Read Online His Garden of Bones (Skye Cree Book 4) by Vickie McKeehan - Free Book Online Page B

into that. “You mean because Carrie and Taylor didn’t get pregnant? That theory doesn’t work for me. Namely because they all three ended up tossed out like garbage. So what’s the incentive? Lisa gives birth but she meets the same fate as the other two. No, that just doesn’t play. These three girls were originally abducted by a sexual predator, who also happens to be a trafficker. Then they’re turned around and sold to the highest bidder. These girls were destined for whatever perverse life for the specific purpose of filling said pervert’s urges. My guess is that for whatever reason these three girls were cast off, maybe even returned.”
    “Returned? That’s a new one,” Josh said.
    “That almost sounds a little too fantastical,” Harry added.
    “Not so new and not so fantastical when you stop and think about it. The girls are destined to be used for whatever perversion it happens to be, then they’re returned to the seller for whatever reason. Maybe the buyer grows tired of their whining, or no longer likes the way they look, or maybe they become ill.” Skye held up a hand. “Not saying Carrie, Taylor or Lisa got sick and that’s what triggered their disposal. Just thinking out loud here. Anyway, when the seller gets his hands back on the merchandise, he either makes the decision to keep them around for resell while making more profit on his original investment, or he chooses to end the cycle. For some reason, this killer opted to waive the flow of cash and torture these three in an almost identical manner to the bitter end.”
    Josh stopped pacing as if he’d just thought of something. “You remember mentioning the profiler, Emmett Cannavale?”
    “Sure, we were looking for Jason Berkenshaw at the time. We could still make a point of reaching out to him. He frequents Seattle because he has family ties in the area.”
    “Cannavale’s specialty happens to be sexual sadists. I picked up his book last summer, read the thing cover to cover. Doesn’t make me an expert by any means, but Cannavale does say that these particular types are known for their meticulous planning before a crime. Based on that, I’d say the guy we’re looking for is leading us down the path he wants us to follow. Why else would he deliver the flowers personally right to our back door?”
    “Another level of psychological fear and manipulation without all the pain,” Skye said in agreement. “Not a bad strategy on his part. He lets me know from the get-go he knows I’m involved in the case. I get rattled because he knows where I live, it gives him the edge.”
    Harry scratched his head. “It still doesn’t tell us much about our killer.”
    “I’m afraid you’ll have to wait for a height and weight description,” Josh kidded. Then he turned serious. “Count on me installing security cameras around this place by the end of the week. I could kick myself for not doing it before now.”
    “Never underestimate the seedier side of life,” Harry said with a grim expression. “If you have a box handy I’d like to take those flowers back with me to the lab. They might be able to determine where they came from.”
    “Let’s hope so. Then you’ll want the card too just in case,” Skye offered. “You think he’ll come back out here again?”
    “I have no idea. But we’ll be better prepared next time he does,” Josh promised.
     



Chapter Four
     
    A s soon as Harry left, Josh reached out to stroke Skye’s hair, then yanked her into his chest. Impatience had his hands roaming down her body. When his lips crushed over hers it set the mood. They both went under, a sense of urgency floating between them.
    “I flew all the way back early and I want my homecoming present,” he mumbled as he moved to nibble her earlobe.
    His eagerness tugged at her heart knowing there’d been a time when she couldn’t tease about such things. “Since when did you become so demanding?”
    “Since I haven’t had my hands on you