Page 54 of Toxic Vengeance

She took in everything with a critical eye. The killer had planned this well, slipping into the room unnoticed to lie in wait, and surprising Bennett. “Whoever it was, was waiting in here for him and took him by surprise. They—” She stopped, her gaze halting on the lump of flesh she’d missed during her initial sweep.

Bennett’s severed tongue lay on the cold tile floor, inches from his face, his half-open eyes staring at it. He might have still been alive when it was cut out.

“This was personal,” Zack said quietly. “The killer knew him, and either was afraid of him talking—”

“Or was punishing him for something he’d already said.” It was a vicious attack, yet planned with care. The killer had been cautious initially, planning the details, leaving no sign of a break-in. Then they had seen Bennett and lost control, letting the anger take over. So much anger that they hadn’t cared about leaving a giant mess and risking leaving evidence behind. They’d wanted to send a message. A warning to someone else?

Eden didn’t see any bloody footprints on the bathroom tile or the carpet leading to the door. “Throat was slit from right to left, in a single, deep stroke.” No hesitation. “The killer was comfortable with using a knife, likely left-handed. I don’t see any visible shoeprints on the floor,” she said to Trinity, and leaned over Bennett’s body to peer into the tub/shower.

It was immaculate except for the spray of blood on the outside of the tub portion. “The killer must have hidden in the tub behind the shower curtain. Looks like Bennett made an initial effort to struggle, but from what I’m looking at in here, he didn’t see the knife coming until it was too late.”

“Understood,” Trinity said. “Amber’s reviewing the security footage now. You two get out of there.”

“On our way.” She stopped to check Bennett’s jacket pocket, took his wallet, keys and phone while Zack quickly checked through the small bag Bennett had packed. “Anything?”

“No. Let’s hope we get something good off his phone.”

“We need to check his vehicle.” He’d parked it beneath the building.

Zack stepped in front of her on the way to the door, one hand on the weapon beneath his jacket. “Stay close.”

She didn’t waste energy arguing, just stayed close as they entered the hallway and hurried for the nearest stairwell. Much as she didn’t like admitting it, she felt better having him with her as they rushed down to the underground parking garage.

“Just heard from Amber,” Trinity said to them. “Security footage during a twenty minute window around the probable time of the murder is corrupted.”

Given that, it seemed like they were dealing with a pro, and possibly more than one person. Sounded like the killer might have a team behind them. But then what about all the evidence and the body being left behind? If it had been a pro, they must have taken precautions not to leave DNA behind.

“Copy. We’re going down to the garage to search his vehicle.” Amber had sent them the make, model and plate number of the rental earlier.

“Okay. Alert me when you’re on the move again.”

“Will do.”

Zack stayed in front as they entered the garage. There were six levels, but they were in luck because they found Bennett’s rented Nissan parked one level down, near the bottom of the ramp. She unlocked it. He stood watch while she went through the interior, then checked the trunk.

“Nothing. It’s clean.” Hopefully Amber would find something useful on his phone.

“Let’s get moving. We’ve been down here too long already.” He led the way again as they started for the turn in the ramp.

“On our way to our vehicle,” she said to Trinity.

“Street’s clear. I’ll rendezvous with you back at the house.”

“Got it.”

Zack looked back at her as they reached the turn. “I’ll bring the car up—”

A blue Tesla whipped around the corner. They hadn’t heard it because the engine was so quiet. It veered toward Zack at the last moment.

Eden caught him around the waist in a flying tackle, knocking him out of the way at the last second. They hit the concrete with a thud and rolled, but the Tesla was reversing at them.

“Move!” Eden shouted, shoving to her feet.

She planted her hands on the trunk of a car parked beside her and vaulted over it just as the Tesla’s back end whipped toward her, missing her by a foot. As she landed on the other side, she grabbed her weapon and spun around in time to see Zack on the other side of the ramp, pistol aimed at the Tesla’s rear window.

Two shots exploded through the garage. The driver sped up, disappearing around the corner behind them.

Eden ran for him. “Go,go.” Together they raced up the ramp. The incline was only a hundred feet long, but they weren’t fast enough. Seconds from reaching the top, the Tesla came roaring up behind them. “Look out!”

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