Fitz looked at his notepad and said, “Two male profiles were identified. One belonged to Jeremy DiCapoli. He was one of the guys found in the trunk with her and is believed to be one of Finnegan’s soldiers. The second guy in the trunk hasn’t been identified but his DNA has been excluded from the kit. The second sample belonged to an unknown male.”
“Did you say DiCapoli? What’s the last known address on him?” Derek asked.
“Yeah, why?” Craven asked.
“I went to school with Johnny DiCapoli. He had a little brother, but I can’t remember his name. He was a couple years younger than me. There were rumors the DiCapolis were tight with the Finnegan’s but…” Derek’s voice trailed off.
Fitzmeyer scanned his notepad but didn’t see any mention of a Johnny DiCapoli. “There have been new developments since I brought you the case file.”
Derek looked up from the notes he had been taking.
“Two more bodies were found last night,” Fitzmeyer pulled out the photographs of the women from the motel.
Sucking in his breath Derek said, “Damn. How the hell did they get in there?”
“We don’t know. Sex Crimes was busting a serial they had been working and lifted the mattress because of the smell.”
“You think the guy they busted had anything to do with it?”
Craven quickly answered, “No. He’s a prick but I don’t think he’s a killer. It doesn’t match anything else he’s done.”
Derek glared at Craven and said, “You seem pretty familiar with the case.”
“Yeah, the detectives working it are friends of mine.”
Fitzmeyer looked from Derek to Craven then said, “There’s something else.”
Derek broke the stare and asked, “What?”
“We noticed…”
“Actually, Frankie noticed,” Craven corrected.
“Detective Thomas noticed both women have a rose tattoo on the inside of their wrist. Same as Katarina Schlovik. We worked another case with Thomas recently and one of those girls had the same tattoo. That makes four women with the same tattoo on the same wrist. Coincidence?”
“I don’t believe in coincidences.” Derek stood up and walked to his desk.
“Me either,” Fitzmeyer said.
Derek picked up the phone and dialed. He said, “Can you come here a minute?”
Hanging up the phone, Derek returned to the table. Before he could explain, Jessica Moon walked into the room. Craven and Fitzmeyer stood when she walked into the room, both appraising what they saw.
“You needed me?” Jessica looked at both men appreciatively, smiling as she spoke.
“The other night you said you had a case with a woman who had a rose tattoo on her wrist.”
Craven didn’t miss the fact Derek referred to the other night.
“Yeah. I think we’re waiting on DNA to come back.”
“Can you grab that case file and come back in here?”
“What’s going on?”
Craven flipped over the photographs of the unidentified women from the motel.
Jessica gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. She reached down and picked the photograph up from the table. With her hand still over her mouth she said, “Oh my gosh.” Tears filled her eyes.
Derek looked at her with concern, “What’s wrong?”
Jessica dropped the photograph and left the room.
“I’ll be right back.”
Chapter 111
“Jessica, wait. What’s wrong?”
Jessica was rummaging through the files in her desk drawer. “Where the hell is it? Dammit!”
“Jess, talk to me.”
Throwing the folder onto the desk she looked up and said, “I fucked up, okay? Is that what you want me to hear? It’s my fault that girl is dead.”
“What are you talking about?”
Jessica plopped into her office chair and let out a deep sigh. She opened the file folder and pulled out a photograph of a young girl with long curly hair.
Derek stared at the girl in the photograph.
“Her name is Andrea. I caught the case last summer. The fact pattern was full of challenges. She was a dancer high on meth. She identified the suspect in a line-up but I didn’t feel comfortable charging anyone until we got DNA back. Maybe if I had she wouldn’t be dead.”
Derek reached his hand across the desk, covered hers and softly said “Or maybe she still would be.”
Jessica looked up and said, “You think?”
“We don’t know who murdered her. It may not be related to her rape.” Derek stood up and said, “Come on. Let’s go see what else they have to say.”
Jessica looked into Derek’s dark eyes and said, “Thanks Derek.”
Derek nodded and walked out of the office.
Jessica smoothed her skirt, wiped her face, and followed. Before Derek could say anything, she looked at Craven and Fitzmeyer and said, “I’m so sorry. I needed to find this file. One of the women in your photograph is Andrea Tucker.” Jessica opened the file, pulled out a photograph, and said, “As you can see she had a tattoo of a rose on her wrist when this report was made last summer. The suspect in the case was identified as Richard Hinckley. We were waiting on DNA to come back to charge him.”
