Read Online The Scum of All Fears: Squeaky Clean Mysteries, Book 5 by Christy Barritt - Free Book Online

Riley.”
    Riley nodded. “Of course. Whatever I can do to put Jones back behind bars. How did his escape happen? I’m still trying to wrap my mind around this.”
    He shook his head. “It was tragic. He’d almost escaped twice from the prison where he was housed. They decided to move him to the supermax prison out in Colorado.”
    “There’s a supermax prison?” I asked. I really needed to read up more on correctional facilities. I’d never had a need before, though. As long as criminals were put away, I was happy. Until now.
    Riley nodded. “Only the worst of the worst go there. Terrorists. High-profile killers. It’s a rough place.”
    “There’s one other thing. ” Dale shifted and paused. “We think he might be headed this way. That’s why I’m here and not in California.”
    Riley nodded solemnly. “Believe me. I’ve considered that possibility.”
    “I ’m not sure why you’re the one he’s turned all of his rage on. But he’s had you in his sights ever since his sentence was handed down. Up until now, his threats seemed idle and impossible to carry out.”
    Riley’s jaw flexed. “We found a picture in Gabby’s apartment this morning. It was taken of her yesterday.”
    Adams had taken the picture with him when he left so it could be examined at the lab.
    He perked. “Eyes Xed out?”
    Riley shook his head. “No. We think someone was hiding in her apartment, though, just waiting for her to go to sleep so he could leave the photo.”
    I shivered as he said the words.
    Dale shook his head. “Why wouldn’t he X out her eyes? Why would he just leave the photo without abducting Gabby?”
    I felt invisible at the moment.
    “That’s exactly what I was wondering.” Riley glanced at me. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m exceedingly glad that he didn’t abduct you. But something doesn’t seem to fit here.”
    Dale played a little drumbeat with his fingers against the side of the table. “There’s one other possibility we’re considering. It’s the idea that Jones is working with someone.”
    “Why would you think that?” Riley rubbed his jaw.
    “Serial killers often have little fan clubs. Someone was sending Jones those clippings while he was in jail. He’s had correspondence with somewhere around thirty people since he was put behind bars. We’re looking into all of those people, but it’s going to take some time. There’s a chance someone is helping him.”
    Shivers ran up my spine. Usually, I stuck my nose where I shouldn’t and that’s when the bad guys came after me. I’d never had a case where someone threatened me just because . It made me feel powerless.
    And I hated feeling powerless.
    “We made up some sketches of what Jones might look like if he’s using a wig or glasses.” He pulled out some papers and handed them to Riley. “We thought you might want to take a look at them.”
    I looked over his shoulder. I still couldn’t believe that Milton Jones would be able to make it across the country. He’d have to be one of the most clever criminals I’d ever encountered, if he did. The logistics of how he would work that out would have to be so precise. He couldn’t have missed a step.
    Riley rifled through the photos. I soaked in Jones’ square jawline, the sagging skin beneath his eyes. He looked almost normal in most of the photos.
    Other photos showed him with a tan. With bushy eyebrows and without them. With different hairstyles and glasses and clothes.
    Ri ley shuffled the pictures. He paused at one. The face that stared back at me caused me to gasp. My finger jutted out, pointing at the photo. I shook my head as fear clutched my heart.
    “What is it?” Riley asked, his forehead wrinkling with concern.
    I stared at the picture of the man with a beard and glasses. I still couldn’t believe it. It couldn’t be.
    But it was . . . “He’s the man who let me into the house I cleaned yesterday.”

 
    CHAPTER 8
    Two hours later, Dale, Detective Adams, and the