Page 28 of Just Hide

With her theory now gaining momentum, Cami asked him, "Do you think that this killer—whether it's a woman or a man—was pretending to be a garden services person, waiting for her to get back?"

"Now, that is interesting."

Connor paced toward the uneven hedge, staying back from where the forensic team was at work but looking at the clippings carefully.

"It does look freshly cut, and it's out of line with the rest. If a garden services team had done this yesterday, they'd have finished the job and swept up. And if they did it this morning, where are they?"

"I'm sure it was this killer," Cami emphasized. "He, or she, is smart. Enough that he, or she, knows the victim's routines. I bet she uses a landscaping firm."

"This means that the killer must have watched this place for a while, getting an idea of the routine, and where and when she comes and goes. For sure, he knew how to get close to her," Connor agreed.

Even though she was still shaking inwardly with horror at being on a murder scene, Cami felt glad that she'd been able to notice that little detail and consider it relevant.

"Does this killer have a job?" she wondered aloud. "Because watching someone like this so closely and figuring out this routine would take a lot of days. He's killed three women so far and that's a lot of homework."

She looked around for any sign of a camera that the killer could have hacked into or used for his or her own purposes but couldn't see any that would work. There hadn't been a lot of cameras at the other homes, either. And she was sure that the killer’s careful research would also have included noting any other cameras along the way.

"Something else to take into account," Connor agreed. "He, or she, could have a job that requires them to be out and about, and they could have been using that as a cover."

"Maybe the neighbors noticed?" Cami wondered aloud.

"Let's go and speak to them right now," Connor said. "We need to ask if anyone has seen someone suspicious, lurking around, or any other sign of trouble."

"We also need to find out if the garden services company she used was supposed to come today," Cami added. "Maybe they saw something as they were leaving. And the neighbors might have cameras that picked something up."

With no other common factors to consider, a lot would ride on what the neighbors or people associated with this property had seen.

Cami could see one of the neighbors, leaning over the fence, a look of mesmerized horror on her face. She was a lady with neat, permed hair in steel gray, wearing a gardening smock. Cami felt hopeful that she seemed to be retired and might have had the free time, out in her own yard, to notice things.

As Connor headed over to speak to her, Cami gathered her own thoughts, deciding on the questions she wanted to ask.

This killer had been here, right here, watching and observing.

She wasn't going to let this opportunity go to waste, Cami decided. Asking the right question might get the answer that would unlock who this person was.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The neighbor looked shocked, worried, and deeply uneasy, Cami thought, as she and Connor approached her. She looked exactly the way an innocent person might look if her life had been turned upside down by a violent tragedy playing out next door.

Cami saw the fear in her eyes and the tension in her body, though the woman was doing her best to keep herself composed.

"Morning, ma'am," Connor said, starting the conversation gently. "We're with the police, investigating this recent murder of Sammi Jackson." He paused, glancing at the woman, to see if she needed any clarification.

"She moved in about a year ago," the woman said, nodding in agreement.

"Your name is?" Connor asked.

"I'm Hazel Addison. It's just so terrible. I can't believe it happened right here. My husband and I have been living here for years, and nothing like this has ever happened before. I'm just so shocked. Are we in danger here?"

"It appears to be a serial crime targeting women of Sammi’s specific appearance," Connor said, putting her worst fears to rest.

He paused, giving her time to gather herself, and yet again, Cami felt surprised and reassured by his innate compassion. While it might have been hidden when she and Connor had first met, she was now noticing that it was an integral part of him.

"Were you out in your yard this morning?" Connor asked, glancing at her gardening smock.

The woman nodded. "Yes, I was."

"Did you notice anything?"

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