Page 43 of Love Me Fierce

Luke slips his phone from his pocket and pulls up a photo, then hands it to me. The image shows a delicate gold chain with a small key pendant tucked inside a plastic evidence bag. “The Big Pine victim was wearing this.”

“Looks just like the one we found around Marin’s neck.”

Two murder victims found hundreds of miles apart, in twodifferent states, both wearing a similar piece of jewelry isn’t conclusive that they’re connected… but it’s pretty fucking spooky.

And if we find one just like it at the bottom of York Springs Mine, where we found Michelle? It means something much more than that.

“I’ll coordinate the search,” I say because Hutch isn’t law enforcement, so he’ll need me or Zach to run point on any evidence collection. I just wish it wasn’t down some dark, dank mine shaft.

I return Luke’s phone. “Are you sticking around?”

He shakes his head. “I took a few days of leave to climb Liberty Spires with Hutch, but I’m flying out this afternoon.”

Sheriff Olson outlines several details of our plan, including how Luke, Zach and I will share information, then I walk Luke out. “Were either Nichole-Renée or Jane Beasley wearing a necklace?” I ask him in a low tone.

“No,” he replies.

Big Pine is well outside where the killer disposed of his other victims. “Wyoming is pretty far east, isn’t it?”

“You’re right. If it’s him, he’s changed his pattern.”

I’m no profiler, but this seems like a big leap for a perp who’s grown accustomed to working in a certain area. But maybe it’s a sign we are getting closer to him, forcing him to make changes.

I grasp at the hope that this will make him easier to nab.

“I’ll walk you out,” I say to Luke. Once we’re in the hallway, I ask in a low tone, “I’ve got a favor to ask you.”

He gives me a thoughtful glance. “Sure.”

“Do you have any contacts in the L.A. FBI field office?”

“Yeah, actually. I’ve helped with a few cases out there. Why?”

“I’m working a local case. It might be linked to a LAPD vice cop named Kent Hyek.”

Luke’s eyebrows shoot up. “Like he’s hanging around Finn River?”

“I don’t know yet.” I’d like to think a big-city cop in small town Finn River would stand out like a sore thumb, but vice cops are oftenexperienced in undercover work. I can’t discount the possibility that he’s found a way to blend in.

“I’ll do what I can.”

“Discreet, though, yeah?”

“Understood.”

“Thanks.”

At the door, Luke and I shake hands, then he pushes through the double glass doors. I return the way I came and head into the bullpen. Most of the cubicles are empty, but Zach’s typing away at his.

Troy is off today, but other deputies are working within earshot. I decide to head out on patrol and call Zach for a quick meet up later. But first, I type an email to Luke detailing the recent leads I’ve worked and the questions I haven’t found answers for, plus a link to the digital versions of both Marin’s and Michelle’s updated case files. Then I call up our crime scene tech, Walker Feldman.

“Feldman,” he answers.

“Hey, it’s Rumsey. Any chance you’ve processed that Taurus yet?”

He snorts. “You had it towed in, what yesterday?”

“Pretty please?” I’m not above begging.

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