“He was obviously murdered,” Ten said. “Serial killers take trophies. Maybe the head was the trophy?”
Jude shook his head. “I hate to say this, Ten, butMax Headroommight have died from natural causes.”
Ronan snorted. “What Jude is trying to say is that this guy could have died in his sleep. He could have been dismembered for any number of reasons. He could have been a wanted man and his remains were hidden or buried to keep them out of sight. It’s possible he died and his family didn’t have the means to bury him.”
“Or he was murdered and his head was kept as a trophy.” Ten rolled his eyes.
Ronan pulled into the rehab center’s parking lot. “Are you gonna be okay in here with all these spirits?”
Ten nodded. “Yeah, I’ll be good. My focus here is to see what info I can get from Maria. I’m hoping Head Doe will be here so I canfind out his name, what happened to him and where the rest of him is.”
Ronan climbed out of the car and assisted Ten. He grabbed Jude’s arm before they walked into the building. “Listen, no calling this guy Chilly Willy, Jon Snow, or Captain Cold Cuts, got it?”
Jude gasped, his hand fluttering to his chest. “I wouldneversay anything like that in front of grieving family members. If we meet people in there who hated Headless Harry, well that’s another story!”
Ronan rolled his eyes and hoped for the best. Walking into the rehab facility, Ronan stopped at the reception desk where a man sat flipping through a copy ofVogue. The name “Lance” was on his name tag. “My name is Detective Ronan O’Mara from the Salem Police’s Cold Case Unit, and this is Detective Jude Byrne.”
The man’s eyes lit up. “Oh, yes, I’m well acquainted with Jude,andhis hammer.”
“Hiswhat, now?” Ronan asked, knowing exactly what Lance was talking about. With the number of men Jude boned before settling down with Cope, Ronan was surprised this kind of thing didn’t happen more often.
Lance winked at Ronan and turned his attention to Jude. “Hey, honeybunch. Haven’t seen you at the club in what feels like forever.”
Jude flashed his wedding ring. “I got married and have two kids.” He tapped his phone and turned it around to show a picture of his family.
“Well, I’ll be damned. I never thought Jude Byrne, king of the sluts, would ever settle down. Maybe there’s hope for me yet.”
“Stop going toSpellboundand come by West Side Sweets. Members of the Salem Bears Club come in for lunch on Tuesdays around one. Schedule a meeting with Tennyson here and then go meet the bear of your dreams.”
Lance’s eyes widened. “I appreciate the help, Jude. What can I do for you guys today?”
“We’re here to see Maria Cullen.” Jude flashed his badge.
Lance nodded. “Homicide detectives tried to interview her last night, but we wouldn’t let them in. Maria is in room twenty-three on the second floor. Members of her family have been with her since last night when the news broke. Be careful with all of them, finding human remains has thrown them all for a loop. Maria is especially fragile.”
“You got it.” Ronan took the visitor badges Lance gave him and handed them out.
“I don’t often say this, but Jude’s right. Show up on Tuesday in that purple shirt you love so much and play a little hard to get.” Ten laughed.
“Am I going to meet someone special?” Lance’s brilliant green eyes teared up.
Ten nodded. “Enjoy falling in love, Lance. This reading is on the house.”
“Holy shit,” Jude said, when they got into the elevator. “Imagine the money you’d rake in if you became a matchmaker.”
“It doesn’t work that way, Jude. When you mentioned Tuesdays at Cassie’s I got a vision and saw Lance with a regular. I also saw what happened between the two of you. Not exactly your best work.” Ten rolled his eyes.
“Everyone gets a little whiskey dick from time to time. It’s no big deal.” Jude offered a fake laugh.
“I wasn’t talking about yourdick!” Ten half-whispered. “I meant how you treated Lance after you boned him.”
“I treated every guy that way. What makes him so special?” Jude elbowed Ten, revealing that he was obviously kidding.
The elevator pinged, putting an end to Jude and Ten’s chat. Ronan knew Jude had been a bit of a dog, but didn’t want to hear the details, which he had a feeling Ten had seen thanks to his gift. “Get it together. Maria’s room is down this way.”
Two men stood outside Maria’s door talking softly to each other. Both turned toward Ronan as he approached.
Expecting this sort of reaction, Ronan pulled out his badge. “I’m Detective Ronan O’Mara from the Cold Case Unit of the Salem Police. We’re here to see Maria Cullen.”
