“I’ll go wait with him myself, I’ve already seen the body and I’ve no desire to see the poor woman again.”
Content that Bryn would come to no harm under Sullivan’s watchful eye, Gunnar joined Agent Bell and they walked up the alley to the tent. Gunnar steeledhimself. It wasn’t his first murder scene and he had seen more than his fair share of dead bodies, but it never got easier. He was kinda glad that was the case. The day he got immune to the horror of what people could do to each other was the day he needed to find a new job.
Under the temporary shelter, Betty-Jo Jackson lay spread-eagled on the asphalt. The front of her clothing was torn and soaked with blood but if any had pooled around her, the rain had washed it away before her body had been protected.
“There was no attempt to hide her,” Gunnar commented.
“No. This guy is bold. Sure of himself.”
“You think this is another serial killer?”
“It’s unlikely that a copycat could have known about the rose petals. This is the fourth body left this way. The method of killing has varied. Strangulation, suffocation, drowning. In each of the other cases, we believe he kept his victims alive for a few days. He used a knife on them but that wasn’t how he killed them. And the bodies were all left in places where they would be found, though not necessarily quickly. No attempt was made to conceal them in any of those cases. And like here, the petals were scattered around.”
Gunnar sniffed the air then bent close to the body. “I smell… Lemons.”
“How did you… Sorry, forgot you were a wolf. With all the other victims, we think he put lemon juice or salt on the cuts he made.”
“Fucking sadist.”
“Indeed. Have you seen enough?”
“More than enough.” Gunnar ducked out of the tent and tilted his head so that the rain soaked his face. Hebreathed deeply. He could see Bryn huddled in the doorway, Lieutenant Sullivan leaning against the wall next to him. “The witness you want Bryn to read later. Is it the same killer?”
“Yeah. We think the kid may have witnessed the body dump. He’s scared out of his mind. He ran away from an abusive family and he’s been living on the streets giving twenty-dollar blowjobs to get by. He’s on his knees in a filthy alley, just finished with a client, and hears a sound. He was scared it might be the cops so he hid. He didn’t have a great view but he’s so fucking scared that he can’t remember whether he saw anything or not. Even if it’s buried, it’s likely to be his most powerful memory, so we’re hoping Bryn will be able to see the details.”
“Not surprised the kid’s traumatized. Bryn says a memory block is no barrier to him.”
“What he can do is astonishing,” Bell said. “But I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes.”
“Me either. Let’s go, we may as well head for your office right now.”
“Okay, I’ll see you there. Wait for me in the lobby if you get there first and I’ll sort out passes.”
After thanking Sullivan, Gunnar explained what was happening as he and Bryn walked back to the car.
“Warden is not going to be impressed if we get these leather seats wet,” Gunnar muttered.
“They’re heated. Turn the heaters on. I’m soaked through to my underwear…well, I would be if I was wearing any, and I’m cold.”
Gunnar gave his partner a side-eye. Bryn was grinning and Gunnar had to hold back a sigh.Fucking kid knows exactly what he does to me.Gunnar was glad his rain jacket was long enough to hide his bulging crotch.Great. Why does the lupine sex drive have to be so high? I should bend him over the hood in the rain.There was a low rumble in the back of his throat and he guessed it was audible because Bryn’s grin got wider.Maybe I should bite him a little, mark him… Fuck, Gunnar, keep your mind on the job. Now is not the fucking time…but soon. Yeah, soon.
Chapter Nine
Bryn didn’t think he’d ever met anyone who seemed as utterly terrified of life as Talbot Dunne. He was only two years younger than Bryn but it was apparent that Bryn’s group home upbringing had been way better than growing up with Talbot’s toxic parents. Agent Bell had him in a suite normally reserved for child victims. Talbot was sitting on a couch, knees drawn up, gripping a pink teddy. He was wide-eyed and staring into space. When Bryn and Gunnar came into the room, he scuttled even further into the corner of the couch.
“Hey, I’m Bryn.” Bryn walked across the room and sat next to Talbot. “You don’t have to worry about him.” He indicated Gunnar. “I know he’s big and scary-looking but he’s a pussy cat. Actually, he’s a wolf, so I guess that should be puppy dog.”
“He’s a wolf?”
“Yeah.”
“My best friend at high school tested lupine. He always looked after me when we were kids.”
“Wolves don’t like bullies. They take care of their pack. I guess the instinct is there even before the gene kicks in.”
“Agent Bell told me you’re an augur, is that true?”
“It is. Bell is one of the good guys, you know that, right?”
