early twenties, brunette with brown eyes. Last is Jacqueline, an older mom with four kids. They have different occupations, social status. The attacks are spread all over the city.”
Nathan returned to his chair and placed his palms on the desk. Brett returned his gaze.
“I think he leaves his semen because he doesn’t believe it will connect him to the crime.”
“Well, that just proves he’s another dumb criminal. Science is way too advanced to let this guy get by. We just need one ID.”
“Unfortunately, we’ll probably get our chance.” Nathan leaned into his chair. “If I’m correct in the fact that these are all his victims, then there is a pattern. The last attack was Jacqueline. He usually strikes every other month, sometime within the first week.”
“And that would be any day now.”
Chapter 5
L ILLY RETURNED FROM the kitchen and sank deep into her pillow-covered couch. Grabbing her drink from the glass-topped table in front of her, she stirred it thoughtlessly, staring at no point in particular.
“That must have been Kadin on the phone,” Dana said.
Focusing on her best friend, she gave a weary smile. “He’s coming over.”
Dana set her drink down, nestled back into the opposite mission chair, and twisted her hair about her index finger. A habit that hadn’t left her in the years Lilly had known her. Sometimes it was hard for people to believe Dana was an accomplished surgeon.
“I just don’t get the two of you,” she continued. “There’s obviously an attraction. You’ve been going out for months … as friends.”
Lilly chuckled as Dana made air quotation marks around the platonic word.
“Neither one of you are seeing anyone else. You should see the nurses swooning over Kadin in labor and delivery. I mean, they’re all wrapped around his little finger.” She held up her pinky and tapped the end of it.
“You know the reason.” Lilly took a sip of her margarita.
“For the swooning? Well, of course, that’s obvious. I mean, he’s gorgeous, kind, thoughtful, considerate. He bathes the NICU in these quilts his sister makes.”
“No, as for why Kadin won’t make it official.”
“His faith and your lack thereof.”
“I think things might be changing between the two of us.”
“Is this a joke? It’s not fair getting my hopes up …”
“I feel peaceful around Kadin. Like all this chaos I try to control could stop. I’ve never had that with anyone else.”
“What about his faith?”
“One step at a time. Isn’t wanting to move past friendship enough for you?”
Dana’s eyes darkened. “You know I don’t take your atheism lightly, and Kadin won’t either.” She gathered her shoulder-length brown locks and formed a knot behind her head. Small wisps of hair fell around her face.
“I’m open to his thoughts about God.”
“What did you think about the tree?”
“I was shocked, and I’ve forgiven you for divulging personal information.”
“How was your annual graveside visit?”
“We never made it.” Lilly rolled the ice in her drink. “That was the day Torrence Campbell came into the ER, and Anderson dropped the case in my lap right when I was supposed to leave.”
“That was an ugly day. The OR was a mess for hours.”
“I didn’t tell you that I stopped to see Torrence today. Kadin brought the baby to see her.”
“How did it go?”
“They didn’t make it.”
“Strange … both of them dying the same day.”
“The baby wasn’t doing well in the nursery. Kerns agreed to let Kadin take the baby to Torrence.”
“Not like Kerns to be such a softy.”
Lilly nodded, tracing the drops of condensation.
“Have you gone to the cemetery? Did you know Kadin planted the tree?” Dana pressed.
“It doesn’t seem right unless I go on the day.”
“You drive me nuts, Lilly Reeves. You claim I have certain peculiarities, yet you won’t visit your mother’s grave unless it’s the exact day and you have the right flowers and you
Nathan returned to his chair and placed his palms on the desk. Brett returned his gaze.
“I think he leaves his semen because he doesn’t believe it will connect him to the crime.”
“Well, that just proves he’s another dumb criminal. Science is way too advanced to let this guy get by. We just need one ID.”
“Unfortunately, we’ll probably get our chance.” Nathan leaned into his chair. “If I’m correct in the fact that these are all his victims, then there is a pattern. The last attack was Jacqueline. He usually strikes every other month, sometime within the first week.”
“And that would be any day now.”
Chapter 5
L ILLY RETURNED FROM the kitchen and sank deep into her pillow-covered couch. Grabbing her drink from the glass-topped table in front of her, she stirred it thoughtlessly, staring at no point in particular.
“That must have been Kadin on the phone,” Dana said.
Focusing on her best friend, she gave a weary smile. “He’s coming over.”
Dana set her drink down, nestled back into the opposite mission chair, and twisted her hair about her index finger. A habit that hadn’t left her in the years Lilly had known her. Sometimes it was hard for people to believe Dana was an accomplished surgeon.
“I just don’t get the two of you,” she continued. “There’s obviously an attraction. You’ve been going out for months … as friends.”
Lilly chuckled as Dana made air quotation marks around the platonic word.
“Neither one of you are seeing anyone else. You should see the nurses swooning over Kadin in labor and delivery. I mean, they’re all wrapped around his little finger.” She held up her pinky and tapped the end of it.
“You know the reason.” Lilly took a sip of her margarita.
“For the swooning? Well, of course, that’s obvious. I mean, he’s gorgeous, kind, thoughtful, considerate. He bathes the NICU in these quilts his sister makes.”
“No, as for why Kadin won’t make it official.”
“His faith and your lack thereof.”
“I think things might be changing between the two of us.”
“Is this a joke? It’s not fair getting my hopes up …”
“I feel peaceful around Kadin. Like all this chaos I try to control could stop. I’ve never had that with anyone else.”
“What about his faith?”
“One step at a time. Isn’t wanting to move past friendship enough for you?”
Dana’s eyes darkened. “You know I don’t take your atheism lightly, and Kadin won’t either.” She gathered her shoulder-length brown locks and formed a knot behind her head. Small wisps of hair fell around her face.
“I’m open to his thoughts about God.”
“What did you think about the tree?”
“I was shocked, and I’ve forgiven you for divulging personal information.”
“How was your annual graveside visit?”
“We never made it.” Lilly rolled the ice in her drink. “That was the day Torrence Campbell came into the ER, and Anderson dropped the case in my lap right when I was supposed to leave.”
“That was an ugly day. The OR was a mess for hours.”
“I didn’t tell you that I stopped to see Torrence today. Kadin brought the baby to see her.”
“How did it go?”
“They didn’t make it.”
“Strange … both of them dying the same day.”
“The baby wasn’t doing well in the nursery. Kerns agreed to let Kadin take the baby to Torrence.”
“Not like Kerns to be such a softy.”
Lilly nodded, tracing the drops of condensation.
“Have you gone to the cemetery? Did you know Kadin planted the tree?” Dana pressed.
“It doesn’t seem right unless I go on the day.”
“You drive me nuts, Lilly Reeves. You claim I have certain peculiarities, yet you won’t visit your mother’s grave unless it’s the exact day and you have the right flowers and you
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