Blood of Eden by Tami Dane Page A

visited yesterday displayed. “Hannah Grant. Collapsed and died outside of a coffee shop in Frederick, exactly forty-eight hours before Jane Doe Two. Age, thirty-one. COD, complications of typhoid fever.” She clicked the mouse a third time, and another photo appeared. It was of a dead woman who looked a great deal like the first two. “And this is the unsub’s first victim, Jane Doe One. Age, early thirties. Collapsed and died outside of a fabric store in Arlington, exactly forty-eight hours before Hannah Grant. COD, complications of dengue hemorrhagic fever. That’s three women, very close in age and appearance, all with identical bite marks on their necks. Each died within forty-eight hours of the previous from an infectious tropical disease. The one victim who has been identified has not traveled outside of the United States, and thus the mode of infection is unknown. Also, she didn’t seek medical care because, according to family members and coworkers, she didn’t show any symptoms prior to her collapse.”
    Okay, when Chief Peyton put it like that, I had to admit there did seem to be something going on here. But I still felt we weren’t the right team to solve this case. It sounded more like some kind of epidemic.
    I raised my hand, gaining the chief’s attention. At her nod, I asked, “Wouldn’t it be wise to turn this case over to the Centers for Disease Control, since the victims died from infectious diseases?”
    Chief Peyton nodded. “I’ve sent the case files, including each victim’s full medical reports, to my contact at the CDC. But at this point, I’m not ready to drop our investigation. The CDC will tackle it from its angle, and we’ll continue from ours.”
    Having two federal agencies investigating the same case seemed like a waste of resources to me, but who was I to judge? I was, after all, nothing but a lowly summer intern. I supposed the chief wasn’t too eager to hand off the unit’s first case, because that might prove the unit wasn’t really necessary.
    And where would that leave us?
    Out of a job, that was where.
    â€œSounds good to me.” I glanced down at my notes, trying to figure out what we might do next. I had no idea. Since learning I’d be working for the FBI this summer, I’d watched every cop/FBI/PI show on TV. Those television cops/agents/ private investigators made it look so freaking easy.
    â€œWe’re going to work this case like it’s a serial murder. Which means we need to find the connection between the three victims,” Chief Peyton said. “We’ll start with victimol-ogy. Why did these three women die? I’m going to split up the team.” She pointed at me and JT. “Skye, JT, I want you to take the Arlington victim.”
    I glanced at JT. His gaze met mine, and something sparkled in his eyes. I felt my cheeks warm. I hoped they weren’t Day-Glo red. “Yes, Chief.”
    â€œFischer, I know you have your hands full, reviewing other cases for the unit. But we need your help with this. I’d like you to take the Baltimore victim. I’ll take the second, Hannah Grant. Hough’ll stay here and lend support.” Chief Peyton stood. “I want to know everything about those three women. Where they work and live, what they eat for breakfast. Who their friends and enemies are. Everything.” After a beat, she smiled. “Good luck.”
    Orders assigned. Of course, I was paired off with the one man I shouldn’t be left alone with.
    â€œSo ...” I fell into step beside JT as we strolled out of the room. When he stepped around a trash can, my shoulder bumped his arm. Another rush of heat blasted to my face. It was pathetic. I was pathetic. I hoped he didn’t notice. “Where do we start? We have a corpse with no identification on it. How will we figure out who she is, let alone what she eats for