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“This isn’t the first time MO has changed, Doc.” Fox wanders a little closer and digs his hands into his pockets. “This is just the first caseyou’vecaught where it’s changed. Last one was different too, but we didn’t make it public.”
“Okay?” I place my hand on the passenger side. “So what’s different?”
“Eyes.”
Confused, I carefully lift the handle and slowly drag the door open. “What?”
“Eyes.” He nods again, so my gaze follows his direction.
Blood coats the inside of the car; so much messier than any of the previous cases I’ve run for these cops. The passenger sits slumped forward, her hands in her lap, her hair dangling down to cover her face.
My heart thunders faster. My stomach dips with odd nerves.
With gloved hands, I tilt the woman’s head back—and gasp. “Her eyes are gone.” Then I shove straight when my instincts finally catch up. “Her eyes are gone! Evacuate. Now.”
“What?” Detective Fox, meat-headed and slow-footed, remains still, even as I drop the woman’s face and spin to bolt. “Doct—”
“Leave!” I dash straight into his chest, spasming when his hands come to my arms. “You have to leave!”
“What the hell are you—”
BANG!
One gunshot makes me jump.
BANG!
The second makes me jolt back from Fox’s squeezing hold. Then I slam a hand to my mouth when the man, so strong and proud only a moment ago, drops to his knees and stares up at me as though in prayer.
A horrifying bullethole sizzles where his eyeball was a moment ago.
“Oh my god.” In my mind, I scream when Detective Fox’s body falls forward and his face slams against my stomach. “Oh my god!” I screech when, practically levitating, I remember Archer’s words and let Fox fall to the ground in a crumpled mess.
Cut and run, Minka. Cut and get the fuck outta there!
I twist in search of Officer Grayson, only to find him laid out on the dirt about three feet from my bag.
Then I spin again and press a hand to my rebelling stomach when I find a gun pointed toward a third head.
An innocent.
A child.
“Minka Mayet.” The man standing across from me stares from fifteen feet away. His eyes dance with mirth, and his smile glistens. He’s handsome, if only I could be objective. “I suppose I should introduce myself, right? It’s the polite thing to do.”
“Mia?” My body trembles as I look into the little girl’s honeycomb eyes.
She’s beyond sobbing. Long past screaming. Now, she merely cries in silence and holds the arm that wraps around her torso to keep her aloft.
She doesn’t want him, and yet, she clings in fear of falling.
“Baby, are you okay?”
“She’s fine.” Grinning, the man who doesn’t share a great deal of resemblance to his brothers saunters forward. “We’ve been having a great time, actually. Uncle Felix was excited to meet his niece.”
“Uncle F—” I choke on the word and look around, for help. For inspiration. “Your name is Felix? F-Felix Malone?”
“Does my baby brother talk of me often?” He drags his tongue along his top lip, grinning to make it all the more suggestive. “I had no clue he was shacking up with some smart doctor. He didn’t even tell me he had a kid on the way. But here we are.” He shakes Mia so she cries out and clings tighter to his arm. “Different last names, Mayet? You not about the traditions?”
