Progeny by E. H. Reinhard

it’s this guy? I mean, we’ll probably have to get a match via DNA, but we’ll need a sample.”
    “That’s one of the things I want you to get from Green Gardens. Try to find something of his in his apartment. We can’t very well ask this guy’s daughter, if that’s who we’re dealing with, to identify a skinned body as her father.”
    “Okay. What time will someone be at this place to meet Hank and me?” I asked.
    “Come into the station first. Be here by eight. I’ll try to get something set up over there at nine. I’ll let Rawlings know and see you guys in the morning.”
    “Sounds good, Cap.”
    He clicked off.
    “Did you get a break in the case?” Callie asked.
    “It might be something. How are we looking on that bread?”
    “Everything is just about set. Grab some plates.”
    I did and took them over to the kitchen table.

Chapter 9
    Angel and Carmen closed the front door of LaSalle’s house and walked toward their car. Each carried a white plastic garbage bag draped over a shoulder.
    “How long do you think we’ll have until they find him?” Angel asked.
    “I’m not sure. The cops are smart, baby. After they find him, they’ll put it together. The rest will be warned. How many on the list are still here?”
    “Another three. That’s all that’s left.”
    “We’ll have to work fast.”
    Angel held down the button on the Ford’s keypad to pop the trunk. The women tossed in the two bags, filled with LaSalle’s skin.
    Angel slammed the lid closed. The two women got into the car and left the neighborhood.
    “Who’s next?” Carmen asked.
    Angel pulled the list from her pocket. “Maggie Carpenter. She lives in Clearwater.”
    “Clearwater, huh? Your father and I had some good times there back in the day. That was our stomping ground for a while. I’d use my feminine wiles to lure the guys in, and your daddy would take care of the rest.”
    Angel smiled. She reached over and rubbed Carmen’s hand. “I’m glad you found me, Mama. I was so lost.”
    “Me too. Those people weren’t going to keep me away from you,” Carmen said.
    “Do you think I can try to do the next one by myself?” Angel asked.
    “Is that what you want?”
    “Kind of.”
    “Do you think you’re ready?” Carmen asked.
    “I can handle it.”
    Carmen smiled. “I’ll ask your father.”

Chapter 10
    Hank and I left the station a few minutes after nine. We would have liked to go earlier, but the press was thick back at headquarters. The media was putting together headline after headline of the skinned man in Robles Park. I was sure that, by midday, they would have the city in a full panic. Each newspaper and television channel would be splashing the name Jack Redding across their headlines.
    We neared the Green Gardens retirement community. From what the captain had told us, the director, a Penny Bell, would be expecting us. I saw the complex up ahead on our right. I clicked on my turn signal and pulled in. We pulled up to the small manned guard shack at the front, and I lowered my window.
    An older man poked his head out from the open doorway of the building. “Here to see?” he asked. The man’s voice carried a northeastern accent—New Jersey was my best guess.
    “Penny Bell,” I said.
    “Sure. Head on over to the main entrance. Down the drive here and to your left.”
    “Thank you,” I said.
    “Have a good Friday, gentlemen. Enjoy your weekend.”
    I raised my window and followed his route. We found the covered main entrance for guests and parked at a rounded yellow curb. Hank and I stepped out.
    “What’s the plan here?” he asked.
    “We need to know if this is our victim or not. If he’s not, we’ll have to pass it off. We’ll have the director take us through his quarters and see if anything looks out of place, ask a couple questions from the staff, and see where it takes us.”
    Hank nodded.
    We walked to the dark wooden front doors of the entryway and pulled them open. A brightly lit