Page 35 of Dark Hearts

“I figure we’ll need to get down to her sight level to work it out.” Styles kneeled beside the outstretched hand and bent low to peer at the writing. “It’s clear from here. It says, ‘Wyatt Cody, my killer.’” He took out his phone and snapped pictures from all angles.

Stunned, Beth stared at him. “Wyatt Cody?” She ran his interview through her mind. Had she missed something? The guy had been laid-back and confident, but it was obvious from his demeanor he hadn’t taken her seriously. She looked at Styles. “I rarely miss picking up on a serial killer. Cody was all about hitting on me, rather than worrying about being accused of homicide.”

“You have mentioned that smooth charismatic types are typical.” Styles shrugged. “He was pushing your buttons, is all. Trying to dominate you, most like. This”—he pointed to the victim—“is how he plays his games. What he’s done here is pure domination. He lives with his mom, right? I bet she’s a dominating woman. I’d say his father is long gone.”

Nodding, Beth understood the type just fine. “A dominating, cruel mother could be his trigger, but it would take more than that. He’s focusing on young women, so somewhere along the line something traumatic happened involving a young woman to add to his psychosis.” She looked at him. “Psychopaths aren’t all killers. It takes a number of triggers to push them into destructive behavior.”

“We’ll worry about the why he acted like this later.” Styles pushed up his Stetson and stared into the distance. “Right now, we have to find him and bring him in. Do you still have his work schedule on your phone?”

Trying to keep it together as her dark side rose up needing to seek revenge, Beth sucked in a few deep breaths. This time it must be by the book. Everyone would be watching and she would be the model FBI agent. She pulled out her phone. “Yeah, but first I’ll call it in. We need a team out here ASAP.”

“I’ll call Wolfe. He’ll want to view the scene and autopsy the body.” Styles pulled out his phone. “I’ll call Cash to meet us at the office. We’ll bring him up to date. Our killer lives in Rattlesnake Creek and he’ll need to make the arrest.”

Uneasy, Beth shot him a glance. “Make sure he waits for us before heading to Cody’s home. I don’t want him to be Cody’s next victim.” She made the call.

They stood beside the body as cruisers came dashing along the highway. Sheriff Weston would have jurisdiction and it wasn’t long before the sheriff’s team had the crime scene secured. Moments later Wolfe’s chopper landed, and Beth followed Styles to meet him. She nodded to Emily and Webber as they pulled a gurney and body bag from the chopper.

“I’ve been to the scene of the convenience store shooting and was finishing up there when you called.” Wolfe stared at Styles and shook his head. “What happened to you?”

“We fell down a mineshaft. The entire area is covered with them.” Styles shrugged. “I’m fine.”

“Sit down.” Wolfe leaned into the chopper for his medical bag and flipped it open. “My team will record the scene. I have time to examine that laceration and make sure you’re fit to fly.”

“I’m okay.” Styles wiped at his eye. “Nurse Beth fixed me up in the mine. It’s all good.”

“She did a great job, but when an injury bleeds like that, it needs more than Steri-Strips.” Wolfe pulled on examination gloves and filled a syringe. “You won’t feel a thing.” He went to work.

“Go and see Nate in ten days to take out the sutures. You can get it wet. I’ll spray on a barrier to protect it.”

It didn’t take long for Wolfe to clean and suture the wound. He covered it with spray barrier film and then went about pressing his fingers all over Styles’ head and neck.

Beth frowned. “Is he okay? He was out for a while. I fell on him.”

“I’m fine.” Styles narrowed his gaze at her. “Maybe you should check her shoulder. She’s stubborn and will say she’s fine.”

“Sure.” Wolfe checked Styles’ eyes and nodded before turning to Beth. “He’ll do. You didn’t break him.” He smiled at her. “There’s no one here. Show me your left shoulder.” He sighed. “I know it’s injured; I could tell before Styles mentioned it.”

“I’ll go and assist the team.” Styles walked away.

Removing her coat and Kevlar vest, she reluctantly stripped to her bra and turned to face him. With surprisingly gentle hands, Wolfe examined her shoulder. She looked at him. “It’s nothing.”

“Y’all the same.” Wolfe met her gaze but there was nothing but kindness in his expression. “In the field y’all want to be heroes. I carry a full complement of drugs because I’m often called in when no medical team is available. I can give you a shot that won’t impede your performance but will reduce the swelling in that joint and give relief immediately. I can’t force you, but if you’re planning on taking down this killer, you’ll need to be in shape.” He turned to his bag and looked at her over one shoulder. “What’s it to be, Beth?”

Nodding, Beth appreciated his concern. He really cared about her well-being. Heck, that was a first. “Yeah, thanks, Shane.”

“Y’all know, being alone out there working on homicide most of the time turns people like us into lone wolfs.” Wolfe administered the needle, dropped the garbage into a bag, and removed his gloves. “You’re part of a family of lawmakers here now, Beth. Carter and Jo are good people and you’ve met Jenna and Kane from Black Rock Falls. With my team, we are people you can trust with your life to have your back. Styles is a good man and you’re not alone anymore.” He gave her a long, concerned look. “If you need someone to talk to about anything worrying you, come to see me as a GP. I’ll always be able to talk through any concerns you have in absolute secrecy. No matter what you tell me, I won’t go behind your back and tell the director. I know what happened to you as a child could start to surface, and when it does, you shouldn’t face it alone. You can trust me and Styles. He won’t go running to the director with private conversations either. It’s not in his makeup, and although I never break my word, I’m bound by my Hippocratic oath. So if you ever need help, we’ll be here for you.”

Pulling on her clothes, Beth’s mind was on overdrive. Wolfe had always seemed to see right through her. Could he see the turmoil going on inside her? No one could ever solve her problems or what she had become inside. She’d been born a psychopath. Her dark side had been triggered at an early age and once that happened there was no going back. She’d read every scrap of information about her condition. The only possible outcome was to direct her anger in a controlled situation. Her actions had never been the result of an uncontrolled frenzy. If it came down to killing to save a victim, it was a choice… an innocent life or the life of a homicidal maniac? It didn’t take a judge and jury to decide. Any cop would pull their weapon andshoot in the same circumstances. This action was legal in the state of Montana and in most states. The same as self-defense. Her way of dealing with her dark side was the only option. Or she could go to jail and watch as psychopaths murdered innocents without anyone to stop them. The Tarot Killer was her calling and she’d embrace the challenge.

“Do you need to speak to me about anything, Beth?” Wolfe picked up his forensic kit. “You seem very subdued.”

Lifting her chin, Beth shook her head. “I’ve been trying to recall the night my mom died. I can remember eating dinner and then being in foster care and not knowing why I was there. Everything that happened there is something I’ll never forget but it’s difficult to talk about because it’s so personal.” She met his gaze. “If the other stuff does surface, I’ll call you. I figure it must be real bad and I’ll need help coping.”

“Can I ask what happened in foster care?” Wolfe frowned. “You were moved around. Did you run away?”

Memories came rushing back and Beth shuddered. “Yeah, all the time.” She searched his face and made a decision to trust him. “I was raped, many times, so many times. That I remember. What happened the night my mom was murdered is a blank. The foster care I wish I could forget. It messes with my head sometimes. I have problems forming relationships, although Styles has been really kind to me. He understands me, more than most men I’ve met.”

“He’s a good man.” Wolfe nodded, his expression serious. “When did you start blaming yourself for the abuse?”

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