence of Darrell's alibi had been undeniable; their number one suspect was no longer a viable lead.
"Damn it," he muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "I really thought we had him. He fit the profile so well."
Fiona leaned against the wall, her arms crossed and her brow furrowed in thought. "His alibi checked out, Jake. We can't ignore that just because we don't like it."
"I know," he sighed, feeling the weight of their responsibility to bring justice for the victims bearing down on him. "I just hate the thought of starting over from scratch."
"Look on the bright side," Fiona offered, trying to lift her partner's spirits. "At least now we have a new angle to pursue."
"Right," Jake nodded, forcing himself to focus on the task at hand. "The break-in at Darrell's farm. Whoever did that might be our killer."
"Exactly." Fiona pushed away from the wall and approached the table, her gaze scanning the photographs of the crime scenes. "If someone went to the trouble of stealing corpse fauna, it means they knew how to use them effectively. And that's not something your average criminal would know."
"Good point," Jake agreed, his mind racing with possibilities. "So, we need to find people with knowledge about insects and access to them, who might have a motive for these killings."
Jake's phone buzzed on the table, causing both agents to jump. The screen displayed Chief Whittaker's name, and Jake's stomach tightened with a sudden sense of dread. He picked up the phone and answered, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Chief, what's going on?"
"Jake, we've got another one," Chief Whittaker said gravely, his voice heavy with the burden of delivering bad news. "Another victim found in the same area as the others."
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Fiona shivered, pulling her jacket tighter around her as the chill of the September air nipped at her skin. The sun filtered through the trees, casting shadows on the forest floor. Despite the beauty of the woods surrounding her, her chest tightened with anxiety, fearful of what lay ahead.
Officer Hernandez led the way, his boots crunching through the fallen leaves. Fiona tried to calm her racing heart by focusing on the sound, but the dread continued to build.
"Here we are," Hernandez announced, his voice soft and solemn, stopping at the edge of a small clearing.
The sight that greeted Fiona was one she had feared – another victim. A man's lifeless body lay crumpled on the ground, still dressed in his police officer uniform. His flesh was pink, but fresh corpse fauna crawled all over him, a macabre dance of death. Fiona swallowed hard, her stomach churning.
"Same pattern," Jake muttered, crouching beside the body. "Hit from behind with a blunt object, then covered with those bugs to speed up decomposition."
"Definitely our killer's work," Fiona agreed, her voice barely audible as she fought back the bile rising in her throat. In her mind, she knew it was important to examine the scene thoroughly, but her heart ached for the man who had met such a brutal end. She took a deep breath before stepping forward, knowing that she couldn't let her emotions interfere with the investigation. It was crucial they find the connection between these victims and stop the murderer before anyone else suffered the same fate.
Fiona stared at the body, trying to comprehend the man's fate. Officer Hernandez hesitated before speaking, his eyes clouded with pain. "This is Chris Pinter," he said, voice barely above a whisper. "He was one of us—a good cop, well-respected."
"Damn," Jake muttered under his breath, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm so sorry, Hernandez."
Fiona echoed Jake's sentiment, her heart heavy in her chest.
"Did you know him personally?" Jake asked gently.
Hernandez nodded, swallowing hard. "Yeah, we worked together for years. He was a good friend."
