Page 37

“No,” I said at the same time.

Tate looked between us.

“Coffee,” Carson repeated.

Will raised his hand. “I’ll take one.”

I opened my folder.

“We have seven dead women.”

The sheriff’s expression changed.

Coffee was forgotten.

I placed the scene photographs facedown on his desk. He didn’t need to see the victims posed unless it became necessary.

“The murders occurred over eleven months in and around Dallas. The killer cleans every scene, removes identification, and leaves almost no physical evidence.”

“Almost?”

“This morning he left a handwritten message.”

I slid the evidence photograph across the desk.

Sheriff Tate read the words.

I’ll be waiting where it began.

His gaze moved to the symbol.

“That’s Eagle River.”

“That was my first thought.”

“Your first thought?”

“I visited once during college.”

“Who did you visit?”

I stared at him.

The Magnolia Ladies had competition.

“A friend.”

“What friend?”

“Is this how everyone in Eagle River answers police questions?”

“I’m the police.”

“So am I.”

Carson accepted coffee from Will and sat in the chair near the wall.

“This is going well.”