Fitzmeyer was taking notes while Jessica spoke. Craven looked from Derek to Jessica.
Derek asked, “Is there any reason to suspect Hinckley is connected to the Finnegan or Marzullo families?”
Craven and Fitzmeyer shook their heads in unison.
“What are you guys thinking?”
Craven stood up, looked at Fitzmeyer, and said, “We need to go catch a killer.”
Fitzmeyer followed Craven’s lead and said, “Thank you for meeting with us today.”
Derek extended his hand to both men and said, “Anytime.” Grabbing two business cards and handing one to each man he added, “Let me know when you are ready to get warrants. My cell is on the card.”
“Thanks Derek. We’ll be in touch,” Fitzmeyer said.
Once Craven and Fitzmeyer were in the elevator Derek looked at Jessica and asked, “Are you okay?”
“Honestly? No. I could really use a drink right now.”
Derek closed his office door, opened the bottom drawer of his desk and pulled out two glasses and a bottle of Johnny Walker Black. He poured a finger in each glass then handed one to Jessica.
Chapter 112
“Frank-ee! Girl with the boy’s name!” Craven’s voice boomed in the quiet office. Frankie and Mia erupted in laughter.
“What are you guys doing here?” Mia asked.
“We just left Kensington’s office and wanted to see if you guys would help us out. Again,” Fitzmeyer answered.
Mia raised her eyebrow as she looked at Frankie.
Craven and Fitzmeyer detailed the meeting they had, leaving out the part about Jessica’s emotional response. When they were finished Craven said, “So we were hoping you would give us a copy of the file on Andrea Tucker. And maybe tell us who’s working the case.”
Within seconds Mia said, “Coleman’s working the case. I’m printing a copy now. Do you think the murder is related to the rape?”
Craven sat thoughtfully for a moment before saying, “As much as I’d like to say yes, I don’t think so. I think it’s just a fluke.”
Frankie asked, “Did you ever get an ID on the other girl?”
“Not yet,” Fitzmeyer answered. “They are doing the autopsy tomorrow. We’ll get a copy of her fingerprints and run them then. Or there is another option that might be a little faster. Or at least a little more fun.”
Frankie’s forehead wrinkled with question.
“We could go talk to Tessa Kemp. All the women had a rose tatt
oo on their wrist just like Tessa. It’s too much of a coincidence.”
The corners of Frankie’s mouth began to rise, “I’ll make a few phone calls.” Looking at Craven she winked and said, “Maybe you should go see her. You do seem to have a way with the ladies.”
Laughing, Craven said, “I think she’s immune to my charms.”
“She’s still in the county jail until trial,” Mia said. “Maybe we can get in there tonight.”
Fitzmeyer looked from Frankie to Mia to Craven and asked, “You all want to help us find a killer?”
Frankie’s eyes brightened as she said, “Hell yeah.”
Chapter 113
Frankie and Mia sat across from Tessa in a small interview room at county lock-up. After making it very clear they were there to speak to her about something unrelated to her charges, Frankie pulled out the file folder containing photographs of the three dead women. She pulled out the photograph of Katarina first, “Did you know this woman?”
Tessa touched the photograph and said, “Yes. That’s Kat.”
Frankie noticed Tessa did not ask what happened to Katarina. She displayed the second photograph. “What about these women?”
Tears filled Tessa’s eyes. Pointing to one of the women she said, “That’s Andi. Andrea. Andrea Tucker.” Pointing to the other woman she said, “And that’s Nicki. Nicole Andrews.”
“I couldn’t help but notice you have the same tattoo as these three women, so I have to ask - how do you know them?”
Tessa looked up, took a deep breath, and stared down at the photographs as she exhaled. After a few minutes she said, “We all used to dance together. There was a group of us that worked the club but also did private parties. We kind of lost touch when I went to work for Stevenson.”
Frankie nodded as Mia asked, “What’s with the tattoo?”
Tessa looked from Mia to Frankie before standing up and saying, “I’m done talking here.” She walked to the door and slapped it with her hand, “Guard.”
Frankie gave Mia a questioning glance. She shrugged her shoulder in response.
Ten minutes they were driving quietly past the courthouse on the way back to police headquarters. Mia suddenly asked, “Hey isn’t that Derek’s car?”
Frankie looked in the direction Mia pointed just in time to see the car pull out of the parking lot with a woman in the passenger’s seat.
A preview of Outside the Lines
(Book 3 in the City of Fountains series)
Chapter 1
The sound of the tires rolling across the pavement echoed in Heather’s ears. She twisted her body but couldn’t loosen the duct tape binding her hands and feet. She took slow, deep breaths, trying not to panic as the trunk walls close in around her.
