Page 7 of Just Right

"Morning," he said. "Thanks for getting here so fast."

"Morning," they chorused. Cami looked at him expectantly as he sat down and set a folder on the desk.

Connor didn't ask them how they were or indulge in any social pleasantries. That wasn't his style. He was all about facts, plans, and results. But he wasn't a cold man. Cami had realized that deep inside his seemingly rigid and uncaring persona, there was a streak of kindness.

Well-hidden sometimes, but there, nonetheless.

"We've got a new case," he said, and Cami felt a knot of tension inside her loosen just a little because his words had confirmed this wasn't trouble for her. But it didn't loosen too much. A new case meant she'd need to bring all her skills to the situation. She was under no illusions that this would be hard, challenging, and potentially dangerous.

"There have been two women killed in two days, both with the same MO, which is why the FBI has been called in," Connor said.

Cami glanced at Ethan, then looked at Connor again, waiting for more information. She hadn’t heard of anything locally, although apart from last night’s antics in the archives, she’d been buried in her studies, with final exams just around the corner. Although perhaps the crimes had been hushed up.

"Both of the victims were hit over the head and knocked unconscious before being drowned. One was drowned in Lake Michigan, the other in the dolphin pool at the Milwaukee aquarium.”

Milwaukee. That explained it. It was in another state, not in Massachusetts at all, which is why it hadn’t gotten onto her radar, Cami thought. The location reminded her that the FBI was not limited by state borders. Any crime, any emergency, demanded that the best agents for the job were deployed.

Ethan frowned. “In the dolphin pool? How’s that possible? Was nobody else around, or what?”

“It seems that she got there after closing time and found her way in.”

“Oh, okay.” He nodded.

“Any link between the victims?” Cami asked, knowing from experience that this would be important.

“Nothing obvious in common. They lived in different areas and have no mutual colleagues or friends. However, both women were active online, and in fact, the first victim was an online celebrity, a content creator. The second was a make-up artist. So, there may be a link there, which is why you've been called in."

"Do we know it's a serial? Were there signatures left at the scenes?" Cami asked.

"Good question," Connor said. "And yes. There were signatures left at the scenes. At both scenes, a blue wristband was left. You know, those silicone wristbands you wear for charity, fundraisers, events, and so on?"

"Yes," Ethan said, nodding.

"One was left at each scene, with an earring pierced through it, the kind used in an ear piercing. Both of them had the same red bead. The FBI agent who looked at the scene wondered if it was somehow depicting a location pin, and again, this points to online expertise being needed."

"I guess it does," Cami said.

"One wristband was found near the body in the lake, and one was found in the dolphin pool. It seems that the killer might have thrown the bands down after killing the victims."

“But not on the bodies? They weren’t wearing the bands?”

“No.”

"A wristband with a pin? Something to do with a location, but the wristband itself? Why that? Why blue? Could there be more to it?" Cami wondered.

Connor stood up. "We're about to find out if there is more to it. We're going to the airport now, leaving for Milwaukee, to view the murder scenes and start investigating."

"We are? Now?" Startled, Cami jumped to her feet.

"Yes. We're being brought in to assist the local field office, and they want us to start immediately."

Cami swallowed. She'd better come up with something valuable if she was now flying to Milwaukee.

"Ethan, you hold down the fort here," Connor directed him. "I know you’re heading out with Fraser’s other team later on the trafficking case, but in the meantime, I want you to start looking into the victims’ backgrounds and see if you can pick up any common factors the police might have missed, since the second murder was yesterday evening, so it’s still very recent. As for us, we need to get going. It's a two-hour flight, and the sooner we get there, the sooner we can start to figure out what's going on."

He strode out with Cami rushing behind, barely having time to turn and wave at Ethan, who waved back before hustling to his office.

Location pins, blue armbands, water. There were only vague connections so far.

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