Homecoming Homicides by Marilyn Baron Read Free Book Online

audience in the auditorium with the vilest intentions.
    “We’re on that,” Luke reported, “but what if the killer snuck in?”
    “No chance. That place was locked down tight. Security wasn’t letting anyone in without a ticket, even family members. I’m sure the video will give us some clues to help us solve the case.”
    “You’re probably right,” Luke agreed. “But like I said, it’s not your job to solve the case.”
    “If I’m going to be effective, I’ve got to live and breathe this case.”
    “Okay,” Luke relented, but Flippy could tell he was just placating her.
    “Luke, the guy knew a video was being made, probably ordered one, and got turned on watching the girls over and over, the girls he killed or is planning to kill. I’ll also get you the list of the people who ordered the video.”
    “That would be great.”
    Flippy turned out the lights, loaded the VCR, and she and Luke took their seats and started watching the video.
    As the lights on the screen went down, a ghostly hush fell over the auditorium as the music rose and the girls took the stage for their opening number. It was “Razzle Dazzle” from Chicago . They had rehearsed for two months straight. Flippy had taken a disparate group of sorority girls who each marched to the beat of her own drummer and drilled them into a top-rate dance troupe that would be at home on any Broadway stage. The girls, lock-stepping in their sleeveless, knee-length black crepe dresses and matching high-heeled shoes, twirled rhythmically around the stage in tandem, wowing the crowd.
    Any one of them could have made the cut to the final three and ascended to homecoming court. Of course, Flippy had her favorites. She knew what the judges were looking for, and though all the contestants had something, five or six of them had that special “It” quality, that grace, and enough style to take them into the winner’s circle. She knew it the moment they walked into the spotlight. Hard to believe that almost every one of her original top picks was already dead.
    And one, her own sorority sister and best friend, was missing and presumed dead. Even if Traci were still alive, the killer had her now and she was probably wishing she were dead. Any minute now someone would find her body. Flippy felt it in her bones. How had this happened? Why did it continue to happen? Since she was responsible for Traci’s disappearance, she needed to help stop this killing spree, and make things right between them again, if it wasn’t too late.
    “Philippa?” Luke’s serious voice cut into her thoughts and she felt his gentle tap on her shoulder. The video had stopped and she hadn’t been concentrating. She’d have to watch it again, scan the audience for something she might have missed.
    “Are you okay?”
    Flippy wiped away the tears she hadn’t realized she was shedding, cleared her throat, and tried to focus on Luke’s face. She didn’t want his pity. She had something to prove to him and to Chief Bradley and Director Beckham, who had placed such trust in her. She desperately needed to demonstrate some semblance of professionalism. But professionalism had gone out the door the day she got assigned to this case. The situation had become extremely personal.
    “Of course I’m not okay,” Flippy said. “And I won’t be okay until we find the man who did this. What motivates a person to do something like this?”
    Luke shrugged his shoulders. “Serial killers commit murder for almost any reason. Maybe our guy was rejected by a beautiful girl one too many times in his life. When it comes to human behavior, almost anything is possible. Maybe he wants to make a name for himself. He did leave a signature.”
    “A signature?” Flippy asked. “Is that like an MO?”
    “Signature is the thing the killer is trying to accomplish,” Luke explained. “MO is the method of accomplishing it. The MOs in this case differ as they often do in serial killings. He kills each girl