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Her phone rang, startling her. She answered it as she remained in the doorway, looking into an office that would never again be used by Molly Stevens. She saw Sullivan’s number on her display screen and answered.
“This is Gift.”
“Agent Gift, it’s Sullivan. You, uh…you may want to come down to the station. We got some mail.”
“Mail?”
“Yeah. The killer…he sent some messages, straight to the police department. Nothing of use, really…just taunting us. Still, I figured you might want to take a look.”
A killer that sent messages was both dangerous and foolish. Rachel felt her anxiety swell a bit, sensing that this case was about to hit another level. Because if this maniac was taunting the police force in the midst of his killing spree, it meant he had no fear—that this had become nothing more than a game to him.
True, this boastful action could backfire on him and provide them with more clues and insight into his character.
But it could also mean that he was about to ramp things up…and that this entire sick game could only just be beginning.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Rachel found the precinct alive with chatter, the pace sounding like a buzzing beehive as she stepped through the front doors. Apparently, the killer’s little delivery had gotten everyone on edge. She could feel it in the air as she passed through the station toward Sullivan’s office—a tension and borderline anger that was going to make it quite an interesting day for most of these officers.
She found Sullivan in his office, speaking with another man. The badge on this man’s chest identified him as Captain Moreno. he stopped mid-sentence when Rachel stepped into the office.
“You’re Agent Gift, I take it?” he asked.
“I am.”
“Rachel Gift,” Sullivan said from behind his desk, “this is Captain Moreno.”
“Did you find anything at Stevens’ office?” Moreno asked, not interested in formalities.
“No, sir. Nothing.”
Moreno slapped his hand down on Sullivan's desk, where a bagged piece of paper sat in the center. "Well, I know I have no rule or reign over you, Agent Gift, but I'd greatly appreciate it if the two of you can wrap this shit up as quickly as possible."
“Yes, I—”
But Moreno was apparently not interested in what she had to say. He gave her a look that wasn’t quite angry (it very close) and then stormed out, slamming the door closed behind him.
“And that’s my Captain,” Sullivan said. “I’ve just been told that I am not to so much as think about another case until this one is closed. As if I needed to be told that. Anyway…yes,” he said, nodding toward the plastic bag on his desk. “That’s the mail we got from the killer.”
Rachel picked up the evidence bag. The letter consisted of a single sheet of notebook paper. The left side was ridged with tattered spital tears, indicating it had come out of a spiral notebook. As for the text, it was written in all caps, in exaggerated squared-off shapes. any hope of running any sort of handwriting analysis would be useless. The letter read: By the time you receive this, I will have killed three. And if you pursue me, I will only work faster. I will not be stopped. These people have no right to play God, to push their deplorable practices on the world. I will stop them here in Seattle, and then I will move elsewhere. If you attempt to stop me, I will kill others as well—innocents who may happen to get in my way. I do not want to do this, but someone has to do it. It must be done.
“And this came in the standard mail?” Rachel asked.
“Yes. The envelope was placed into another bag and it’s currently with forensics.”
“So he had to have mailed this yesterday at some point.”
“Yeah, before three in the afternoon for it to get here this morning.”
“Which means he’s planned this very rigidly. He sent it yesterday, having already claimed he’s taken three lives, even before killing Molly Stevens.”
“I know. Sort of creepy, right?”
She nodded her agreement. “Where are we on that list of other doctors and experts in the field?”
“Already compiled. We’ve got units heading out to speak to all of them. Oh, and better than all of that, one of the people on the list actually offered to assist in any way she could. She said she knew Emma Willis especially well and wants to see this come to an end."
“You spoke with her?”
