“Pareidolia.”
Bernadette gaped at Sorcha. “How did you know that?”
“I have no idea how my brain spat that out. I learned it in college and… I don’t know. I’m a freak.”
Luke didn’t comment as he headed toward the ME who wore a pair of light khakis and a short sleeved red shirt as he moved around the body. Skinny and tall, he had dark hair and highly intelligent eyes.
“Hey, Jedi. Did you get a picture of that?” Luke gestured at the wall.
“Yeah. Creepy, right?” Jedi closed the distance between them. “I’m sorry about the arrest. I feel bad that I told them who the print belonged to.”
Luke held his hand up. “It’s okay. You were just doing your job. I understand.”
“Thank you. I knew it couldn’t be you. But I had to turn it over. I have no idea how your print got there.”
“Me, neither. But strange is what we deal with. Right?”
“Ain’t that the truth.” Jedi’s gaze went past Luke to Sorcha. “You must be the new partner.”
“Sorcha O’Malley.” She held her gloved hand out toward him.
He shook her hand. “Welcome to the madness.”
“I think I was already there. New Orleans broke me in well.”
“Bet it did.” Bernadette moved closer to the poor student whose final repose was highlighted on the ground with a bright yellow marker. “Were you able to ID the victim?”
Jedi sighed. “Leanne Fields. Nineteen. I’m really tired of photographing kids. Catch this asshole and stop the bloodshed.”
“We’re trying”
Sorcha turned at the sound of a deep, masculine voice behind her to see a handsome man in his early thirties.
Dressed black on black, he was an intimidating sight. Or he would have been had he stood beside any man other than Luke.
His short black hair had a bit of a spike to it, and he held an air of blunt confidence that was sexy and calm.
He offered her a charming grin. “Detective Rory Corvan, Savannah Homicide.” His gaze dipped to her badge and he chuckled. “So you’re with the zoo crew. You poor thing.”
“Give it a rest, Corvan.” Luke stepped past him. “She likes our kind of crazy.”
“If you say so.” Rory approached the student so that he could examine the scene. “Looks like this one was killed here.”
Jedi nodded. “That’s the theory I’m going with. Just waiting on Berta to agree when she gets here.”
“Berta?” Sorcha asked.
“Blood splatter expert,” Rory said.
That was a job she didn’t envy.
Nor did she envy theirs at the moment.
Jedi stifled a yawn as he met with Rory. “Aside from the fact that they’re both students and torn apart, this is totally different from the last one.”
“How so?” Rory asked.
“For one thing, this perp is definitely human and not some kind of animal. Someone very large and very strong.” Crouching on the ground, he lifted the student’s chin. “These cuts came from a sharp object, probably a knife. Granted, they’re similar to the animal attack, but this is definitely made by a weapon and not fangs or claws.”
