murder? This man got in the way somehow.”
Cassidy stood. “Perhaps. I don’t want to jump to any conclusions.”
“Are you acting this way because I’ll be living with you?” He couldn’t think of another reason for the cold shoulder or short answers.
She whirled. “I’m not helpless. I don’t need a bodyguard or a live in nanny. But, no, I’m not acting in any particular way because of that.”
“Hogswallow.”
“Excuse me?” Her eyes narrowed.
“That’s a load of bull. You’re mad and acting like a child because you can’t have things your way for a while.” He smirked and headed for the car.
“Trouble in paradise?” Ingram grinned.
“It’s your fault. You should be the one living with Miss Prickles.” Colin slid into the driver’s seat.
While he waited, he ran through his mind what they knew as facts. Three different murders, three different methods. Two were lured with modeling advertisements. The third did not fit the same MO as the girls. The authorities were dealing with a man and a woman perp. What they didn’t know was…were the man and woman working together? Colin felt they were. The first two were killed because of their looks, the third…He rubbed his chin. Had the man known something he shouldn’t or simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time? If the later, then why the meticulous skinning? That took time. They could have been caught. They would have needed a place no one would discover them or hear the man’s screams.
Cassidy sat in the passenger seat and slammed her door. “I can see the steam coming from your ears. What are you thinking?”
He told her his thoughts. “I know you don’t like to hear this, but I think Agent Ingram is right. We need you to draw this perp out.”
“He’ll never fall for it. He knows who I am. If I show up looking like Barbie, he won’t make a move. What I look like won’t change his plans.”
“I’m sure Ingram is going to want to try.”
“Where to now? We have no leads, no suspects, no one to question.” Cassidy pounded the dashboard. “The man’s a ghost, a vapor that dissipates in the trees.”
“He’s flesh and blood.” Colin started the engine and pulled onto the highway. “Let’s take a look at your mother’s caseboard again. There has to be something we’re missing.”
“I’ve gone over that board a thousand times.”
“Maybe so, but I’m new eyes, and this is a new case.”
They drove in silence to her house. Colin exited the car first, then scanned the area while Cassidy unlocked the front door and disabled the alarm.
Once inside, he set the alarm and followed her to the basement.
“Someone’s been in here,” she said. “How did they get past the alarm?”
That was something Colin intended to find out. He pressed the buttons on his phone to the security agency.
~
How Draco loved her spirit! He stared at the photo in his hand. So like her mother in that regard.
He replaced the photo in his shirt pocket, then rolled the man into the shallow ditch. No amount of security could keep him from going where he wanted. A little painful pressure and the man had squealed like the pig he was and revealed the alarm code.
Why must dear Cassie think that something as simple as an alarm would keep him out? Perhaps, it was time to send her another letter. Something to relieve the fear she must feel. Surely, she knew he thought of her every single day of her life?
If only he hadn’t rested for ten years, planning to fulfill his calling. Still, now was not the time to reveal himself. He’d been so careful, so meticulous.
He kicked rocks over the body. The cops would start to put the pieces together soon. He needed to make sure Mary took the rap before that happened. Oh, dear, Mary, already chomping at the bit to make her next kill.
The woman’s overzealous nature was a hindrance. One Draco would have to curb in time.
He turned on the device in his ear and listened to the Scotsman as he combed
Cassidy stood. “Perhaps. I don’t want to jump to any conclusions.”
“Are you acting this way because I’ll be living with you?” He couldn’t think of another reason for the cold shoulder or short answers.
She whirled. “I’m not helpless. I don’t need a bodyguard or a live in nanny. But, no, I’m not acting in any particular way because of that.”
“Hogswallow.”
“Excuse me?” Her eyes narrowed.
“That’s a load of bull. You’re mad and acting like a child because you can’t have things your way for a while.” He smirked and headed for the car.
“Trouble in paradise?” Ingram grinned.
“It’s your fault. You should be the one living with Miss Prickles.” Colin slid into the driver’s seat.
While he waited, he ran through his mind what they knew as facts. Three different murders, three different methods. Two were lured with modeling advertisements. The third did not fit the same MO as the girls. The authorities were dealing with a man and a woman perp. What they didn’t know was…were the man and woman working together? Colin felt they were. The first two were killed because of their looks, the third…He rubbed his chin. Had the man known something he shouldn’t or simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time? If the later, then why the meticulous skinning? That took time. They could have been caught. They would have needed a place no one would discover them or hear the man’s screams.
Cassidy sat in the passenger seat and slammed her door. “I can see the steam coming from your ears. What are you thinking?”
He told her his thoughts. “I know you don’t like to hear this, but I think Agent Ingram is right. We need you to draw this perp out.”
“He’ll never fall for it. He knows who I am. If I show up looking like Barbie, he won’t make a move. What I look like won’t change his plans.”
“I’m sure Ingram is going to want to try.”
“Where to now? We have no leads, no suspects, no one to question.” Cassidy pounded the dashboard. “The man’s a ghost, a vapor that dissipates in the trees.”
“He’s flesh and blood.” Colin started the engine and pulled onto the highway. “Let’s take a look at your mother’s caseboard again. There has to be something we’re missing.”
“I’ve gone over that board a thousand times.”
“Maybe so, but I’m new eyes, and this is a new case.”
They drove in silence to her house. Colin exited the car first, then scanned the area while Cassidy unlocked the front door and disabled the alarm.
Once inside, he set the alarm and followed her to the basement.
“Someone’s been in here,” she said. “How did they get past the alarm?”
That was something Colin intended to find out. He pressed the buttons on his phone to the security agency.
~
How Draco loved her spirit! He stared at the photo in his hand. So like her mother in that regard.
He replaced the photo in his shirt pocket, then rolled the man into the shallow ditch. No amount of security could keep him from going where he wanted. A little painful pressure and the man had squealed like the pig he was and revealed the alarm code.
Why must dear Cassie think that something as simple as an alarm would keep him out? Perhaps, it was time to send her another letter. Something to relieve the fear she must feel. Surely, she knew he thought of her every single day of her life?
If only he hadn’t rested for ten years, planning to fulfill his calling. Still, now was not the time to reveal himself. He’d been so careful, so meticulous.
He kicked rocks over the body. The cops would start to put the pieces together soon. He needed to make sure Mary took the rap before that happened. Oh, dear, Mary, already chomping at the bit to make her next kill.
The woman’s overzealous nature was a hindrance. One Draco would have to curb in time.
He turned on the device in his ear and listened to the Scotsman as he combed
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