Heather felt the car begin to slow down and eventually stop. She could feel her heart beating against her chest. She listened to the muffled voices but couldn’t quite make out what they were saying. The doors of the car creaked open, then slammed shut. She waited.
After what seemed like forever, Heather heard the doors of the car open again. The car shuddered as the engine turned over and roared to a start. Laughter echoed from the backseat as tears rolled down Heather’s cheeks.
She felt the seat back move against her head, then the center console lower. A rush of cool air forced its way into the hot, cramped trunk. Heather gulped the fresh air and fought the urge to scream.
“Drink this.”
Heather saw a straw sticking out of a white Styrofoam cup. She hesitated, afraid of what might be inside. Tentatively she sipped the amber liquid, sighing with relief at the familiar taste of cola. The cup was moved abruptly from her mouth causing the liquid to dribble down her chin.
Heather pleaded when the console started to close, “Please! Leave it open. It’s so hot back here.”
She heard the men chuckling in the backseat but the console was left down.
“Where are you taking me?”
Heather lay there listening to the sounds of the radio, waiting for an answer to her question. She twisted her hands to loosen the tape. Her efforts were futile. If anything, the binds felt tighter.
“Let me out of here. Why are you doing this? Where are we going? Just let me go.” Heather continued to ask questions, barely stopping long enough to take a breath.
Once again Heather felt the car slow. When it came to a stop, the radio went silent. The chatter within the car came to a lull. The car door creaked open. Heather heard steps thump on the pavement then come to a stop at the back of the car. The latch holding the trunk closed was released and the lid popped open. Heather wriggled her body and tried to sit up.
“Please let me out of here. I won’t tell anyone if you just let me go.”
Corey looked at her and laughed a deep, sinister laugh. “You aren’t going anywhere.” He grabbed a pillow case from the trunk. He pulled her into a sitting position and started to put it over Heather’s head.
“Please don’t! I promise, I’ll be quiet! Please don’t cover my head. I won’t be able to breathe!”
Corey put the pillow case over Heather’s head and grabbed the duct tape. She continued to plead until he removed the pillow case but took a strip of tape and covered her mouth. He hesitated before shoving her back into the trunk, dropping the roll of duct tape next to her body.
Heather twisted her body and moved her head from side to side, trying to get the tape off her mouth. But the more she twisted the more the tape pulled against her hair. She finally stopped moving and lay quietly wondering why someone she thought was her friend would do something like this to her.
Acknowledgements
To my children. Thank you for the years of support and sacrifice – both when I was on the job and now. I hope seeing me go for my dreams will be the inspiration for you to pursue your own.
To all of my family and friends who continue to believe in, support, and encourage me on this writing journey, thank you. You keep me moving forward.
To Rachel, my sister from another mister. Together and separately we fought for those who could not stand up for themselves. The good times were better, and the rough times more bearable, because of you.
To Joanne Archambault and Dr. Kimberly Lonsway. I will always be grateful for your advice and mentorship throughout my professional career and for your continued friendship.
Thank you to Christine and Sarah for holding me accountable to my writing goals. I appreciate your dedication to our little writing group! Your encouragement is appreciated more than words can say.
To my editors Kimberly Hanson and Dave Cohen. Thank you for the time, effort, skill and patience you had with me and my manuscript. I value your time, insight, guidance, and contribution. This novel is the polished piece it is, in part, because of you.
To my cover artist, Jaycee, at Sweet N’ Spicy Designs. Thank you for listening to my vision and using your talent to create a cover that sent chills down my spine and exceeded my expectations.
For more information on how to respond to victims of sexual assault please visit www.startbybelieving.org.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Chapter 78
Chapter 79
Chapter 80
Chapter 81
Chapter 82
Chapter 83
Chapter 84
Chapter 85
Chapter 86
Chapter 87
Chapter 88
Chapter 89
Chapter 90
Chapter 91
Chapter 92
Chapter 93
Chapter 94
Chapter 95
Chapter 96
Chapter 97
Chapter 98
Chapter 99
Chapter 100
Chapter 101
Chapter 102
Chapter 103
Chapter 104
Chapter 105
Chapter 106
Chapter 107
Chapter 108
Chapter 109
Chapter 110
Chapter 111
Chapter 112
Chapter 113
A preview of Outside the Lines (Book 3 in the City of Fountains series)
Chapter 1