Page 59 of Gunner

“The first UNSUB is methodical. He appears to be planning everything, including their deaths. Though, we are still unsure if their deaths are intentional, or if they are getting away and succumbing to the elements. The second UNSUB is sloppy. He’s never assaulted a woman at the bar before. Aspen was different. We hoped finding her in the bathroom meant she hadn’t been raped. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. The previous rape victims were all led from the bar and taken somewhere else, then dropped at a secondary location where they woke up alone. That theory was due to the lack of evidence found at the scene they said they woke up at,” Blackwater expounded.

“One goddamn psycho isn’t enough; we need to have two.” Nav shook his head. “Do we have anything at all? I need something to dig into if I’m going to find anything.”

“I have the two victims’ names. I want you to dig into them. See if there is anything that connects them. There has to be a reason the UNSUB is choosing them. Whoever they are, they are taking their time. Two bodies in four months doesn’t makea serial killer. But if I was hedging my bets, I would say this was just the beginning.” Declan looked around the room before continuing, “Aside from the mayor, the men in this room are the only ones who have all the facts.”

“Not the other officers?” I found that interesting.

“No. The others know the facts of the case, but no theories. I have been in law enforcement long enough to know that anyone is capable of this shit.”

“So, what makes him so trustworthy?” I asked, hitching my chin at Blackwater.

“You got a problem with me because I’m friends with your girl? She’s like a fucking sister to me. I’ve known her a hell of a lot longer than you have. If I wanted her, I’d have had her.”

Who the fuck did this asshole think he was? Talking to me like that in my own fucking house? I was about to fire back when Cash spoke up.

“You’re screwed, Gun. That fucking ‘like a sister’ shit ain’t fucking real.”

“Fuck off, Cash,” Blade growled.

“What the fuck did you just say to your VP?” Cash sneered, standing from his seat. Blade followed, slamming his hands on the table.

“Sit your asses down,” King demanded, but neither moved.

Cash and Blade just glared at each other over the table.

“NOW GODDAMMIT!”

Blade sat first, but he never took his eyes off Cash. This shit was building like a fucking volcano about to erupt. If we didn’t do something, the whole fucking club might explode.

“We’ll keep it quiet, Dec. But any more bodies, we have to tell the guys.”

“Any more bodies and we will officially have a serial killer.” Dec sounded defeated.

“Does that mean bringing in the Feds?” King asked.

“It is at my discretion. I won’t bring them in unless I absolutely need them.”

Dec knew we wouldn’t want the Feds here. We might not be a 1% club anymore, but the Feds wouldn’t care. They would want to stick their noses in where they didn’t belong.

Things like this didn’t happen in small towns like Diamond Creek. Serial killers liked to blend in, hide in crowds. It was a hell of a lot easier to narrow down the fucker in a town with less than two thousand suspects.

Whoever he was, he wasn’t too smart.

That should make catching him easier.

Chapter Sixteen

Haizley

With Aspen settled in her room, Amber offered to stay with her for the night. After learning about Amber, I knew she was the right person to stay with Aspen.

The two of them were having nightmares. They would be able to comfort each other and maybe I would get a full night’s rest.

If I had a damn room to sleep in.

Walking back into the main room, I heard shouting coming from the room they called church. I sat at the bar and waited for them to finish.

“What can I get you?” The young man behind the bar couldn’t have been more than eighteen or nineteen.