Page 32 of Be Very Quiet

“It certainly looks the same,” Reese agreed. “We have a mobile forensics lab here. I’ll have them process these immediately for DNA.” He texted someone, and then a knock sounded on the door.

“Come in,” Detective Torres called out.

A woman stuck her head inside. “You need me to run something to the mobile lab?”

Damn, that was fast. But that was the FBI. Still, as good as they were, they were no match for her COBRA Securities colleagues.

Reese handed her the evidence baggies. “Put a rush on them.”

“On it.”

Audria waited until the woman closed the door. “Do you have any new information on either murder to share?” She glanced between the two men, who looked at each other, both tight-lipped. Her irritation rose. “I thought we were working together. We shared information with you. You owe us the same courtesy. You know our company’s reputation.”

Detective Torres nodded. “I’ve already let Russo accompany me to one of the crime scenes, so I’ll share what I can, but you know how this works.”

Audria inclined her head. “I do, but as I said, we are not keeping anything from you. I’d appreciate the same respect.”

“Liliana Lima.”

Audria shot a glare at Reese, who merely lifted his dark brows. Maybe they were hiding her from them, but there was no need for her to be involved at this point.

Torres opened a file. “Both victims were prostitutes and had not been reported missing. They were raped, strangled, and the blood was drained from their bodies via a puncture to the jugular.”

“I don’t mean to sound crass, but how can you be sure they were raped? If they were prostitutes, they most likely had sex recently. And often.”

“You’re correct. We’re not positive they were violated, but they both had ligature marks on their ankles and wrists and some bruising on the inner thighs, as if they were held open against their will. No semen, but the same spermicide was found in both vics. Again, that only proves that the same brand of condom was used during their last sexual encounters. At this point, we can’t determine whether it was consensual.”

“Rader raped his victims ten years ago,” Reese pointed out.

“Yes, but the victimology is vastly different,” Audria debated. “Before, he chose beautiful women who were successful or came from wealthy backgrounds. This time, they are hookers.”

Reese rubbed his chin. “That is a substantial deviation. I’ll have the Behavioral Analysis Unit work on an updated profile. What are the other differences between a decade ago and now?”

“Flowers,” Detective Torres supplied. “He left lilies at the two recent crime scenes.”

“Lilies?” Reese narrowed his eyes at Audria as if she had something to do with it. “We need to talk to her.”

Audria ignored him. “There were differences in sewing the eyes and mouth shut, weren’t there?”

Detective Torres nodded. “He didn’t do that this time.”

“There are a lot of inconsistencies in ritual,” Reese agreed. “That’s unusual if it’s the same perp. I’ll have the BAU expedite the updated profile.”

“Text me a copy when it’s finished.”

He stared at her, and she thought he might refuse. Finally, he nodded.

“Thank you.” She stood to leave. “Keep us posted, and we’ll do the same.” She turned for the door.

“Audria.”

Darn it, she should’ve known she wouldn’t be able to make a clean break. She glanced over her shoulder at Reese, cursing the flutter in her heart that happened every time she looked at him.

“We’ll need to talk to her sooner rather than later.”

Instead of answering, she walked out the door.

Chapter Eleven

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