Page 26 of Nocere

"That one I remember," Eve piped up. "She told the bus driver. Described the suspect as a six-foot-tall white guy in a baseball cap. Unremarkable description."

"Right, but they both said he smelled strongly of coconut or sunscreen. All of them said the same thing. The women were close in age, but the victim's race differs. Started out as white females, then became black women, and a few Hispanic women. Age stayed the same, body type as well. All of them wore blue skirts or dresses at the time of the assault. All of them in the middle of the day. All of them had bruises on their neck." I turned around to face them, and both detectives wore similar expressions—frozen, hinted with mitigated horror. Ainsley covered her mouth as her eyes searched the map.

"How many total, Rose?" asked Eve.

"Fourteen. Each assault occurred about ten or eleven weeks apart. They take place all over Seattle. I compared all the files from the sex crimes unit, plus independent reports that never made it to your unit. Imported documents from all precincts in the entire city. This is what I've found. I'm reticent to say we should expand state-wide. I'm worried about what we'll find." I stepped down from the chair, and glanced between them. "Other than this serial rapist that I've already uncovered."

"Shit, Bryant." Stiles folded his hands behind his head as he paced in a circle. "Write up this report. Send it to Walsh."

"Already did." I snatched the printed copy off the desk and handed it to him. "And my requisition for state-wide access."

Eve slid from her seat, glancing to Stiles. "We need to go back further in time. Rerun the metrics. Five years. Ten."

"I will." I pursed my lips as their heavy emotions slammed down on me. Ainsley came to stand beside me with her arm around my shoulders. "Get them to give me clearance."

"On it." Stiles nodded to the door, and Eve followed him. "Good work, Bryant."

"Keep this to yourself for now, Rose," said Eve before they exited my office.

I turned to Ainsley and she offered me a sad smile while gripping my shoulders. I nodded to her and she bumped her forehead against mine. The gesture brought a small smile to my lips.

"What's this like for you? Looking at all these cases?" she asked with caution.

"I don't think about it. I can't."

"Yeah. I get that."

"Cutting up bodies isn't much different, I guess."

"It's different, Rosie. It's less personal," she said, and I nodded.

"I need to get back to work and rerun those metrics," I said, stepping away from her to return to my computer.

"Okay." Ainsley watched me, and dropped back into the seat near the desk. "I've got nowhere to be yet."

"The luxury."

"Very much so." She leaned her elbow on the desk and I glanced at her.

"Why are you really staying?"

"Support. Deal with it."

I smirked, returning my attention back to the screen. "Thanks."

***

Samirah's condo, in a much fancier part of the city than where I lived, offered an almost intimidating atmosphere. Dark wood walls, with gorgeous shiny onyx floors, and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the bay had me nearly fainting at the sight of it. It must've been a million-dollar home at least. Unpacked boxes filled the hallway by the stairs that I assumed led to the bedrooms. Samirah's living room, with a plush carpet in front of the fireplace, seemed to be the only area set up completely. Her kitchen sported small totes on the bar counter, and her kitchen table held a lot of unwrapped knickknacks.

"Your home is beautiful, Samirah," I said, awestruck and riddled with nerves. Living like this, how could I ever invite her to my tiny space?

I half-expected Samirah to wear a fancy dress or something equally extravagant to her home, but in her casual jeans, and worn out sweatshirt, she appeared as normal as anyone. My decision to adorn leggings and a sweater dress made me feel almost overdressed in comparison.

"It's a little over the top, but I really liked the views. The balcony is my favorite, second only to the jacuzzi tub in the bathroom upstairs," she said, her hand falling to the small of my back as she led me to the sitting area. "Can I get you some wine?"

"Sure." I continued to stare at the structure of her place, closing my mouth when I noticed my jaw fall slack.

"Any preference?"

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