Read Online Cold Truth by Mariah Stewart - Free Book Online Page B

“In the Dumpster. Neatly folded. Just like Linda Roman’s were.”
    “Well, that tells us something about our man,” the chief noted. “Speaking of which . . .”
    Denver held up the envelope.
    “Communiqué number two,” he said dryly as he opened it and held it up.
    “Remember me . . .”
Cass read aloud.
    “I think it’s clear he wants us to think he’s the Strangler. He wants us to believe that he’s back. The question is, of course, is it really him? Or is it someone who thinks it would be fun to make us think it’s him? And either way, what do we say to the press?” The chief returned to his chair and lowered himself into it. “I promised to have something for them by . . .”
    He turned his left wrist to look at his watch.
    “In about another hour and thirty-five minutes. What do I tell them?”
    Neither detective spoke. The room was suddenly very, very quiet.
    “If I tell them, they’ll have a field day with the story. And it will egg him on. The killer. He’ll like it, I think.”
    “And if you don’t tell them, will we be putting more women at risk?” Cass asked. “Isn’t it better if the public knows what’s going on, so they can protect themselves better?”
    “I think we can let them know that another woman has been killed by what appears to be the same person. That alone should let women know they need to take care; we can address the issues of safety with the public without adding to the hysteria by sensationalizing this more than it has to be.” Denver tapped his fingers quietly on the arms of his chair. “And of course, the summer season recently opened.”
    “You get a call from the mayor, or something, like how this is going to be bad for business?” Spencer asked.
    “This isn’t Amity, Spencer, and I think I can safely say our killer isn’t a great white shark.” Denver stared at him coldly. “I only bring it up because our population will triple by the end of the month. Which will give him a greater selection of victims to choose from.”
    “Which means we have to do everything we can to find him, and stop him,” Cass said, then shook her head. “Stupid statement. It’s obvious we have to find him before he kills someone else.”
    “To that end, Burke, I want you to get with Tasha and go over everything she has. And I want you to get Lisa Montour’s car down to the garage and have it gone over with a fine-tooth comb, especially that tire.”
    Cass tapped Spencer on the shoulder. “You coming?”
    Before he could answer, Denver spoke up.
    “No, he’s not. And close the door on your way out, Burke.”
    Cass paused at the doorway and looked back over her shoulder. Spencer’s neck had turned beet red and Denver’s eyes were beginning to narrow as he focused on the detective who remained seated.
    “Was there something else, Burke?” the chief asked.
    “No, I just . . .”
    “Close the door on your way out.”
    Cass did as she was told.
    She returned to her office and dialed Tasha’s number, wondering what was going on between Spencer and the chief. Whatever it was, it hadn’t appeared that either one of them was happy about it. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen Spencer that quiet, or the chief so tense. Her instincts told her it had more to do with Spencer’s attitude than with the recent homicides.
    Well, if anyone could adjust someone’s attitude, it was Denver.
    Forty minutes later, Cass had left voice mail for Tasha, called Carol Tufts and asked if she had the key to Lisa Montour’s car, and arranged for Helms to meet her at Lisa Montour’s apartment.
    That done, Cass left the station, walking out the side door just as Jeff Spencer’s wife pulled into the parking lot and stopped by the front of the building.
    Within seconds, Jeff came down the sidewalk, a box in his arms. He balanced the box on one knee while he opened the rear door and slid the box across the seat before getting into the passenger side.
    Puzzled, Cass stood on the