Page 32 of Forensics of a Fable

“Security footage?” he asked.

“Brick House is a small clinic, so its cameras are only aimed at the entrances and waiting room. The back of the practice is private,” Gold said. “It caught someone vandalizing, but there’s no surveillance in the storage rooms.”

“Was it enough to give us an ID?”

“No. The suspect was dressed in a black non-descript hoody with a ski mask and gloves. They were of slight build and average height, so the thief could be a man or a woman. Nothing about their figure was unique.”

“But you believe this vandalization was to cover up the theft?” Griffin continued with an exasperated expression, and the detectives nodded. “This was months ago, which means these deaths were premeditated.”

“The furniture at the scenes didn’t match. One looked almost professional, like vintage children’s toys,” Gold said, and Bel prayed her partner wouldn’t bring Eamon and the possibility that a forgotten nursery in his mansion provided those items. “But someone with very basic skills built the larger set. Regardless of skill, it would have taken time to acquire and construct the furniture. I think he took the Pentobarbital months ago to ensure the two acts weren’t connected.”

“So, two different people made the furniture?” The sheriff asked. “Have we discovered where the professional toy set came from?”

“No,” Bel said before Gold mentioned the Reale Estate. “There are no company logos on them, but we could alsobe looking for one person who made both of them purposely unique.” Ewan was definitely skilled enough to carve the smaller chair and table, but as someone well-versed in construction, he could undoubtedly create something horrible with ease.

“Why though?” Griffin asked. “Each death was the same. Why go through so much trouble to ensure the victims are prepared the same, only to make their furniture so different?”

“Because they weren’t the right one,” Bel said, and the sheriff froze.

“You don’t think he’s done.”

“A girl too small. A girl too big,” Bel said. “I believe he’s warming up. The first set of furniture was rough and unfinished. The second was far nicer but still not perfect.”

“And you think he will continue until he has perfected the scene?”

“Possibly.”

Griffin cursed. “We can’t have another serial on our hands. We need to figure out who Jane Doe is. She might point us in the killer’s direction. Any luck with missing persons?”

“No.” Bel shook her head. “Chances are she hasn’t been gone long enough for anyone to realize she’s missing. The time between Alana Drie’s last sighting to the discovery of the cabin was less than forty-eight hours.”

“Hopefully, someone will report her soon. If we learn her name, we might identify similarities between the victims. Do we have any other leads?”

“Unfortunately, no,” Bel said. “We were hopeful the vet would provide one, but this police report has nothing of use in it.”

“Keep searching. We’ll find something, I know it.” Griffin stood. “I have to meet the mayor for lunch. You two should go eat.”

The detectives nodded and left his office, and Bel looked at Gold. “I raced out of the house this morning and forgot to pack food. I’m going to the deli. Do you want to come?”

“Oh… Ewan asked if I wanted to grab a quick slice of pizza with him. It’s not a big deal. I can cancel.”

“No, go,” Bel said, unsure how to tell her partner without ruining their promising relationship that, despite the lack of concrete evidence, she was worried her new boyfriend was the killer.

“You want to come get pizza with us instead?”

“No, thanks. I’m craving a pesto caprese sub. Have fun.” Bel smiled and left, wondering if she should accompany her partner. Would Ewan try something? Was she being dramatic? Gold was a grown woman in her thirties and a detective. Surely she was observant? Then again, Bel hadn’t known a murderous witch was pretending to be her elderly neighbor for months.

Bel drove to the deli and ordered her sandwich, an iced tea, and a bag of potato chips, but as she turned to sit at a table with her lunch, she caught sight of Abel walking toward the shop. She sighed, not ready to deal with his awkward attempts at friendship, but he hadn’t noticed her yet. If she timed her escape just right, she could slip behind the group of men as he entered, giving her a straight shot to the door. She could return to the station and eat at her desk, or maybe she should find a bench and enjoy the fresh air.

Bel waited until Abel passed the men, oblivious to her, and she raced outside, slipping into her car unseen. She exhaled in relief, liking the idea of sitting on a solitary bench somewhere more and more, and she slid her keys into the ignition when the passenger door flew open, and a male body lunged into her car.

Alarm flooded Bel’s chest,and she lunged for the car door. Had Abel followed her? Was it Ewan coming to punish her for suspecting him?

A massive hand caught her thigh, stopping her escape, and she stared down at the fingers, vaguely aware through her fear that only one man possessed skin that pale and hands that powerful. Bel leaned her head against the seat and shut her eyes, forcing her heart rate to slow, and then, without looking at him, she backed out of the parking spot and drove to the town square.

Eamon said nothing as they moved through the lunchtime traffic, but his hand remained on her thigh. He simply watched her until she parked before the beautiful center of Bajka. She caught him smirking at her out of the corner of her eye, but shepretended not to notice. Served him right for scaring her into flight.

Staring at the trees swaying in the breeze, Bel removed the sandwich from the takeout bag and took a bite. Everything instantly felt right with the world as the fresh mozzarella melted on her tongue until she caught Eamon staring at her food. “There’s another half.” She gestured to the still-wrapped Italian bread stuffed with fresh pesto, tomatoes, and cheese. “You can have it.”

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