Page 82 of Evidence of a Folktale

“Sure thing.” The M.E. grabbed her tweezers and crouched before Rot’s face. “Good god, that’s wedged in there.” It took a few tries, but she finally eased a longroll outof his nostril and dropped it into an evidence bag.

“It looks like a newspaper article.” Bel took it from her and unrolled the coil. It wasindeeda newspaper clipping wrapped in plastic to save it from disintegrating in the snot and blood. “There’s not much information here, though,” she said after scanning the text. “It’s from a few years ago, and it mentions Aesop’s Files’ renewal for another season. Talks about how the show achieved sudden viral success despite its near cancelation.”

“We already know this case revolves around the show, so why leave this in Rot’s nose?” Olivia asked.

“A negative of trees, a weather report, and a news article,” Griffin said. “Why any of them?”

“Why,” Bel whispered. “It’s the why. The trees were where, the weather report’s date was the when, and this show’s renewal is the why. Cryptic?Very, butthat’s because the killer doesn’t want us solving his riddle yet. He’s not done. Two more have to die before he makes his point, and he’s preventing us from arriving at the finale before he can lead us there. That’s why he keeps killing crew members away from the sets, but onpropertieswe’ll find.” She repeated Eamon’s conclusion. “He’s taking us on a journey so we understand why he started this, but his explanations are vague to ensure he finishes.”

“Which fits our Orion Chayce theory,” Griffin said. “He’s getting revenge, and he wants us to know why, but only after he’s done.”

“I’m sure once we figure it out, it’ll be obvious,” Bel said.

“We keep circling back to Chayce, but could it be someone from Bajka?” Olivia chimed in. “Rossa was killed on the Reale Estate, which belongs to Mr. Stone, who’s dating Bel. Granted, that one’s easy to explain since it was close to the shoot. But then Roja was discovered on the hiking trails where Mr. Orso often hikes, and lastly, Rot is in Bel’s backyard. Three locations connected to the police and easily found.”

Bel tried not to flinch at her partner’s use of Ewan and Eamon’s last names. At least she’d called her by her first. She had a point, though. She and Ewan hadn’t broadcast their breakup, so unless the killerwasin their close circle, he would’ve assumed they were still a couple. The first two bodies were found on land associated with their boyfriends. The thirdinBel’s backyard. Was Olivia’s apartment the next site?

“The show has location scouts,” Griffin said. “People whose job requires them to traipse all over, taking pictures and discussing shooting angles. It wouldn’t be hard for them to pinpoint ideal locations. Plus, Taron Monroe found Emerson by simply following her home. Our town is packed with phone-obsessed crime junkies. How difficult would it be for someone to follow us through the throng? We’re so busy trying to protect a show that refuses to shut down that we forget to look over ourownshoulders.”

“Besides, the death on my property was connected to the shoot,” Eamon said. “Traveling to a bathroom would take time, so I guarantee the killer predicted a crew member would wander into the woods to urinate instead of trekking down the trails. As for the second body, it was near a trail. Bajka is crawling with newcomers, and someone is undoubtedly either a hiker or a fitness enthusiast. The cold would’ve preserved Roja until someone ventured up there, so I doubt the killer expected Ewan specifically. Isobel’s cabin is the only one he explicitly targeted.”

“And with her stunt in The Wolf’s car, everyone’s been talking about her,” Griffin said. “Makes sense why the body was posed in her backyard. A little ballsy, though. Killing Rot minutes before Emerson got home.”

“It gets dark early this time of year,” Olivia said. “It’s possibly more about waiting until dark than scaring Bel.She’s been working latebecause of the case.We didn’t release that Randall tried choking her to death to the press. The public doesn’t know she’s still recovering, so the killer probably assumed she’d arrive home long after he left Mr. Rot on this bench.”

“I agree with that assessment,” Lina said. “Rot’s wounds are slightly more haphazard than the women’s. The killer was in a rush.”

“If I’d only been a few minutes earlier,” Bel said. “I would’ve caught him.”

“Thank god you weren’t,” Eamon and Griffin said simultaneously.

“I could’ve stopped this,” Bel argued.

“Or you could be sitting here beside Rot,” Griffin said.

“I have a gun.”

“And it was dark. You didn’t notice anything was amiss until you kicked the box. He could’ve attacked while your back was turned.”

“Give me some credit,” she said. “I did just survive a car crash.”

“Oh, sweetheart.” Lina patted her back. “We give you plenty of credit, but that’s why we’re thankful you weren’t here. None of us want you going up against another psycho… again. You’ve gotten lucky, and we don’t want to tempt whatever guardian angel is protecting you. You in my morguewasone time too many. And on that note, let’s load the body. I’ll see either you or Olivia at the autopsy.”

It was wellpast midnight by the time both the press and police vacated Bel’s bloodstained property. Griffin was the last to leave, but before he climbed into his truck, he grabbed Eamon’s arm.

“I don’t want her staying here. Not tonight at least.” He kept his voice low, but Bel heard him all the same. “Take her home with you.”

Eamon nodded, not that he needed Griffin’s orders. Bel had no intention of sleeping in herownbed until the bloody snow melted from her backyard.

“Would you clean that up?” she asked when they finally retreated inside her cabin to pack her an overnight bag. She didn’t need to gather Cerberus’ things since Eamon’s mansion had morphed into a pet store.

“Won’t forensics need it?” he asked.

“They took what they needed, and the elements have compromised the blood,” she said. “If this were a building, we’d eventually approve a biohazard cleaning crew to sanitize the floor, but since this is my backyard…”

“You want the vampire hybrid to handle your dirty work?” He winked at her.

“Don’t make me sound like I’m in that show.” She aimed a warning finger at him. “But yes. You aren’t exactly squeamish.”

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