Bloodstain by John C. Dalglish Read Free Book Online

cooperation with our investigation.”
    He looked up from his notes and scanned the crowd. “Questions?”
    Devin James stood up, rather than raise his hand, and spoke over the other reporters. “What information do you have on the victims?”
    “They ’re thin with black hair, the ages range from nineteen to twenty-four, and anywhere from five-seven to five-nine in height.”
    “That’s a pretty specific description. Do you know why he’s targeting these women?”
    “We have a theory but I won’t discuss it.”
    Devin James was not ready to yield the floor. “Why is Austin involved?”
    “The first victim we ’re aware of was found in Austin.”
    “That you ’re aware of?”
    “Yes. We’re not ruling out the possibility of a victim , or victims, that have not yet been discovered.”
    “How were the wom en killed?”
    “Gunshot to the heart.”
    Another hand came up, and the lieutenant took the opportunity to get away from James. He answered that question, and several others, before passing the podium off to the Mayor.
     
    *******
     
    Norman sat in his plaid recliner watching the news conference. He was drinking an orange crush soda, his favorite on these special days. The girl was tied in the bedroom, all her clothes removed. The news conference had pre-empted his afternoon watching of “Mayberry RFD” but he’d seen something that stopped him in his tracks. He sat down to watch.
    As the Mayor stepped to the podium, he walked in front of a female detective standing in the back. She appeared to be five- seven or so and thin, with black hair that fell to the middle of her back.
    There you are!
    The mayor was reassuring the public and made reference to the two fine detectives who were leading the investigation.
    Jason “something” and Vanessa Layne.
    He needed to get closer to Detective Vanessa Layne.
     
    *******
     
    Jason and Vanessa were relieved none of the questions had been directed at them. Neither liked the limelight, and felt it could compromise the ability to do their job.
    As they walked back into the station, Jason overheard a blonde talking to Desk Sergeant Connor. The girl was clearly upset with the answers he was giving her.
    Jason and Dave were long time friends, and a gunshot had relegated Dave to a desk job. He usually drew the front desk assignment. Dave Connor was trying to be patient. “I’m sorry ma’am, but that’s the law.”
    “ I don’t care if it requires forty-eight hours for her to be considered missing; I’m tellin’ you she’s in trouble.”
    Jason gestured to Vanessa he would catch up with her , and walked over to where the blonde was standing. She was tall, a little over weight, and when she turned around, her red lipstick was smudged, and mascara was running down her face from crying.
    “Excuse me, M iss...?”
    “Donald….Brooke Donald”
    “Miss Donald, is your friend a man or a woman?”
    “She’s a woman. Stephanie Morris. We walk together, if you know what I mean.”
    “I understand. Do you have a picture of her?”
    “Sure. I tried to give it to this ape , but he wouldn’t take it.”
    Jason gave his friend a knowing smile , and took the picture from Brooke. His pulse quickened. “How tall is your friend…Stephanie, did you say?”
    “Yes, Stephanie Morris. She’s about five-eight, like me. Sometimes we share clothes.”
    “I’ll take it from here, Dave.”
    Jason introduced himself, and had Brooke follow him up to Homicide. He asked Brooke to sit next to his desk, pulled out a pad, and sat down beside her. “Okay Brooke, where do you and Stephanie usually ‘walk’ together?”
    “South Presa”
    “And when was the last time you saw your friend?”
    “Around five-thirty or six last night. We were talkin’ by the road when a guy pulled up in a black pick-up with a white bed-topper. I went over to talk to him, but he said he wasn’t interested. Asked me to send Stephanie over.”
    Vanessa , who was at her desk across from Jason, was