Read Online Cold Truth by Mariah Stewart - Free Book Online

away.”
    “I’m on it.” Cass disappeared through the doorway.
    “And then there are all those reporters. The sergeant on the front desk is getting a little rattled. Everyone wants to know what’s going on,” Phyl said as if to prod him.
    “I’ll come out and speak with them. Not much I can say, though.”
    He rubbed his chin and wished he had taken more time to shave this morning. He knew he’d be appearing on the six and eleven o’clock news all across the state, with a serious five o’clock shadow.
     
    “Chief, Chief!”
    “Chief Denver, is it true there’s a serial killer in Bowers Inlet?”
    “Chief Denver! Chief Denver . . . !”
    The crowd of reporters pushed forward the minute Denver started down the hall toward the lobby. It was as if they had smelled him. They moved en masse, and he held up both hands to stop them in their tracks and quiet them.
    “Okay, let’s just settle down here,” he said, feeling like a first-grade teacher. “Everyone take six big steps back, please. Spread out a little, give yourselves some space, for crying out loud.”
    The crowd did as they were told, then raised their hands and waited to be called on.
    Yep,
Denver thought.
Just like grade school.
    “Okay, let me first say that, yes, there have been two murders this week here in Bowers Inlet. Both victims were women in their thirties—the second victim hasn’t been identified as yet, but appears to be of an age similar to Linda Roman, who as you all know was thirty-one.”
    “Were both women killed in the same manner?” someone called out.
    “I’ll need to see the medical examiner’s report on the second victim before I can answer that,” the chief replied.
    “I’ve heard that both women were very similar in physical appearance—young, pretty, with long dark hair.”
    “I can confirm that, yes.”
    “Is the killer typing his victims, then?” a dark-haired woman in the back asked, a tinge of apprehension in her voice.
    “I’d be looking for a red wig if I were you, Dana,” someone called across the room to her, and there was a scatter of nervous laughter.
    “We don’t know about that,” Denver said. “I wouldn’t make any assumptions just yet. For all we know, the killer had some connection to both women.”
    “So you think the same person killed both women.” It wasn’t a question.
    “The evidence is still being analyzed.”
    “Can we get details on the investigations?”
    “I’ll have a report available to you by six.” Denver glanced up at the clock. That would give him almost two hours to decide what to release. “You can wait around for it, or you can leave your name and fax number, and we’ll fax the report to you.”
    “Why can’t you just tell us what you have?”
    “I don’t have a whole lot yet. I’m still waiting for the reports from the lab and the medical examiner’s office. I was just about to sit down with my detectives and go over this with them, when you all showed up. I thought I’d deal with you first, let you know we’re working on getting something together for you so that you can all meet your deadlines. I don’t want to give you incomplete information, so if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to return to that meeting.”
    Denver smiled perfunctorily and started back to his office.
    “Chief Denver, how many victims do you need to have to consider this the work of a serial killer?”
    The chief stopped in mid-stride and turned around slowly.
    “I think it’s a little early to start throwing around terms like that. I also think it’s irresponsible, frankly, since you’ll only serve to panic our residents, who are already upset enough.”
    “But how many, Chief?” The question was repeated softly this time. “I’ve heard two or three. Which is it?”
    Denver turned heel and returned to his office, closed the door, and buzzed for his detectives to come in and bring their notes.
    “We have a positive ID on this morning’s vic.”
    Cass didn’t wait until