Page 9 of Counter Attack

“Can’t. I could tell you the name I was given, but I doubt it’d do you any good.”

“A confidential informant?”

Nathan nodded. “The Queen’s Gambit Killer—is that who you were trying to catch tonight?”

The slight hesitance in Parker had Nathan holding his breath, then the detective shrugged. “We’re on the task force trying to crack the case, so I don’t see why homicide would care if I discussed it with you—it’s not like we’re overrun with answers.”

“I’d appreciate it.”

“How much do you know?”

“Only what I read in the newspaper and see on TV. Five victims?”

Parker nodded. “The first murder occurred a year and a half ago—a prostitute. Homicide had no idea it was a serial killer until the second murder three months later. The victim, another prostitute, clutched a White pawn in her hand, just like the first one.”

The detective opened his mouth as though to say something more but instead slipped his hand into his pocket and withdrew an amber-colored bottle holding toothpicks. Parker chose one and stuck it in his mouth, then held the bottle out to Nathan. “Toothpick? It’s cinnamon.”

“Thanks, but no.”

The toothpick bobbed up and down as Parker chewed on it. Nathan waited. After a long minute, the detective cleared his throat. “If you’ve been following the news, then you know the first victims were prostitutes—I personally think that was for practice. The last two were nine-to-fivers and valued employees, according to their bosses.

“Each of the women were about the same build as Alex and each had a shade of red hair similar to Alex’s.” He moved the toothpick to the other side of his mouth. “She also knew the second victim, had counseled her at a women’s shelter.”

Nathan didn’t like hearing that Alexis had a personal connection to one of the victims.

He turned back to the crime scene. More police cars had arrived, and yellow crime scene tape stretched across the sidewalk on either side of the body as the medical examiner knelt beside it. Three evidence markers pinpointed shell casings. Based on their location, one belonged to Alexis, which meant the dead man had fired twice.

A photographer snapped pictures, and several officers had left to canvass the neighborhood. One officer approached Parker and handed him a plastic bag with a wallet.

“Who is he?” Nathan asked.

Parker held up the bag. “Driver’s license says George Smith.”

“Think he could be the serial killer?”

“I don’t think so. We’re looking for an organized killer, and trying to take Alex here where so much could go wrong doesn’t fit what we know about the Queen’s Gambit Killer.”

Nathan scanned the area around the fallen man and frowned as a crime scene tech picked up a small knapsack near the body. “Reckon that contains his tools of the trade?”

“We’ll know in a minute.”

The tech removed items from the bag—zip ties, tape. The last thing she brought out was a small, black velvet pouch. Nathan and Parker stepped closer as the crime scene tech emptied it. Nathan caught his breath. “Is that what I think it is?”

The crime scene tech lifted a White pawn. “Gentlemen, I do believe we may have caught the Queen’s Gambit Killer.”

8

Alex drifted closer to the surface, away from whatever was holding her back. So thirsty. She took a deep breath and suppressed a groan. Why did it hurt to breathe?

Disoriented, she lay still as unfamiliar noises prodded her fully awake. Something creaked as it rolled past wherever she was. Murmurings. She strained to understand and gave up.

Her neck hurt ... and the pillow didn’t feel like hers. The fresh cotton scent didn’t come from any detergent she used, either ... and that disinfectant. When she moved, pain shot through her side, and she gasped.

“She’s waking up, Carson.”

Alex would know that voice anywhere. “Gram?” she asked, her voice croaking. She blinked her eyes open. Her grandmother leaned over the bed and brushed a strand of hair from Alex’s face.

“We’re here, honey. You’re going to be all right.”

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