The Lady Killer by Paizley Stone Read Free Book Online

but no one is in the same anger management group. They don’t use the same gyms, or hang out at the same bars. Nothing fits together.”
    “There has to be something that we just aren’t seeing. What are the odds of our killer grabbing random butts to plant at crime scenes to distract us, and they all just happen to be domestic violence offenders?”
    Roy nodded his head agreeing with her. “About like winning the lottery.”
    “Exactly, so there has to be a connection, maybe a file clerk or court stenographer.”
    “I hate to say it, but with the internet being what it is these days, anyone could be looking up domestic violence and pulling reports on these guys.”
    “Okay, and then he follows them around until he gets enough cigarette butts to plant at his next murder scene? Does that make sense to you?”
    Roy frowned thoughtfully before he spoke. “Nope, not at all. Neither does hanging naked women and torturing them, but I’m not a psychopath. Somehow it makes sense to him. To catch him, I’m afraid we’re going to have to start thinking like him.”
    “I’ll work on that right after lunch! Where’s Murphy this morning?”
    Roy had a half smile on his face. “He had one more lead to cover on the Butt Men, then he’ll be in. Do you worry that much about me when I’m not here?”
    She whipped her head around and gave him a glare. “Is that supposed to be funny?”
    “No, but I’ve seen the way he runs around here getting you coffee and such. I think the boy might be sweet on you.”
    “Answer the phone, Burns, and stop being crazy. He’s just a baby.”
    “Homicide, Detective Burns….. Okay, we’ll be right there!”
    Her heart sank as she watched him hang up the phone. “Don’t tell me.”
    “Yep, another one, let’s go! I’ll call Murf and have him meet us there.”
    When they got to the address, they found police cars everywhere and the whole building roped off with yellow crime scene tape. A crowd had gathered in the street, and the uniform cops were trying to get them to move along. Peterson took in the scene with a long, sweeping glance and noticed a very well dressed couple standing just outside the entrance to the building. They both seemed distraught, and Murphy was talking to them.
    The building looked like it had been some kind of storefront and warehouse combination. It was different than most of the previous scenes, because it was attached on both sides by other buildings, instead of free standing. The street was fairly busy during the day but mostly deserted at night. All of the surrounding buildings were vacant. This was another secluded area and probably accessed from the rear with an ally. There had to be some way for the killer to get a vehicle near the building, without being detected. He couldn’t be bringing these women willingly to isolated buildings at night.
    Murphy approached them as they walked toward the front door. She was impressed by how quickly he had gotten there and taken control of the situation. “Good morning, Murphy, what have you found out so far?”
    He had an unusually pained look on his face. “Well, it’s not going to be a good morning, I can tell you that much. Do you want the bad news, or the really bad news?”
    “Lay it on me, and start with the high class couple.”
    “They are the ones who called the police. She’s a realtor and was showing the building to the guy who’s with her. When they entered the front they didn’t see anything, until they went back into the warehouse. That’s where they found a body, panicked, ran out of the building and called the police on her cell. Both of them are pretty shaken up and want to know when they can go home. That’s the bad news! Now do you want the really bad news?”
    Her eyes widened in surprise. “There’s more?”
    “Oh yeah! While CSU was blocking off the area where the body was found, a couple of the patrolmen were checking out the rest of the building, just on the off chance that some