Page 38 of Riding Danger

“You have presentable plain clothes for a few days?”

I smiled at the odd request. “Of course, Sir.”

“Good, she’s expecting you in an hour.”

He slammed the phone down without so much as a goodbye.

Well, this made my next few mornings a little more complicated. Not having to decide what to wear was one of the few perks of wearing a uniform. That saved me a ton of time.Still, in a little under forty-five minutes, I grabbed an apple and a protein bar and headed to my station wagon.

The drive to Salinger Security was quick since it went against traffic. I parked alongside Tiff’s tiny hatchback. As I stepped out of my vehicle, I took a deep breath and walked toward the entrance.

The grey pantsuit may not have been the most exciting outfit choice, but it fitted well and made me look professional.

Of course, it was nothing compared to the cream-colored bell sleeve dress Tiffany wore with a tan corset over the top and a matching pair of ballet flats. She’d wanted to go into styling or designing when she left school, but after discovering her dad was part of a crime syndicate and his involvement in sex slavery, she had abandoned her family money and took a job as the receptionist at Salinger Security almost as soon as she left school. The job had quite a turnaround. Sue Wilson had left to pursue her veterinary nursing career. Millie Brewster had taken over from her for a little whileuntil Nick found someone permanent.That someone turned out to be Tiffany a few years later.

No college or design school or anything where she needed to rely on her late father’s money.

“Tiff. Morning.”

She reached under the shelf covering the reception desk and pulled out a paper to-go mug. “I figured you wouldn’t have a chance to get your fix. I bought your latte when I got mine. It may not be as hot as you like, but its caffeine and its sugar.”

“Today, you’re my favorite.” I took the coffee from her and looked around. “Where do I go?”

“Conference room.” She pointed up the chrome stairs. “The one with the blinds closed. I think she’s waiting on you.”

I straightened my handbag over my shoulder and followed her instructions. As long as I could remember the building hadbeen the same. Marble and chrome finishes with touches of black on the upholstery. The interior was a stark contrast to the rustic farm where the building was situated complete with dry grass in the summer.

The block heels of my boots echoed as I climbed the stairs. When I considered working for the FBI, there was always the hope that one day I would settle down and end up working for Salinger Security when I was ready to come home. Alas, things didn't work out that way. I went into the Police Academy straight after college and compromised my career growth so I could get better shifts. I chose to be a cop in my small hometown instead of a big city to ensure both Ethan and I had a support structure.

It was never a decision I regretted, and when all the shit happened with Maggie, I was glad she had me and Tiff around. But there was still a part of me that wondered whether I would’ve made a good profiler.

I knocked on the door to the conference room and at Lilly’s voice, I stepped inside. She was sitting alone at the head of a tinted glass table, surrounded by charcoal grey chairs. In front of her was a mass of charcoal grey folders.

Smiling, I remembered when Tiff got excited as she told us she found manilla folders to match the aesthetic of the office a while back.

Lilly nodded to the chair on her right. “Come, take a seat.”

I did as I was told and suppressed the urge to wring my hands. I had no idea why I was in that conference room, let alone what Lilly needed from me. Though, there was a part of me that hoped I could learn from one of the best women I knew. That, maybe, I would get to see if I would’ve been able to make my dreams come true.

She pushed four smaller envelopes toward me. “Those are the crime scene photos of the four victims of this killer. The press has labelled this asshole The Small Town Killer. Howfucking original. I also included the autopsy pics. I wanna know what you see.”

I saw the large pin board alongside the big screen tv. There were different colored pins in one corner. I took the envelopes over and started pinning the photographs on the pin board. “Four men. Two white. One African American. One Latino. No wedding rings or tan lines on any of them. Their wrists and ankles were bound. Puncture wounds to their necks.” I look over at Lilly. “Are there more reports?”

“Still waiting on the last one, but the others had no indication that they were drugged.”

“Not even a sedative?”

She moved her head from side to side in a slow shake. “But, according to the police reports, from the time the first victim was reported missing to the estimated time of death was about four days.”

I looked at the latest victim. He had no family but someone still cared enough. “Who reported him missing?”

“Ex girlfriend. It was his weekend with their daughter and when he failed to show, she got worried. Apparently he only ever missed a visit when he was deployed.”

I saw in his file that Chief Petty Officer Simms was stationed at the Naval Base in Coronado.

“So, he’s keeping them for a few days before he kills them.” I looked down at the folder once more. “And then dumps them days later. Provided the freezing and defrosting is not part of the signature.”

Lilly swiveled her chair to face me completely. “It doesn’t look like it. According to the coroner’s report, the second victim had not been completely frozen. He’d only been in a freezer for under twenty-four hours before he was defrosted and dumped.”

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