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He glared at me.
”What? It’s nice.”
”It’s not nice,” he replied. ”They do it because no one can see me as weak.”
”And because they love you.”
He rolled his eyes, but he was smiling, then his expression sobered. ”Anyway,” he said. ”Let’s get back to the issue at hand here. The problem is that this man seems to know all our defenses, he seems to have unlimited resources and he is coming after us until something happens.”
”Why do you think it’s a man?” I asked him. I also thought it was a man, but I wanted to hear his theory; I might share mine with him later.
”Think about it,” he replied. ”The force it would take to press on someone’s windpipe for long enough to cut off their airway.”
He took his hands off the steering wheel, showing me his thumbs.
”Look at your hands,” he said. ”Now look at my hands. Sure, in theory, you could strangle someone to death, but it would be more difficult than if I were to do it. What do you think?”
”I think it’s a man too,” I said. ”But not because of his physical strength or anything, though I guess what you’re saying makes sense.”
He looked at me, waiting for me to elaborate.
”First, there are practical concerns; I know of few women who could spend that much time unaccounted for, even those without family. I have a feeling these killings take a long time.”
”Not if he–they–are well practiced with them, and they are.”
”Sure,” I replied. ”But beyond that, there’s the psychology of it. The way the killer leaves the bodies, posed and displayed like they’re trying to prove something. The fuckingorchid? It feels like they’re trying to make a statement about power and control. And that feels male to me.”
Teo nodded, his eyes on the road. ”I see what you mean. But we won’t know until we catch him.”
We arrived at the alleyway, the sun beating down on us. There were barriers between the street and the alley, and Teo parked in the back. There was graffiti on the back wall of the club, intricate bubble letters that spelled someone’s name in bright pink.
”You can stay behind if you want to,” Teo said.
”I don’t want to,” I replied, rushing past him.
Teo followed close behind as we made our way down the alleyway. I tried to keep my eyes off the ground, but the closer we got to the scene, the more it felt like I was walking into a nightmare. The smell of blood was overwhelming, and I had to cover my mouth to keep from gagging.
Grayson was already there, his face tight with anger and frustration. He nodded at Teo as we approached, then turned to look at me. He looked back at Teo, a question in his eyes.
Teo shrugged.
”She shouldn’t be here,” Grayson said.
I squared my shoulders, trying to look more confident than I felt. ”I want to help,” I said.
”She doesn’t have to see this, Teo,” he said, ignoring me. ”She can work on her article without seeing it.”
”How about you address me and don’t talk to me like I’m not here?” I asked, letting my temper get the best of me. ”I can handle it. Someone’s died and I might be able to help tell their story, Grayson. I know you want to protect me, but let me help.”
”If you’re sure this is a good idea,” he said, looking into my eyes, though I was certain he wasn’t addressing me.
”You heard her,” Teo said. ”She’s a grown woman. She can handle it.”
”I can barely fucking handle it,” Grayson snapped at him. ”And I’ve been in this life for a while.”
Teo considered this for a second, then put a hand on my shoulder. ”Grayson is right,” he said. ”I know you want to help, but this is a lot. You can scan the scene for clues if you want. Grayson can give us both a full report. If you still want to look at the body after that, you can. It’s your decision. I don’t recommend it.”
”Don't do it, Sofia,” Grayson said. ”Stay here. Look around if you have to, but don't do this to yourself.”
