Page 8 of Thorned Vengeance

“It’s him, Jez,” I say. “This one hasn’t been officially linked to him, but it’s him.”

“I know. And I’ve tapped into the Georgia Bureau of Investigations system to monitor the reports on this murder, but you’re right. There’s nothing official yet.”

“There will be. It’s clear as fucking crystal that it’s the Phantom Strangler.”

“Agreed.” She takes a deep breath. “Thorn, there’s one detail that the news didn’t report on. I’m guessing it’s because the police are keeping it to themselves, but they can’t keep it from me.”

Hope flares for the first time since I stumbled upon Tamara’s body. “You could’ve led with that, ya know?”

“Eh, what fun would that be?” she snarks.

“Dammit, Jez,” I snarl.

“Fine, fine.” Another deep breath. “A map was found a few feet from the body with red dots indicating each location a victim has ever been discovered.”

“And that helps us how?”

“There were also six green dots on locations that can’t be linked to any unsolved murder.”

“Again, how does that help us?” I demand, unable to reach whatever conclusion she clearly has.

“Thorn, I think the green dots are locations of future murders,” she says quietly, like it’s a closely guarded secret.

“Why would he do that?” I ask, trying to make sense of it. “He’s been so damn careful, and now he’s giving the cops a literal road map to his crimes? It makes no fucking sense.” A thought occurs to me as all the information continues to sink in. “Wait a sec, Jez. Was there a red dot for Tamara’s murder?”

“Yes.”

“So, she’ll be officially linked to him soon,” I surmise. “Which means the police will probably wanna talk to me again.”

“Probably, but you have nothing to hide,” she reminds me. “Well, other than your entire existence. You might not be the Phantom Strangler, but you have?—”

“Taken many lives,” I gripe. “Yes, I’m aware.”

“Thorn, I think it might be time to read the club in on all of this,” Jez suggests.

“Soul knows about Tamara,” I say.

“But does he know that she was killed by an active serial killer?” she asks. “Or that you and I are still trying to track said psycho?”

“No,” I admit.

No one but Jez knows because it’s not the club’s problem. It’s mine and mine alone. Shit, Jez only knows because she’s got skills that I could only dream about.

“It’s time, dude.”

“Yeah, maybe.”

“If the police are gonna be an issue, there’s no maybe about it. You can’t keep this to yourself anymore.”

She’s right, of course. I have to protect the club and our mission at all costs. Even if that means opening up my world of pain and rage for my brothers to see.

“I’ll ask Soul to call church and fill them all in.”

“Good. Want me to be there?”

“You know you’re not allowed in church.”

“Since when has that ever stopped me?” she counters, a smirk in her tone.

---