Page 27 of Be Very Quiet

“We need to have them analyzed.”

“Why?”

“Because we don’t know who left it for you.”

“I’ll call Jody, my evening office manager, and see if she knows who dropped it off.”

While Liliana made the call, Luca studied the necklace again. She was correct that the silver had tarnished. And the oversized hoop earring had been bent. It was most likely made of brass or aluminum with a gold coating. Who would send old jewelry as a gift? Luca didn’t like what he was thinking. If he were right, it meant the killer had access to Liliana.

He snapped several pictures and scooped them back inside the envelope since he didn’t have an evidence baggie with him.

Liliana ended the call and looked at him. “Jody apologized and said the package might’ve been there a few days. She said she found it beneath some files she needed to put away but hadn’t gotten around to it.”

“So, we don’t have a timeframe for how long it’s been there.” Luca sighed. “It could’ve been anyone who’s been inside for the last week.”

“That’s a pretty big suspect pool,” Liliana muttered.

It was. While she discussed an issue with Shonda, who’d knocked on the door and stuck her head inside the office, Luca called Tyler Redmond. The guy could find a needle in a haystack.

“Luca, what’s up, bro?”

“Can you look through the original Ted Rader victim files and see if anything was reported missing from the crime scenes? Specifically jewelry. Focus on women whose first or last name starts with an ‘L.’”

“On it. I’ll hit you up if I find anything.”

“Thanks.”

With suspicious brown eyes narrowed at him, Shonda left.

“I don’t think she likes me,” Luca mused.

“She’s just overprotective,” Liliana murmured. “She will, however, grill me at her earliest convenience.”

Luca’s cell buzzed. He glanced at the screen in surprise and then answered, “That was quick.”

“I got a hit on Rader’s first victim, Linda Miller,” Tyler said. “She was a third-grade teacher, and her class had pitched in their money to buy her a necklace. She wore it all the time, but it wasn’t found at the scene.”

“Do you have a picture?”

“Sending it through now.”

Luca checked the screen, and his blood turned to ice.

“Do you need me to keep looking?”

“Uh, no. That’s it for now. Thanks, Tyler.”

“Luca, what is it? You’re pale as a ghost.”

Luca looked at Liliana, wanting to protect her from all the evils in the world, especially Ted Rader. Yes, she was stronger now than when she was twenty, but this would be devastating. He didn’t want her to panic and feared that would happen when he disclosed the news.

While he was debating how much to reveal, she crossed her arms. “Tell me now.”

“I had a colleague search for missing items from Rader’s original victims, focusing on ones whose first or last name began with an ‘L.’”

Her arms dropped to her sides, and her eyes widened. “You think Rader sent this,” she gestured to the envelope, “to me?”

“His first known victim was a teacher named Linda. She always wore a necklace that her students purchased for her. It wasn’t found at the crime scene.”

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