Past Will Haunt by Morgan Kelley Read Free Book Online Page B

long.
    “That’s it?” Livy asked.
    “That’s it,” Gabe replied.
    The women were now even more anxious about the autopsy. It all rode on that.
    “That’s one detail no one knows but the ME in Boston. He kept it to himself. It was the only way we could make sure we didn't get any crazy copycats. They kept it close to the vest and now we’re going to use it to verify.”
    Elizabeth looked at the medallion.
    “Where was it?”
    Gabe pointed down. “He inserted it in them after they were sexually assaulted. It seems that’s his calling card.”
    “Gross,” muttered Livy. “He’s sick. I can’t believe we pulled this nut job.”
    Gabe agreed. Honestly, he wished they didn't—not Livy, and not Elizabeth.
    “You look worried,” Elizabeth offered, sensing his trepidation. “What’s up, Gabe?”
    “There’s more you need to know.”
    “What?” asked Elizabeth. What more could there possibly be? The man sliced apart his victims and shoved a medallion in their vaginas as a calling card.
    Could it get worse?
    “He moves fast. In Boston, there were five bodies in seven days. You aren’t going to have time to breathe on this one. It’s going to push you to the limits, and this is your first really big case. The media, once they get wind, is going to be all over you two. You have to run this like seasoned investigators.”
    Elizabeth whistled. “Holy shit! We’re going to be busy. This is going to be one hell of a race.”
    Didn't he know it?
    “The director wants you on it, and he’s got the final say. You’re going to have to play this one by the books. He’s going to be scrutinizing everything you do.”
    Great.
    Like they needed more pressure.
    Gabe watched them. He was debating on whether to tell the women why he picked them, or if he should hold it to his vest. Elizabeth was a friend, and they’d built something.
    She’d understand.
    He hoped.
    Before he could offer up the truth about Livy being pretty bait to a madman, Elizabeth interrupted him.
    “We need to hit the ground running on this one,” stated Elizabeth. “We aren’t going to have much time. If he mimics the same pattern, he should be dropping another victim tonight.” She scanned the file.
    “He dropped three in three days before he took a break from the bloodbath. It’s likely going to be his pattern. If it is the same guy.”
    He was well aware.
    “The ‘Irish Butcher’ is a bastard. He likes sweet Irish girls. If you look at all the photos, you’ll see that they are all blue or green eyed, red hair, and fair.”
    Elizabeth could see her partner from the corner of her eye. He’d just described Livy.
    She narrowed her gaze.
    Gabe looked away.
    Well, shit.
    He was thinking they might have bait somewhere down the line, and he was going to use her partner. Oh, that better not be why she was handed this case. Elizabeth hated when people picked them for cases because they had ovaries and breasts.
    She wanted to slap someone, but she managed to keep it to herself.
    “I’m Irish,” Livy stated.
    Gabe didn't say a word.
    Elizabeth stared at him until he met her gaze. He struggled to keep it, but somehow he managed.
    “Are you?” he asked. “I hadn’t noticed.”
    Yeah, that was one hell of a lie, and he knew it.
    He was well aware she was Irish, and so was the director.
    Elizabeth glanced at her partner. “We have some case files on our desk for our longstanding assignments. Can you pass them off to some other agents?” she asked. “I’ll get more details from Gabe, and then we’ll head down to autopsy to bug the hell out of the ME.”
    Livy didn't mind. “Can I take this file and make copies for us?” she asked.
    “Sure,” Gabe said, knowing what his agent was doing. He could see the cold calculation in her eyes. Elizabeth figured out what was going on, and she was going to call him on it.
    Well, at least they’d be having the conversation in private. There was some silver in that cloud’s lining.
    When Livy