“What kind of petals?”
Bryn didn’t see who asked the question.
“Red rose,” Hernandez responded.
“One of our confirmed links,” Bell added. “Victim two. That’s with you, Yoshida.”
Bryn eyed the craggy-faced agent, who looked to be pushing fifty. His expression said he’d seen it all and that nothing would shock him.
“Hunter Carshaw, graduate student at Harvard studying applied mathematics. Wealthy family. Dad’s firm builds super yachts out of Fort Lauderdale. He was found six months after Eleanor Evans. Cause ofdeath was suffocation but he was also cut up premortem. Found in Oak Grove Cemetery in Fall River. That’s where Lizzie Borden is buried. Might not be significant. Red rose petals were found around the corpse. This wasn’t picked up as significant because roses had been left on several nearby graves, so it was noted that the petals may have blown there.” He paused. “No attempt to conceal the body.”
“Victim three was a Vietnamese male, Phan Minh Tuan, age twenty-two, who worked in a family restaurant,” Bell said. “He was found in Parker Street Alley, near the intersection of Boylston and Tremont. It’s a narrow passageway that runs through the block between the two streets. It’s often overlooked by pedestrians but connects various buildings in the area. Our witness to the body dump, Talbot Dunne, had picked up a client at a club on Boylston and the guy took him to this alley for a private BJ.
“Tuan had been strangled but there were multiple non-lethal knife wounds to the lower torso and legs.” Bell clenched a fist. “And now we have victim four, Betty-Jo Jackson. Boston PD has handed this case over because rose petals were found around the body. However, what’s more interesting is that Betty-Jo was a cashier at Walmart where our augur got an unintentional read on someone with blood on their hands. Someone who purchased lemon juice, which Detective Ericson smelled on Betty-Jo’s body. I don’t believe in coincidences, people.
“So, we’re going to work up everything we know about the four victims. Look for connections. Trace their movements. Talk to their friends, colleagues and families. I want detailed research on every body dumplocation.” He paused. “Detective Ericson, you have anything to add?”
Gunnar straightened. “Yeah, we’ve already started to piece together footage from Walmart both in the store and in the parking lot and surrounding area. Bryn has confirmed that the perp we’re looking for is a white male, stocky build, no more than five feet ten and we know he’s familiar with the security camera positioning in that Walmart. I’ll get everything sent over from our office.”
“Good.”
“He’s not going to stop,” Bryn said and the room went quiet. “He enjoys it. I most likely saw his strongest memory and there are a few details from that that can be included in the profile.”
“Excellent. Bryn also did a read on Talbot Dunne’s memory and the characteristics of the person he saw match the Walmart guy.”
Gunnar raised his hand. “Whoever killed Betty-Jo must have thought she’d seen something that might lead us to him. I don’t think she was a planned victim.”
Bell nodded. “Okay. Get to work people.” The noise resumed and Bell turned to Bryn and Gunnar. “I think you guys can leave now. We’ve got a lot of groundwork to do, but we’ll stay in close contact.”
“This feels real nasty,” Gunnar said.
“Yeah. We need to stop him and fast.” Bell shook Gunnar’s hand, then Bryn’s. “You or Talbot remember anything new, call me.”
“Sure.” Bryn surveyed the room and the four pictures now stuck to a board. “Let’s hope we get him before he kills again.”
Chapter Ten
The following morning, Bryn went to find Talbot in the IT suite because he wanted to know how he was settling in. He poked his head around the door and was confronted by banks of equipment, rows of computers and a steady background hum.
“And this is why I don’t come in here,” he muttered. “I hate computers.”
“Hush your mouth, young man.” A large African American woman with a strong southern accent glared at him. “I’ll have no blaspheming in this office.”
“Yes, ma’am. Sorry, ma’am. I was looking for…”
“Hey, Bryn!” Talbot’s head appeared from behind a monitor. “This is way better than I could have dreamed.”
“You’re okay, then?”
“I had the best night’s sleep. I have my own room and bathroom! And Camille is my boss and she’s setting me up on the systems and I’m going to get all kinds of training and…”
“Slow down!” Bryn laughed. “I just came by to see how you’re doing. Gunnar and me are going to the courthouse for the day. I didn’t want you to think we’d forgotten about you.”
“I would never!”
“Have you finished interfering with my staff, Bryn Ashton? You may be an augur but you’re not too big to put over my knee if you keep disrupting the smooth operation of my department.” Camille had her hands on her ample hips and Bryn took that as a sign to retreat. He backed out of the room. “Good luck, Talbot.”You’re gonna need it.“Catch you later.”Jesus, are her eyes bulging? And why do people keep threatening to spank me?He made a run for it before Camille made good on her threat, and went to find Gunnar.
“Are we leaving?” Bryn asked when he found Gunnar hovering near the exit. “I went to see Talbot. His boss is way too scary.”
