Page 48 of Water's Edge

“Two confirmed murders. The oldest is from two years ago. Both are bodies they matched to missing persons’ reports. I only asked for VICAP data from Jefferson, Clallam, Thurston, Mason, and Kitsap Counties. I didn’t ask about the other side of Puget Sound. There could be others if we widen the search.”

My eyes meet the sheriff’s and Ronnie’s for a second before I go on.

“Their injuries match what happened to Leann. Both women were strangled. Both had their necks broken. Multiple broken bones. Marks on the wrists, ankles, and neck like in our case. The one from two years ago says the cause of death was exsanguination. Apparently she was pregnant, and the baby was cut from her. I called the detectives working the cases. The old case is in Clallam County. The newer one is from six months ago in Kitsap. I’ll set up meetings with them.”

I look up from the printout. Sheriff has a sick look on his face. Not the sandwich, I think.

“The case in Clallam is a woman named Margie Benton,” I say. “She went missing and her body was found two weeks later. The one in Kitsap is Dina Knowles. She vanished and was found murdered a week later. And get this: both women were around Leann’s age and size and had red hair.”

I have Sheriff Gray’s undivided attention now. For good reason. A serial killer has come to Jefferson County.

“The detectives have been sharing information and it seems that the victims have more in common. Knowles had given up a baby the year before she was killed. They both worked in bars.”

The sheriff throws the sandwich into his waste basket. “Do they have any evidence? A suspect?”

I shake my head and drop a bomb.

“They did rape kits on both women. There was physical evidence of rape. There’s no suspect.”

“Well, shoot,” he says, his face growing red. “Why didn’t we hear about this before now?”

“I kind of got the impression that the two detectives thought they would have this wrapped up before now,” I say.

That was a problem in law enforcement. One jurisdiction didn’t want to share information with another. They each felt like the case was theirs alone and they would solve it alone. Make the arrest themselves. I could relate to that. But in this case I had a bad feeling that my killer was the same as theirs. That meant we had a serial killer on the loose.

“Sheriff, I’ve asked for a DNA test on the rape kit from Leann Truitt, but you know how the lab is. I’ll call Marley, but can I tell him you want this one given priority?”

“You do that,” he says. “And tell him if they don’t get it done right quick, there will be hell to pay.”

Seriously? I am proud of Sheriff Gray being so forceful. Now I just wish he’d let me shake Jim Truitt up and see what we get. He must have been reading my mind.

“And you have my permission to turn Jim Truitt upside down if necessary and see what falls out, though I don’t think we have enough to get a warrant. See what you come up with on these other murders and I’ll see what I can do about getting a court order for DNA.”

I plan to pursue Truitt, permission or not. The sheriff already knows this but is giving me protection in case some politician comes after me. I can always count on him. Truitt seems to have some clout and I hope he won’t be able to avoid cooperating in the investigation.

“Do you need anything else from me? Any help with this?” he asks.

“I’d like to request Deputy Marsh continue to help with the investigation.”

Ronnie looks surprised, then beams in my direction.

“Iinsistshe does,” I say.

“I’ll clear it with the training unit,” Sheriff Gray says, a slight smile on his face. “Just keep her out of the line of fire.”

I’m not sure if he’s talking about political fallout or Ronnie possibly getting killed. I guess one is the same as the other. Political fallout can mean the end of a career and getting blackballed with any other agency. He knows I can protect myself.

I am beginning to think Ronnie can do the same.

Twenty-Five

It will take most of the morning for Kitsap’s and Clallam’s case files to be couriered to my office. I want to go through them page by page before I set up a meeting with the detectives. I call Marley Yang at the crime lab to see if he received the rape kit. I get the receptionist.

“I’ll have to see if Mr. Yang is in,” she says. “Can I take a number and have him call you back?”

“If he is unavailable, I guess I’ll have to, but our sheriff wants to talk to him. Should I put Sheriff Gray on? He’s talking to a judge in his office, but I can get him to the phone.”

“That won’t be necessary,” she says. “I’ll put you through to Mr. Yang.”

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