Page 14 of Coordinates of Death

“What’s your background, Watcher Greene?” Wheeler asked.

“I’m a paramedic, as well as a mountain and wilderness survivalist.”

“So someone we want on our team playing SBK’s sick game.” Hill nodded. “Thank you for sharing your abilities. Aurora, do we know yet when this proverbial clock will start ticking?”

Aurora frowned. “No, but—”

A knock sounded seconds before the door opened.

A thirtysomething man stuck his head in. “Permission to enter? I have news you’ll want to hear.”

“Come.” Wheeler motioned him in.

Aurora stiffened and avoided the man’s gaze.

Why?

“Dirk, how’s married life treating you?” Wheeler asked.

The man eyed Aurora, an odd expression blanketing his face. Regret? “Great, thanks.”

Hill gestured toward the man. “Kordell, this is our lead forensic investigator, Dirk Fowler.”

Kordell stuck out his hand.

Dirk hesitated but shook it. “I have news from the coroner, but I can come back later.”

“You can give your update in front of Kordell.” Aurora’s curt sentence revealed an underlying hostility toward the man.

Dirk’s gaze traveled from Aurora back to Kordell. “Is he a police officer?”

“Canadian Watchers Squad member,” Hill said. “I’m giving him and his unit full access.”

Dirk’s expression hardened. “Why?”

“None of your concern. Tell us what news you have.” Aurora tapped her toe.

“A please would be nice.” Dirk scowled before removing a cell phone from his pocket. “Dr. Sharpe just pulled a paper lodged deep in our victim’s throat. It’s a message for Corporal Aurora Hunt.” He raised the screen to share the image of it.

Ticktock. The game’s afoot.

The group gasped.

The Shadow Box Killer’s sick game had begun.

Chapter Three

Aurora adjusted her smartwatch’s stopwatch to thirty-six hours and hit the button. The numbers immediately descended as her blood pressure rose with each tick. “We need to hit the road. We have to get to the first clue.”

Dirk stuffed his phone back into his pocket. “What’s going on? What clue? Where are you going?”

The room fell silent.

Dirk scratched his face with his left hand, his wedding ring glittering in the office’s fluorescent lighting and reminding her of his betrayal.

And why she’d vowed to remain single. It had been eighteen months since she’d caught him kissing her former best friend, Phoebe, an hour before Aurora and Dirk were to get married. Two weeks ago, Dirk had exchanged vows with Phoebe at the exact venue where he was supposed to have married Aurora.

Aurora studied her ex-fiancé. Could they trust him? Yes, he’d betrayed her, but his police work was top-notch, along with his reputation in the forensic world. She spoke to her leaders. “Thoughts?”