Silva’s gaze is intent on my face, so I say, “I didn’t hear anything.”
“You were sleeping.”
“Yeah.”
“That sucks.”
“Yeah.” Because I was alone and in my bed, I had no alibi for the hours when the man was hunted and killed. “Diaz and Jacobs think it’s a gang thing.”
“Do you?”
No.I mull my answer, which comes from my gut. “It’s possible the gang did him and dumped him. But I get the sense it was one killer.” I feel comfortable sharing my gut feelings with Silva. “The crime feels. . . personal. I just don’t know why the killer left him on my stoop.”
“You got a secret admirer?” It’s the sort of gross joke Burgess would make, but Silva sounds serious.
“You think the killer left him forme?”
“Girl.” Silva snorts. “He practically gift-wrapped him.”
“He?”
“Or she. But it’d take someone strong to carry a dead body down that walk up.”
The wind tugs at my ponytail, and stray hairs whip my face. I raise my head to the slate-gray sky.
Maybe Silva’s on to something. Burgess, too, as much as I hate to admit it. Someone hunted one of my attackers down and left him on my doorstep. Like a cat dropping a dead mouse at its owner’s feet.
It feels right. My instincts sayyes, this way.It’s not a perfectly marked path, just a few breadcrumbs dropped in the woods. I have a sense of the shape of it, but it’s not yet clear. The images in my brain are jumbled.
“Can you get me pictures of the scene?” Something about the position of the body is bothering me.
It’s Silva’s turn to stop and turn his face to the tree branches overhead as if praying for help. “Ramos. . .”
I swing around to face him. He takes one look at my expression and sighs. “Yeah. I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thanks. I’ll owe you one.” I hunch my shoulders against the wind and walk away. I can sense him wanting to call me back, maybe invite me out to hang at the local watering hole or whatever, but he doesn’t, and I’m grateful. I need to be alone.
For the second time in my life, a murderer is hunting me.
* * *
Darling Swallow,
I stoodin the shadow of the oaks and watched you in the park. Fall is coming, and the birds are restless.
I’d hoped you would turn and see me, but you were preoccupied. You spoke with that man again.
Don’t let him get close to you. I won’t tolerate anyone else in your life. You belong with me and me alone, and I’ll kill anyone who stands in my way.
BK
10
Inara
Friday,after a night in a cheap hotel on the department’s dime, I spend hours at the station reviewing nutty calls from the tipline. The day passes in a blur, and when it’s over, I want nothing more than to drag myself home. Instead, I have the stupid gala to attend. Chief’s orders.
I poke my head into the bullpen to check my desk before I clock out. I’ve put off dress shopping until the very last minute.
