Page 78 of Be Very Quiet

“You check that wing,” Luca told Audria, pointing past the kitchen. “Reese, you clear the rooms in front. I’ll cover this way.”

It said something about his character and professionalism that the FBI agent didn’t flinch at being told what to do. He made a good teammate.

Luca headed down the corridor, looking inside entries as he passed. Pantry, laundry room. Judging by the double doors at the end of the hallway, he’d picked the side of the house with the main bedroom. He opened them and came to an abrupt stop. His instincts had been correct. Georgia Perkins had been killed here.

“Clear,” Audria called out.

“Clear,” Reese repeated.

“Not here,” he responded.

The other two came running. “Georgia Perkins?”

“Yeah.”

There was no doubt it was the work of The Mortician 2.0. Her nude body was fully on display, colorful makeup had been applied to her face, and in her hand were seven lilies.

“Why did he deviate from his routine and kill her?”

“Good question.”

“This means Douglas Speke wasn’t the copycat,” Audria said.

“Yeah. We’re back to square one.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Luca was on high alert. The killings were happening daily, and seven women had already died. Ten years ago, Rader had murdered eight. Did that mean he was coming after Liliana now? Over Luca’s dead body. She’d become the most important person in the world to him.

He’d chosen to skip today’s task force meeting and stay with Liliana. There were no new details anyway, so he and Audria wouldn’t be missed. Detective Torres and Reese Reneau could fill the others in on the information about Georgia.

The day passed quietly, without notifications of another murder or any new packages. Every time someone walked in the door to the studio, Luca tensed, and it happened often with all the classes going on.

Smoke was still with them. Now that they knew Georgia was dead and wouldn’t be coming back, they needed to decide what to do with him since her family didn’t want him. Liliana had become attached to the feline, as had Luca. Neither wanted to see him end up in a shelter.

When it was time to leave, they called in a to-go order at a restaurant close to Liliana’s condo and were sitting down to eat when her cell buzzed.

“Put it on speaker,” Luca advised.

She punched the button. “Hello?”

“Ms. Lima? It’s Warren from the lobby. I have a delivery person here for you, but they need you to sign for the package. They won’t let me do it.”

Liliana looked at Luca for guidance. He nodded, and she said, “I’ll be right down.”

Liliana disconnected and slid her phone into her pocket. “You’re coming with me?”

“No, Liliana, you aren’t going.”

“He said—”

“I don’t care. It could be a trap. Christian, make sure she stays here. Audria, with me.”

They took the stairs to the lobby. A man stood before Warren’s desk, holding a clipboard and a package. Speedy Delivery. Wasn’t that the name of the company who’d left the envelope for Liliana at Rex Raines’s office? Coincidence? Luca didn’t believe in them.

The deliveryman looked up and spotted them. “Ms. Lima?”

“I’ll be signing for her,” Luca announced.

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