“Did you speak to the coroner?” Connor asked. “Has he started the report?”
Ethan leaned forward. “He hasn’t finished it, but we’re on good terms. He likes me. Told me stuff he shouldn’t have. That just by looking at the bodies and noting the lack of external bruising, and given the amount of drownings he’s already seen in this town, he suspects these were asphyxia due to drowning.”
Zac frowned. “So this sick asshole drowns the women and takes them back to his abandoned house to store the bodies?”
“Maybe he thought no one would find them there,” Joel said, pushing his plate forward.
“At least Ward can’t putthesedeaths down as suicides,” Ryan said, voice low. “These women were murdered and their bodies relocated. That’s the way he has to report this.”
“But where are the other missing women?” Connor asked. “The ones dating back five to twenty-five years?”
Joel frowned. “Either he changed his MO or?—”
“It’s a copycat killer,” Ethan finished.
“It would explain the escalation from killing every few years to taking four women in twelve months,” Joel said.
Basil stopped at their table. “You don’t like my pancakes?”
Joel looked up. “Love ’em. Just not too hungry today.”
Basil tsked. “One is always hungry for these pancakes.” He moved to the next table.
Ryan leaned forward. “I’m going to see what Ward will share about any DNA found at the crime scene. With any luck, there’ll be a match in the system.”
Joel wasn’t so sure. He had a feeling this killer was going to make them work for every crumb. “What we really need is Jenna’s phone.” He scowled. “But Ward couldn’t locate it.”
Ryan’s jaw clenched. “The asshole who took her likely got rid of it.”
The door to The Pancake Bar opened and Gerome Ward stepped in.
Jesus, just what his morning didn’t need. He was the son of the sheriff, and since the day Joel and his team had arrived in Deep River, Gerome had spent his time spreading rumors around town about them. Bullshit about all of them being dishonorably discharged, insinuating that one ofthemcould be the person snatching women off the streets.
Gerome smirked as he closed in on their table. “Hey, friends. I heard we found some bodies yesterday. More people you couldn’t save. Really makes me wonder what the hell you’re doing here.”
“You do realize those women went missing before we arrived in town?” Ryan asked, a scowl on his face.
“And while under yourfather’sleadership,” Ethan added.
Gerome’s eyes narrowed. “You just love to badmouth him, don’t you? It’s like you forget that he’s been loyal to this town forover thirty years. Your little team of action figures has been here for two seconds.”
“And yet, we were the ones who found Priya and Jenna,” Joel growled. “And it was me and Polly who found those bodies yesterday—notyour father.”
A muscle ticked in Gerome’s jaw. “We’ll see how long y’all last.” He spun and walked toward the counter.
Joel shook his head. “That guy’s a dick.”
“I can think of stronger words.” Zac lifted his coffee.
Joel barely took his gaze off the asshole as Gerome picked up food and drink at the counter. He’d just left when the door opened again and a familiar older woman stepped in with a silver-haired man. And behind them…
Polly.
Joel straightened. She looked pale.
They took a seat at a table on the other side of The Pancake Bar. She was so focused on her mother and the fiancé that she didn’t see him or his team in the corner.
Two more minutes passed, and when she didn’t look up, he rose.
