Read Online His Garden of Bones (Skye Cree Book 4) by Vickie McKeehan - Free Book Online
Authors: Vickie McKeehan
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you because—”
“She didn’t want you to worry,” Harry finished.
“I admit the flowers did freak me out a little.”
Josh angled his head to plant a kiss on Skye’s forehead. “We’ll discuss your willingness to level with me later. Where are they, the flowers?”
“Here’s the note that came with them,” Skye acknowledged, handing it to Josh. That’s when it occurred to her. “How come Atka didn’t have a fit when the guy brought these into the backyard? That dog normally kicks up a fuss when she spots the mailman. Look how she attacked Harry. Why didn’t she bark and wake me up?”
“I was about to point that out. Maybe she did but you were so exhausted you didn’t hear a thing.” Josh read the brief one-line message and shook his head. “It isn’t exactly a declaration of war, is it?”
While they debated the tone of the note, Harry watched them pass it back and forth, and grumbled, “How many times do I have to tell you not to touch that damn thing? You both should know better. It’s evidence.”
“Sorry. Too late,” she admitted, leading the way into the kitchen. “It’s probably okay because a guy like this isn’t going to make stupid mistakes by leaving his DNA or prints on anything.”
“Yeah, I’m sure he’s a genius, a serial killer just thought you needed cheering up and decided to do something about it. He took a lot of risks by coming here to our home,” Josh remarked, his comments laced with irritation. “Let’s see this flower arrangement.”
“There. On the patio table outside.”
Josh opened the door and got his first look at the black dahlias. He turned back to Skye. “I hate to point this out to you but the Black Dahlia got chopped up into pieces and someone left the body parts in a field. You ask me, I think this guy’s meaning is crystal clear. How did he know you were helping Harry this soon into the case anyway?”
She went into the details about what she’d found at the shopping center and the condition of Lisa’s remains. She reminded him about the Montague and Dinsmore cases and the particulars of those two victims. “That means you’re pretty much up to speed now, except that I did get this vibe from the crime scene this morning that maybe the killer watched us the entire time we were there in the parking lot.”
Harry’s eyebrows popped up. “You didn’t mention that.”
“Now you know how I feel,” Josh quipped. But the humor faded when he let the facts of each case sink in. Even the hard edge he’d developed over the past two years slipped slightly at knowing how the young women must’ve suffered. “Just when you think you’ve seen sick and twisted, someone else comes along and tops the list. Cutting out their breast implants is a cruel, sadistic bent. Add to that, he not only sees you at the crime scene but now he knows where you live.”
Josh started to pace, the wolf instincts inside beginning to kick in. He wandered the room to help him sort out his thoughts. “Let’s see how fast we can catch this perverted bastard.”
“Agreed, even though the holidays are approaching fast. Our killer could go out of town or go cold. Either way, we have our work cut out for us.” Skye squinted at Harry. “You know we’ll have to go through the database at the foundation to see if there are other victims out there that fit the pattern, maybe girls who’ve fallen through the cracks.”
“I believe I’d remember any reports where a victim had her breast implants removed,” Harry pointed out. “And so would Roger Bayliss. The coroner might be difficult to deal with, but he’s as thorough as they come. Bayliss keeps up with what’s happening in other jurisdictions, always has. Besides, there were no serial numbers on that implant we found to trace back to a surgeon.”
Skye’s brow creased. “Really? That’s odd. Why not? That has to be significant.”
Harry stopped short. “Maybe because it was three in the morning that fact
“She didn’t want you to worry,” Harry finished.
“I admit the flowers did freak me out a little.”
Josh angled his head to plant a kiss on Skye’s forehead. “We’ll discuss your willingness to level with me later. Where are they, the flowers?”
“Here’s the note that came with them,” Skye acknowledged, handing it to Josh. That’s when it occurred to her. “How come Atka didn’t have a fit when the guy brought these into the backyard? That dog normally kicks up a fuss when she spots the mailman. Look how she attacked Harry. Why didn’t she bark and wake me up?”
“I was about to point that out. Maybe she did but you were so exhausted you didn’t hear a thing.” Josh read the brief one-line message and shook his head. “It isn’t exactly a declaration of war, is it?”
While they debated the tone of the note, Harry watched them pass it back and forth, and grumbled, “How many times do I have to tell you not to touch that damn thing? You both should know better. It’s evidence.”
“Sorry. Too late,” she admitted, leading the way into the kitchen. “It’s probably okay because a guy like this isn’t going to make stupid mistakes by leaving his DNA or prints on anything.”
“Yeah, I’m sure he’s a genius, a serial killer just thought you needed cheering up and decided to do something about it. He took a lot of risks by coming here to our home,” Josh remarked, his comments laced with irritation. “Let’s see this flower arrangement.”
“There. On the patio table outside.”
Josh opened the door and got his first look at the black dahlias. He turned back to Skye. “I hate to point this out to you but the Black Dahlia got chopped up into pieces and someone left the body parts in a field. You ask me, I think this guy’s meaning is crystal clear. How did he know you were helping Harry this soon into the case anyway?”
She went into the details about what she’d found at the shopping center and the condition of Lisa’s remains. She reminded him about the Montague and Dinsmore cases and the particulars of those two victims. “That means you’re pretty much up to speed now, except that I did get this vibe from the crime scene this morning that maybe the killer watched us the entire time we were there in the parking lot.”
Harry’s eyebrows popped up. “You didn’t mention that.”
“Now you know how I feel,” Josh quipped. But the humor faded when he let the facts of each case sink in. Even the hard edge he’d developed over the past two years slipped slightly at knowing how the young women must’ve suffered. “Just when you think you’ve seen sick and twisted, someone else comes along and tops the list. Cutting out their breast implants is a cruel, sadistic bent. Add to that, he not only sees you at the crime scene but now he knows where you live.”
Josh started to pace, the wolf instincts inside beginning to kick in. He wandered the room to help him sort out his thoughts. “Let’s see how fast we can catch this perverted bastard.”
“Agreed, even though the holidays are approaching fast. Our killer could go out of town or go cold. Either way, we have our work cut out for us.” Skye squinted at Harry. “You know we’ll have to go through the database at the foundation to see if there are other victims out there that fit the pattern, maybe girls who’ve fallen through the cracks.”
“I believe I’d remember any reports where a victim had her breast implants removed,” Harry pointed out. “And so would Roger Bayliss. The coroner might be difficult to deal with, but he’s as thorough as they come. Bayliss keeps up with what’s happening in other jurisdictions, always has. Besides, there were no serial numbers on that implant we found to trace back to a surgeon.”
Skye’s brow creased. “Really? That’s odd. Why not? That has to be significant.”
Harry stopped short. “Maybe because it was three in the morning that fact
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