Page 53 of Killer Clone

Stella wasn’t convinced Delafayette was worth their time, convicted murderer or not. “Other than his record, what reason do we have to believe this Delafayette guy was involved?” She reached over Stacy’s shoulder and scrolled down to the police report. “A fight in a bar that resulted in a stabbing, and…yeah, everything on his rap sheet is dime-a-dozen stuff. A long way from the kind of crime we’re looking at.”

“Yeah, but he’s a killer.” Anja swung on her chair. “People don’t change. Once a killer, always a killer.”

Hagen twirled his chair. “You sure? You really think people don’t change?”

“The best predictor of future behavior is…” Anja prompted.

“Past behavior,” Stacy finished, but she didn’t look happy about it.

Stella rolled back to Hagen’s side. “Maybe, but there’s still no reason to believe this ex-killer is our current unsub.”

“Apart from his presence at a body-dump site, you mean?”

Stella didn’t like Anja’s attitude. She also didn’t like that she had a point. “Fair enough. But if he dumped Patrick Marrion there, why didhestay in the alley too?”

“Not exactly a criminal mastermind?” Ander leaned against the table. With his hands gripping the edge and his mid-length curls hanging over his collar, he looked like an osprey observing the world from a treetop. “What about Tripp? If the roommate’s a thief, maybe he’s also a murderer.”

Stella shook her head. “Kid’s a creep. But he’s got alibis for both murders, and they check out. He’s in the clear.”

Ander looked thoughtful. “What about the other victim? Otto Walker. I don’t think we should rule out his boss. He could’ve made those cuts on the first victim too. And then killed his employee?”

Stella waited for Hagen to respond. She hadn’t met Otto’s boss, but she trusted Hagen’s instincts.

“Possible.” Hagen inclined his head. “There was something off about him. Might be the job, though. I mean, wouldn’t he have killed Walker in the same manner as Marrion? One murder is precision perfect, the other a complete hack job? Doesn’t track behaviorally. We still haven’t found Marrion’s friend. We need to find that guy ASAP.”

Stacy stretched her back. “Mac’s working on his phone now. The friend’s number must be in there somewhere.”

Mac’s magic was their most promising hope. Stella wished her bestie would hurry it up.

“What about the church the mortician mentioned?” Anja seemed relieved to have something more valuable to contribute than her view of killers who never changed. “What was the name of the priest? Father Ted? Otto Walker used to spend time there, right?”

Hagen wagged his finger. “Yes. His uncle mentioned that too. Otto used to volunteer at a soup kitchen and shelter next to the church.”

Stella eyed Stacy, who returned her look with a short nod. “We’ll check it out.”

“Check what out?” Slade stood in the doorway with his phone in his hand. “You got something?”

“Not really. Maybe. We’re going to check out the soup kitchen where Otto Walker volunteered in Idlebrook. Maybe someone there knows something.”

“Good. Have we heard back from the sheriff who replaced you in Pennsylvania? We need to rule out all of Maureen King’s past associates.”

Stella shook her head. “Not yet. I’ve got a feeling the guy’s dragging his heels a bit. Seemed like the type.”

“I’d check in on him.” Slade lifted his phone. “But listen up, everybody. We might have something here. That strange writing, the cuneiform, has appeared in the alley whereMarrion’s body was found. I just got off the phone with some of the locals. They found it about an hour ago.”

Stella’s head jerked up. “What do you mean?”

“What I said. Someone painted a bunch of cuneiform in the alley. Forensics is heading over there. But I want Hagen and Ander to meet them. Maybe you’ll find some new hard evidence, like the gloves.”

Hagen tossed his pen onto the table and reached for his coat. “Sure it’s not someone screwing with us?”

“Yeah. A killer is screwing with us. No one has linked Patrick Marrion to the cuneiform in the press. It’s not common knowledge.”

A strange feeling filled Stella’s gut. She couldn’t place it, but her instinct was telling her something was very off. Why paint the cuneiform message so long after the body was removed? She couldn’t think of a good reason.

Hagen’s hand landed on Stella’s shoulder as he passed her. She held it for a second and stopped him. “Hey, keep an eye out for Delafayette while you’re there. We want to speak to him.”

“Sure, send me his picture.”

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