Part 72 (1/2)
”I know. But there's a reason that the protocols are in place. You're too close to the case. You're upset and you're going to be bolting at shadows.”
She considered telling him that she'd already found a shadow to bolt at-a solid lead and serious answers to the big questions that she'd been able to raise in just a few short hours. But she kept it to herself.
”How did you get out here so fast?”
”We started moving the minute we got a call that someone was looking for a case like this.”
”Like what? It reads like a mugging.”
”Sure it does. But there are specifics we were keeping an eye out for. Nothing taken, seven stab wounds to the abdomen. Young woman, pretty, dark-haired. It's pretty specific, and as soon as my guys have had a look at the body we'll be sure.”
”What's so special about all that?”
”In four years, we've had five killings just like it.”
”And why didn't L.A.P.D. get anything on their search?”
”2012, it was in Montgomery. 2013, Augusta Maine; 2014, Scottsdale; 2015, two murders, almost back-to-back, in Chicago.”
”Okay, so it's a repeat offender. Seven stab wounds exactly, you say?”
”Every time.”
Erin let out a breath. This wasn't over her head, but it certainly was above her pay grade. Not that it changed anything.
”What are the details?”
”No details,” Roy said. He sounded apologetic. ”We've got a few ideas about who it could be, but no leads locally. We do know that they were all using the same dating service. Online thing, you communicate through text and then photos, and then-well, you get the idea.”
She didn't, but she could make a few good guesses as to how exactly it went.
”Okay, so-forgive me here, but I a.s.sume you've contacted the dating service? You know who they were all dating?”
”Yeah, we know. That's the thing. Not the same guy.”
He picked up a thick leather binder and unzipped the outside, flipped it open. Four different faces stared out at her. Sometimes suspects would change their hair style, trim their beards or grow them out. Look different.
Makeup and disguise could do a lot, and she didn't want to rule out that she was being fooled, but there were at least two men here. Men who couldn't have faked being the other.
She let out a breath.
”And do you have information on Becca's date?”
”Sure, it's coming through any minute now.”
Erin reached into her pocket and unfolded a piece of paper.
”That's him. Craig Hutchinson, according to his Facebook.”
”You've been busy,” Roy said. All business now. ”That's all I need from you. You're dismissed.” His voice softened again. ”I'll call you later.”
”f.u.c.k you. My sister was murdered, you're not cutting me out.”
”I can keep you informed, but only as a civilian.”
”Not good enough.”
Roy's face darkened, and he looked around as if he expected someone to be hiding behind the desk he had sat his a.s.s up on. Her desk, or it should have been.
”Look, Erin. I can't do any better for you, and you know as well as I do that I can't stop you from doing whatever you're going to do. But don't f.u.c.k this up. We need to still have the evidence at the end of the day to nail this son of a b.i.t.c.h.”
She let out a deep breath. ”Yeah, I know.”
”You know? Good. Now get your s.h.i.+t straight. Go on.” He pointed her out the door with a nod of his head.
”f.u.c.k off, Roy. You don't know what the f.u.c.k you're talking about.”
”I'll call you later.”
”I'm going to be busy later today.”
”Then tomorrow.”
”I'm going to be busy tomorrow, too. Pretty much all this month. It's pretty busy being suspended.”
”Yeah, I hear,” he said, sarcastic and angry.
”Good luck with the investigation, though. I'm sure that you Feds can take care of it just fine.”
”Erin, we can. But this isn't over, and you know it.”
”Yeah, I know.”
”I know you're upset. Don't do anything to get yourself hurt.”
”I'm not going to get hurt.”
She could tell Roy didn't like that answer. He didn't get to tell her what to do. But she already had a plan forming in her head, and with some luck she'd be able to make it work.
With nothing more to say, she started towards the door. Roy stopped her a moment. ”Wait, one last thing.”
”What's that?”
”Whatever you find, I want you to come back in here and tell me. Every day.”