Disappear into the dark for days and survive, and he would finally love her.
The image of Jim Logger’s eyes bulging as he drew his last breath taunted her. The Commander had looked into her eyes and watched her die so many times, only to revive her.
And for what?
To make her suffer and die again.
Her laughter pierced the air.
Now it was his turn to suffer.
Chapter 5
N ick jotted down notes on the details of the crime scene while the crime techs dusted the motel room for prints and searched for clothing fibers, strands of hair, and other forensics.
“There are dozens of prints in this room,” Marc Maddison, the lead investigator, said. “Apparently whoever cleans this dump doesn’t do a very good job.”
“That’s obvious,” said Nick. Water rings marred the scarred dresser top, clumps of dust were stuck to the lampshades, and a nasty brown stain colored the ugly chair in the corner. He motioned to Jake, and they stepped to the threshold of the door for some air. Three more vehicles had appeared, people climbing out to see the murder scene after Brenda’s story aired. The deputy worked to maintain control in the parking lot and keep curiosity seekers behind the crime scene tape.
He’d seen Brenda talking to the motel owner, but she must have ticked off the man, because he stalked back to his office in a huff.
Jake cleared his throat. “The owner, a Mr. Feldon, said the man who checked in signed his name as Jim Logger. I got a copy of his signature for analysis.”
“You don’t think that’s his real name?” Nick asked.
Jake shrugged. “We’ll run his prints and DNA and find out.”
“What kind of vehicle was the victim driving?”
Jake shook his head. “He didn’t see the automobile or the person with him. Logger signed in, then dropped his cash on the desk and left.”
“Obviously the killer drove off in the car.”
“Yes. But we have nothing on the vehicle. Feldon doesn’t require guests to leave their tag numbers when they register.” Jake paused. “But I’ll find out what he drove and put out an APB for the vehicle.”
“Let me know if you find it,” Nick said. “What time did Logger check in?”
“Around midnight.”
“Dr. Bullock,” Nick said, addressing the ME, “what is the estimated time of death?”
“Judging from rigor, I’d say several hours ago.”
Nick frowned. “Did Logger rent the room for two nights or one?”
Jake checked his notes. “One.”
Nick contemplated the timing. “Maybe a midday rendezvous.”
Jake glanced around the room, then went to check the door. “Looks like either the vic or the killer left the Do Not Disturb sign on the door to keep the cleaning staff out.”
“Feldon didn’t bother to see if the man checked out?” Nick asked.
Jake shrugged. “He said the only vehicles in the parking lot were his and the RV, so he assumed Logger had left.”
Nick made a low sound in his throat. “Not a very observant guy.”
“That’s putting it mildly,” Jake said. “I asked about business—if Logger had been here before—but he said no. He claims business was slow, that it usually picks up mid-March.”
“I wonder if the killer knew that,” Nick said.
Jake shrugged. “Could be, especially if she’s from around here.”
“Brenda suggested the killer could be a man.”
Jake raised a brow. “I suppose, but my bet is on a female.”
Dr. Bullock cleared his throat. “I found some fibers in the man’s throat. Probably from a rag or whatever the killer used to muffle the man’s cries for help.”
Nick and Jake both walked over to examine the fibers, but it was impossible to tell the source. “Looks like satin,” Nick said.
Jake nodded. “Maybe a scarf that belonged to the killer.”
“Or satin underwear,” Nick suggested. “Bag them. If you can identify where they came from, it might help with the case.”
Maddison carried an evidence bag over to the ME to collect the samples.
Nick confiscated the Do Not
The image of Jim Logger’s eyes bulging as he drew his last breath taunted her. The Commander had looked into her eyes and watched her die so many times, only to revive her.
And for what?
To make her suffer and die again.
Her laughter pierced the air.
Now it was his turn to suffer.
Chapter 5
N ick jotted down notes on the details of the crime scene while the crime techs dusted the motel room for prints and searched for clothing fibers, strands of hair, and other forensics.
“There are dozens of prints in this room,” Marc Maddison, the lead investigator, said. “Apparently whoever cleans this dump doesn’t do a very good job.”
“That’s obvious,” said Nick. Water rings marred the scarred dresser top, clumps of dust were stuck to the lampshades, and a nasty brown stain colored the ugly chair in the corner. He motioned to Jake, and they stepped to the threshold of the door for some air. Three more vehicles had appeared, people climbing out to see the murder scene after Brenda’s story aired. The deputy worked to maintain control in the parking lot and keep curiosity seekers behind the crime scene tape.
He’d seen Brenda talking to the motel owner, but she must have ticked off the man, because he stalked back to his office in a huff.
Jake cleared his throat. “The owner, a Mr. Feldon, said the man who checked in signed his name as Jim Logger. I got a copy of his signature for analysis.”
“You don’t think that’s his real name?” Nick asked.
Jake shrugged. “We’ll run his prints and DNA and find out.”
“What kind of vehicle was the victim driving?”
Jake shook his head. “He didn’t see the automobile or the person with him. Logger signed in, then dropped his cash on the desk and left.”
“Obviously the killer drove off in the car.”
“Yes. But we have nothing on the vehicle. Feldon doesn’t require guests to leave their tag numbers when they register.” Jake paused. “But I’ll find out what he drove and put out an APB for the vehicle.”
“Let me know if you find it,” Nick said. “What time did Logger check in?”
“Around midnight.”
“Dr. Bullock,” Nick said, addressing the ME, “what is the estimated time of death?”
“Judging from rigor, I’d say several hours ago.”
Nick frowned. “Did Logger rent the room for two nights or one?”
Jake checked his notes. “One.”
Nick contemplated the timing. “Maybe a midday rendezvous.”
Jake glanced around the room, then went to check the door. “Looks like either the vic or the killer left the Do Not Disturb sign on the door to keep the cleaning staff out.”
“Feldon didn’t bother to see if the man checked out?” Nick asked.
Jake shrugged. “He said the only vehicles in the parking lot were his and the RV, so he assumed Logger had left.”
Nick made a low sound in his throat. “Not a very observant guy.”
“That’s putting it mildly,” Jake said. “I asked about business—if Logger had been here before—but he said no. He claims business was slow, that it usually picks up mid-March.”
“I wonder if the killer knew that,” Nick said.
Jake shrugged. “Could be, especially if she’s from around here.”
“Brenda suggested the killer could be a man.”
Jake raised a brow. “I suppose, but my bet is on a female.”
Dr. Bullock cleared his throat. “I found some fibers in the man’s throat. Probably from a rag or whatever the killer used to muffle the man’s cries for help.”
Nick and Jake both walked over to examine the fibers, but it was impossible to tell the source. “Looks like satin,” Nick said.
Jake nodded. “Maybe a scarf that belonged to the killer.”
“Or satin underwear,” Nick suggested. “Bag them. If you can identify where they came from, it might help with the case.”
Maddison carried an evidence bag over to the ME to collect the samples.
Nick confiscated the Do Not
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