Page 80 of Rules

"Nothing beyond what we found earlier. I sent the camera footage to Law. I thought those hackers of his could go over it."

I rubbed my temples, feeling the beginning of a headache. "Good idea. Alright let's—" A crackle from my radio shattered the moment.

"Charlie Charlie - One Alpha."

"One Alpha - Go ahead Charlie Charlie."

"One Alpha, 10-54 called in at Whispering Pines Funeral Home."

"Funny Charlie Charlie. I would imagine the funeral home has a few 10-54's." There was a pause.

"Negative One Alpha, this isn't one of theirs. This is a female victim, sir. Staff arrived and found her sitting propped against the back door. Baker says the body appears to have been placed there deliberately. They're requesting your immediate presence." My eyes locked on Brooklyn's.

"And she's 10-54?"

There was a small pause, "most definitely, One Alpha."

"Oh, no way I'm missing this one." She pivoted and jogged out of the office.

"Tell him not to touch anything. I'm on my way."

"Ten four One Alpha enroute."

"Two Beta enroute, too."

"Three Charlie enroute."

"Four Gamma, I'm not sitting this one out, I'm enroute."

As I hurried to my vehicle, I couldn't help but smile. My crew is really great, always there for each other, no attitude problems or concerns. I hope as we dive deeper into the dark waters of these cases that I can keep them all safe.

Chapter 28

Tobias

I parked my truck behind Brooklyn's cruiser, noting the line of official vehicles lining the narrow service road behind Whispering Pines Funeral Home.

Samuel Baker, the funeral director, paced anxiously by the back door, his normally composed demeanor shattered. His assistant, a young man whose name I couldn't recall, sat on a nearby bench, head in his hands.

"Sheriff," Baker nodded grimly as I approached. His face was ashen. "In my thirty years, I've never..."

"Where is she?" I asked, pulling on latex gloves.

He gestured toward the delivery entrance. "Right where we found her. Hasn't been touched."

I rounded the corner of the building and stopped short, causing Samuel to run into me. The woman sat propped against the door, legs stretched out in front of her, hands folded neatly in her lap. She wore a form-fitting black dress that accentuated her slender figure. Her long black hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing a face that would have been beautiful if not for the perfectly round hole in the center of her forehead. Two red roses lay in her arms like some sort of weird beauty pageant bouquet. Their vibrant color is a stark contrast against the black fabric and the paleness of her skin.

Brooklyn stood a few feet away, camera in hand, documenting the scene. She glanced at me, her expression grim. "Asian female, mid-twenties. No ID. Clean shot, I'd guess execution style."

I crouched down, studying the woman's face. "Time of death?"

"Hard to tell without the coroner, but rigor is present. I guess sometime late last night or early this morning," Samuel said.

"Aren't you a coroner?" I asked Samuel.

"Yes, but under the circumstances I thought it best to have Dr. Renfield from the hospital handle this."

I nodded acknowledging that I heard what he said. The woman's makeup was impeccable, her nails perfectly manicured. Everything about her from the dress, the hair, the jewelry spoke of someone who took great care with her appearance.

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