Page 134 of Riordan's Revenge

Coppery. Like blood.

My gut tightened in anticipation. That was wrong. I’d been here before, and the place was cleaned of evidence. It had to be. Shade had a process down pat.

I turned back to him. “Who was responsible for cleanup in here last time ye used the place?”

His eyebrows dove together. “Did it myself.”

His expression shifted, telling me he’d picked up the same anomaly I had.

My sense of foreboding grew. Rounding to the steps, I climbed to the boat launch platform.

My boots rang on the metal walkway. My knees shook. The cold river rushed below, the open space thick with shadows.

It wasn’t dark enough to hide the body.

On the edge of the gantry, in danger of sliding into the frothing waves below, a woman sprawled. Naked. Unmoving.

A red slice glistened at her throat.

Oh God, no.

In pure shock, I clasped my hands to my mouth and stumbled as recognition hit me fast.

My pulse drowned out all other sounds. My whimper, the deadly water, Shade’s muttered anger, everything.

Not her. Please.

Shade grabbed my arm.

I spun around to the grim-faced enforcer, furious and with tears threatening. “Don’t. Don’t ye dare.”

My voice cracked.

I twisted back. Put one foot in front of the other until I reached Dixie’s lifeless body.

At her side, I sank down, my knees giving out at the last so I hit the metal hard. Her pretty face was tipped away from me, extending her neck to showcase the cut that had ended her.

It was the scent of her blood I’d picked up. Her loss of life as she’d bled out through the open floor.

With shaking hands, I wrenched off my jacket to cover her, and to give my friend a last shred of dignity.

“I’m so sorry.” My voice quaked. “I’m so sorry.”

She’d been murdered. Dumped here.

My thoughts snarled up too badly to consider what that meant for Deadwater’s serial killer, only that this was how the lives of four women had ended. No, not four. Five now. My friend.

With care, I settled the jacket on her torso.

My fingers grazed her skin.

I took a short breath. “She’s still warm.”

From behind, Shade’s footsteps thudded. He’d yelled to the crew to call for backup. Maybe for the police. I couldn’t process his words.

He settled next to me. Laid two fingers on her arm.

“The killer must’ve just done this.” I stared at him.

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